Description
The Cattleya alliance of orchids is easily one of the most hybridized of all the orchid groups. One of the foundations of Cattleya breeding is Laelia tenebrosa (now considered a Cattleya) as it confers not only vigorous growth, but a glowing richness to its progeny’s blooms. This Brazilian species produces spectacular blooms in its own right, with colors ranging from burnished copper to bronze and even to an elusive yellow. Its native range in Brazil is small, and the plant is nearly extinct in the wild, resulting in the limitation of genetic diversity. It is said that there were many outstanding Laelia tenebrosa varieties of different hues that have now, sadly, been lost to cultivationi, although some were memorialized in paintings.
But perhaps all is not lost. Orchids make seeds abundantly, and Laelias are among the most prolific of seed makers. If enough seeds are produced, and with a little help from compounds that cause mutation, we’ll be able to re-create orchid colors that have been lost. Think of it as the Jurassic Orchid Project…
