Laelia

Orchids of the genus Laelia are found in Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and Brazil. The Brazilian ones differ from those of other regions in being generally larger plants with growth habits similar to Cattleyas. In fact, movement is currently afoot to reclassify the Brazilian species into another genus. The experts who do the classifying can't quite decide on details of the reclassification. Laelias grow on trees (epiphytes) or on rocks (lithophytes) and generally require a cool dry season in the greenhouse to approximate their native climate in order to bloom.

	Laelia albida. Native to Mexico.		Laelia anceps. Native to Mexico.
	Laelia anceps var guerrero. A larger variation of the species anceps.		Laelia furfuracea. Mexico.
	Laelia gouldiana. The most splendid bloomer of the Mexican Laelias.		Laelia Honeypot. A very floriferous hybrid.
	Laelia purpurata. The national flower of Brazil.		Laelia purpurata. A different clone of the same species with slight color variation.
	Laelia rubescens. The national flower of Guatemala, where it is called "Flor de Jesus" (Flower of Jesus) because of the proximity of it's blooming to Christmas.		Laelia sincorana. A small Brazilian plant with large blooms.
	Laelia flava var aurantiaca. Brazil.		Bl Morning Glory (Brassavola nodosa x Laelia purpurata). A cross of my two favorite orchids. Retains the pleasant perfume of the nodosa.