Sunday, April 10, 2011

Laelia tenebrosa "Nicci"

My beautiful and flamboyant Laelia tenebrosa native to Brazil just finished it's flowering season - it's variety "Nicci" and in our climate it's blooming in autumn.

Laelia genus previously comprised more than 60 different species, but it has recently been revised and now contains only a few from Central America. Their growth habitat closely resembles that of Cattleya's and in cultivation they require similar conditions. They need well-drained mix and plenty of watering during growing time and then drier situations during dormant months.
The flowers of Laelia tenebrosa are large and showy( 19 cm/7 1/2 inches) , scented, wide open up to four blooms on each flower spike. Colors can vary and my "Nicci" variety displays beautiful bronze/purple blooms that loved by everyone, even though it's unusual color combination, being on the opposite side of the color wheel. Nature's creations...

This beautiful orchid was first documented in 1800's and it's origin's traced to small area of Espirito Santo state in Brazil, where it now considered virtually extinct. It grew in dense forests on large trees and that area of the rain forest now been totally destroyed. Most of the plants available today come from sub crosses or clones of old jungle plants. One really hopes that some original genes still left and breeders can recreate this magical orchid, to be enjoyed by everyone.

11 comments:

  1. This is just gorgeous. I love the bell-shaped blooms on this ... so different to the orchids I see. I'm loving the colours as well. Yet another or your beauties.

    I was hoping you might be able to identify an orchid I've had for many years now. I really have no idea what it is and I'm not doing much to look after it, so I'd appreciate any hints or clues:
    http://bushbernie.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-flaunt-your-flowers-friday-at-start.html

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  2. You couldn't make it up. Those colours

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  3. This is strikingly beautiful.

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  4. Congratulations for this wonderful Laelia and thanks for sharing...

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  5. Thank you all for your kind comments and for allowing me to share and to show you this Brazilian beauty.

    Bernie - I left comment on your blog about your orchid,hope it helps - thank you for showing this native treasure!

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  6. It is a very beautiful orchid - I like the elegant shape and unusual colors. Thank you for telling us about it - I enjoyed getting acquainted with a new plant.

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  7. I often find I far prefer the thinner-petalled more "natural" looking Laelias and their hybrids to the "fuller" and overly-flamboyant Cattleya hybrids. This is a lovely plant! :)

    - Orchids on a Balcony.

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  8. Yes it is so beautiful. I placed in my post of orchid show earlier that i somehow did not put the Catleya because i'm almost tired looking at them. So I am just like James above preferring the more natural-looking ones like Laelia. How wonderful it could be to tour your garden!

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  9. The spectacular color of this orchid is amazing with that deep purple and other hues of purple. I could stare at it for hours...

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  10. Such a gorgeous orchid Klara. Mine never flower again for some reason... :(

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  11. Yes it is so beautiful and such a nice post...
    Thanks for sharing...

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