Smithsonian Gardens

Common name: Four-colored Cattleya

Family: Orchidaceae subfam. Epidendroideae

Synonym: Cattleya chocoensis, Cattleya chocoensis var. semi-alba, Cattleya quadricolor var. semi-alba

Distribution: WC Colombia

Habitat: Forests of short, stunted trees; 910m

Life form: Epiphytic

Bloom Time (northern hemisphere): October to March

Bloom characteristics: Inflorescence is 11" long with 2 flowers. Flower is 7" across.

Fragrance: Sweet

Pollination syndrome: Probably bee

Foliage characteristics: Unifoliate

Description: Cattleya quadricolor has many similarities to C. trianae, and was confused as a variety of it, or even another orchid, for decades. It was not until the late 1800s that a hobbyist pointed out one of the distinctive features of C. quadricolor, first described in its original botanical description, that differentiates it. While C. quadricolor is a large, broad-petaled flower made up of the same four colors as C. trianae, its flowers do not open fully, and it grows in a different region. This was the key to recovering the Four-colored Orchid from the dusty recesses of old botanical journals. C. quadricolor’s bell-shaped flowers are distinctive, a trait which made it less popular to collectors, and allowed it to survive in the wild better. It is another beautiful Colombian orchid to add to the records.

Comments: Cattleya quadricolor