Cattleya maxima 'DZR'
 

Here's one of my C. maxima which is is bloom now. This is the lowland race of C. maxima. The flowers are more lavender, the lip less heavily veined and the plant is bigger than the upland race. The clone in the photos is one of the few I saw until now with flat petals (the major part of the flowers of this species has keeled petals).

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3597/...35d453b2_t.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2464/...f5a9ee50_t.jpg

Beautiful plant yet again! What do you mean when u say keeled petals? I'm still trying to learn all the orchid lingo ;) What do you mean by "upland race" and "Lowland race"?
Thanks-
Katie

Looks really great! Maxima is always a favorite of mine!

Hi Mauro,
When I first came to your post I pulled up teh photo before reading what you wrote...and I was thinking about how flat and beautiful it was, especially for a maxima. It is true that this is an unusual trait for this species. :D Well grown!!!

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Wow! That certainly is a good looking maxima! Great growing!!

Katie, when the petals fold back along the central nervure it is common that they are referred to as 'keeled', because they would remember a ship keel. Take a look below at one different C. maxima, also lowland, with keeled petals:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/9/860...dfdc1d1d_t.jpg

Also, Cattleya maxima has two races, or sub-species, one that grows in the wild in the lowlands, near the sea, which is represented by the flowers above, and another that is found only in the mountainous areas. The lowland plants are tall, easily twice the size of the upland race. See below a picture of the upland with its darker flowers and heavily veined lips:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/...48e6a8ab_t.jpg

Very pretty, thank you for the info too!

Absolutely gorgeous. If I had to make a choice between the two, I'd never get anything else done.LOL

Kim

Thanks Mauro! That was a great explanation.

Good info and beautiful blooms, love them!! I love learning something new :)