cattleya maxima

This species is included in collections much less often that it deserves to be. The pseudobulbs are clubshaped ,flat ,10 in/25 cm in length and end in one narrow leaf that can be up to 8 in /20 cm long.The flowers tally with the generic name (for there are not too many cattleyas that could compete with this orchid in height ) and reach up to 6 in/15 cm in length. What is more, there can be up to 8 flowers per one long spike. The lip is long and tubular , with a wavy edge,and is golden -yellow with deep purple to orangevenation on the inside . The other tepals are light purple ,with ruffled edges. Cultivation is not difficult . The flowering season comes at a favorable time for European growers: the flowers apper between October and Janury-a gloomy time poor in light.C.maxima comes from the foothills of the Andes in Peru,Ecudor and Colombia.