C. gaskelliana and C. purpurata var. werkhauseri
 

Two very different unifoliates flowering in my windowsill right now.

The C. gaskelliana has a fragrance of hyacinths, but unlike the C. warscewiczii, there is nothing to detract from the olfactory impression.

My C. purpurata var. werkhauseri just opened, and it doesn't have any discernible fragrance yet. It's similar to the hybrid C. Shipbuilder's Oatmeal Stout (which is 75% purpurata after all) to the point where I might consider if I really need to have both taking up space. The bluish purple of the hybrid is superior, and the plant as a whole is more manageable in size, while the pure species has a better flower shape.

Looks good! Some purpuratas are giant and some are more compact, depending on elevation where the original, wild collected plant occurred. Lowland plants are large and highland plants are small.

Thanks, Steve! I knew this was the case with maximas, but I didn’t know purpuratas also came in lowland and highland forms, with the former being the larger.

Of course, this is my first purpurata, so I don’t have much of a basis for comparison, except that it is my tallest Cattleya overall.

Both are beautiful!

The gaskelliana is really good. And you're right; the fragrance of this species is usually outstanding.

Thank you! The gaskelliana was a bonus plant I received with an order of other Cattleyas, but the look and fragrance of the flower were such a pleasant surprise that I’ve decided it’s a keeper.

I’m slightly disappointed with the werhauseri. The purple seems quite grayish in most lighting conditions, where my C. Shipbuilder’s Oatmeal Stout coerulea is more saturate in colour. This, combined with the fact that the plant is not a space saver, means that at the moment I am considering whether or not it’s stay in my collection is permanent.