A chromatic and archetypal classification of Cattleya walkeriana Gardner
by Alex Tarce

Beloved by so many Orchidnuts™ from around the world for its lovely, fragrant flowers, the Cattleya walkeriana stands tall among the giants of the Cattleya alliance. Its popularity in Brazil and Japan have reached a point where an association was formed solely for Cattleya walkeriana enthusiasts. We know of no other orchid species that can claim such a distinguished honor.

Articles and books have been written about Cattleya walkeriana but very few have tried to provide an up-to-date list of its chromatic and archetypal varieties that are currently in cultivation. When available, text descriptions were helpful but the lack of pictures made it hard for anyone to imagine what the flower colors and patterns really looked like. In addition, printed materials become outdated as new varieties are created or discovered.

This article is by no means a scientific or taxonomic classification but rather one Orchidnut's attempt to provide an online, up-to-date resource for identifying the chromatic and archetypal classes of Cattleya walkeriana. In subsequent articles, we hope to present as many types or cultivars of each variety. If you have a good photo of a variety or cultivar, please share it with us so all the Orchidnuts can enjoy them as well.

History

George Gardner, an English botanist of the 1800s, encountered Cattleya walkeriana growing on trees along the river banks of Rio São Francisco, in an area known as the Diamond district of Minais Gerais, Brazil. The species was named in honor of Edward Walker, who accompanied Gardner during his trip in Brazil. The type specimen was described in the London Journal of Botany in 1843.

Later in 1847, Lindley described another plant in the Botanical Register as Cattleya bulbosa. His new description did not get much acceptance and subsequently, Cattleya bulbosa is now widely accepted as synonymous to Cattleya walkeriana. Today, the epithet bulbosa, is used to identify a subspecies whose pseudobulbs are smaller and rounder than the type specimen.

Cattleya princeps, which was originally described in 1877 by Barbarosa Rodrigues as a new species in Genera et Species Orchidearum Novarum, is now relegated as a subspecies of Cattleya walkeriana. It is said to come from a different habitat and known to bloom at a different time than the type specimen.

Description

Cattleya walkeriana is a large flowered species with a distinct, pleasant fragrance. The long-lasting flowers, usually 1-2, can reach 9cm in width and are typically borne from an aborted pseudobulb growth that resembles a stalk coming out of the most recently matured growth. Only one other Cattleya species, Cattleya nobilior, is known to exhibit this unusual flowering behavior. Like most other Cattleyas, the bulbosa and princeps subspecies are known to flower from a well developed sheath atop the pseudobulb. Most of the plants bloom in the late Brazilian autumn or early winter (April to June) while the princeps subspecies bloom in the Brazilian spring (September to November).

The pseudobulbs can be very short and ellipsoidal (subsp. bulbosa), ranging from 3 cm. to 4.5 cm. in height, to clavate (subsp. walkeriana) which can be from 5 cm. to 9 cm. in height. The diameter of a pseudobulb is about 1.2 cm. to 2 cm. Most of the pseudobulbs can be expected to have a single, ellipsoidal leaf that is about 4.5 cm. to 10 cm. in length and 2.8 cm. to 4 cm. in width with a notably round apex.

Chromatic & Archetypal Classification

The chromatic and archetypal classification is based on known varieties that are currently cultivated by many Orchidnuts from around the world. In addition to using cultivar names, this classification should prove to be useful for hybridizers, growers and collectors in identifying the unique qualities of their Cattleya walkerianas.

Alba - Petals, sepals, labellum and column should be pure white. Frequently, a greenish color is present on the column and on the apexes of the petals and sepals. The flower may also exhibit a creamy yellow coloration along the longitudinal grooves of the labellum, that is underneath the column.

Albescens - Petals and sepals are white colored with a very faint hint of rose pink. The column may have a light rose shade or have the same green coloration like the alba variety. A green color on the apexes of the petals and sepals can also be present. The backside of the sepals will sometimes show traces of pigmentation.

Amoena - Petals and sepals are pure white. Its labellum should have a light, rose lilac color that partially covers the medial lobe or can be in the form of delicate, colored grooves or veins.

Aquinii - The petals' apexes and its surrounding areas have the same tonality and color as the labellum. The petals and sepals occasionally have a longitudinal line in the center that starts from the midlobe and goes all the way to the apex.

Caerulea (Coerulea) - Petals and sepals have a bluish color of variable intensity and tonality with the labellum having a more intense blue coloration on the midlobe.

Caerulens (Coerulens)- Petals, sepals and midlobe of labellum have the same light blue coloration. Almost like a concolor but bluish hue.

Concolor - Petals, sepals and labellum have the same color of similar intensity. The labellum may show a creamy white color beneath the column.

Fantasia - Also known as suave but often referred to as "fantasy" or "false semi-alba". The petals and sepals are almost white, with a hint of rose, whose intensity may vary. Sometimes, the column and the apexes of the petals and sepals may have a tinge of green coloration. Labellum can be light rose or white accompanied with light rose grooves or veins.

Flamea - Petals and sepals are white or lilac in color with the petals exhibiting a more intense lilac color near or at the apex. Midlobe of the labellum should have the same tonality but much deeper in intensity.

Lilacina - Petals, sepals and the labellum's midlobe section all have the same intermediate coloration between lilac and bluish intensities.

Perola (Pearl) - Sepals and petals (or just the petals) have a faint hint of rose pink on both sides of a white flower. The labellum's lilac coloration can vary in intensity, ranging from light lilac to crimson. Some flowers may have a greenish color on the column and on the apexes of the petals and sepals.

Rosada (Rose) - Sepals and petals have a rosy or light lilac coloration. Labellum has a more intense lilac color on the midlobe.

Rubra - Sepals and petals have an intense, dark lilac coloration. Labellum should be dark lilac, nearing crimson in color, on the midlobe and lateral lobes.

Semi-alba - Petals and sepals are white colored with no signs of pigmentation on the back of the sepals. The labellum should have a dark lilac color with or without grooves or darker colored veins. Some flowers may have a greenish color on the apexes of the petals and sepals.

Striata - The petals' apexes and its surrounding areas have short streaks or lines of more intense lilac color than the rest of the petal or sepal segments.

Tipo - Petals and sepals have lilac coloration. Labellum has a more intense lilac color on the midlobe. This is the color type of the specimen used to describe the species.

Vinicolor - Petals, sepals and labellum have a red wine color. Labellum may also have a more intense red wine coloration than other parts of the flower.

References

Braem, G.J. Cattleya - The Brazilian Bifoliate Cattleyas. Brucke-Verlag Kurt Schmersow. West Germany.

C. walkeriana & C. nobilior. 2000-2001. No.1. Association of Cattleya walkeriana, Japan (ACW Japan). Japan.

C. walkeriana & C. nobilior. 2001-2002. No.2. Association of Cattleya walkeriana, Japan (ACW Japan). Japan.

Fowlie, J.A. 1977. The Brazilian Bifoliate Cattleyas and Their Color Varieties. Azul Quinta Press. California, USA.

Junior, A.V. & Viana, P.L. 2001. Cattleya walkeriana Gardner: Aspectos botanicos e Estudo cromatico. ACW. Belo Horizonte, Brasil.

Lima, L.H. 2004. Orchids: The Brazilian Bombshell. 73(9):686-691.

Santos, C.P. 1995. Brazilian Orchids: Research on Cattleya Walkeriana in My Home Region. (pp. 257-280). Sodo Publishing. Japan.

Withner, C.L. 1988. The Cattleya and their relatives. Volume I. The Cattleyas. Timber Press.

Photo courtesy of Alvaro Pereira & Emerson Hulmann.

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