laelia-flava

The yellow -flowered representatives of the genus Laelia are not firmly placed in the minds of orchid growers,in spite of the high number of Laelia orchids with flowers colored in precisely this way . There are some uncertainties as to their taxonomy because many species considered ''pure''until recently are today considered mere sub-species or varieties of L.flava. The plant in the photo could, using this logic ,be labeled L.itambana. The pseudobulbs of this medium-sized orchid are 6 in/15 cm tall and ended with a leaf about 6 in/15 cm long. The deep yellow flowers are very showy ,3.2 in/8cm across, growing sparsely on longish spikes . Grow them in the same way as l. jongheana. The plants bloom between winter and spring and come from Minas Gerais ,Brazil.