Bulletin of miscellaneous information Kew 1906: 85 (1906)

Cattleya jenmanii was described by Robert Allen Rolfe in 1906. Its name is a tribute to the English botanist George Samuel Jenman, who discovered the species in the headwaters of the Mazaruni River, near Georgetown, Guyana. Paradoxically, this beautiful species was completely hidden from science and growers until 1969, when it was rediscovered in Venezuela thanks to the construction of the Troncal 10 highway, which crosses the Gran Sabana to the border with Brazil.

It is present in Guyana, Venezuela and northern Brazil. In Venezuela, it is located south of Bolívar state, in the Gran Sabana, between parallels 4° and 5° north latitude and meridians 61° and 64° west longitude.

It grows between 800 and 1,200 meters above sea level in dense and very humid forests, generally epiphytic, although it can be found on rocks on the steep walls of the tepuis, in full sunlight. Currently it is intensively collected by the indigenous people of the area, who sell it to tourists who come by the hundreds to enjoy the wonderful landscape.

Cattleya jenmanii is unifoliate, of moderate size. The pseudobulbs are compressed, attenuated towards their base, with four or five internodes. They can reach about 20 cm in length and their leaves are very leathery, elliptical, up to 25 cm in length. The spathe, green when flowering, is almost always simple, although a second, very small internal spathe may occur.

It blooms at two times of the year, between February and April, and then in September and October. Immediately after the pseudobulb matures it produces clusters of up to 7 large flowers, which can reach 17 cm in diameter.

It has a sweet perfume. The typical coloration is pale lilac to dark purple. The lip, with gently wavy edges, has a purple spot on the front disk that can extend to the throat, and its characteristic white “eyes”, one on each side. The purple spot can be solid or a group of streaks.

Currently there are clones of great quality, coming from genetic improvement, especially in the type and semi-alba varieties, superior in size, color and shape to what was traditionally known until a few years ago. In the varieties alba and coerulea it is little that has been able to improve the species; wild clones are few and of modest quality.

Among the most outstanding cultivars we have:

• type: Rubra, Katherine, Nazareno, Nitsuga
• semialba: Armando Mantellini
• alba: Sandra
• coerulea: Elena

Some concolor and albescens variety plants are also known.

Cattleya jenmanii can easily be confused with Cattleya labiata, since the appearance of its flowers can be very similar in some cases, and even its aroma can be quite the same (although that of tends to be sweeter and more penetrating). To clear up doubts, it is necessary to have the plant and verify that the leaves of Cattleya jenmanii have a slight sharp bend towards the underside, along the entire length of the edge. Cattleya mossiae and Cattleya labiata can also present this characteristic, but never Cattleya labiata.

Cattleya jenmanii is basically a dwarf-pseudobulb member of the large-flowered group of cattleyas, and this compact habit, along with its strong, wonderful fragrance and free-flowering nature, are the most distinguishing features of the species.

There are considered to be two biotypes that come from somewhat separated areas. One type has light to medium-lavender flowers with relatively good shape and large size. The other type produces smaller, more poorly shaped flowers, but with much richer color.

Notable varieties:

• C. jenmanii f. alba ‘Fuchs Snow’ FCC/AOS – received a rare First Class Certificate from the American Orchid Society

Notable Primaries:

• C. x gransabanensis – a natural hybrid between C. jenmanii and C. lawrenceana. , was found.