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Laelia crispa
Laelia crispa is another of the large flowered species of section Cattleyodes,
and the plants are virtually indistinguishable from ones of L. purpurata
and L. lobata. The flowers are very distinct, though, with their heavily
twisted and waved segments and a lip that usually doesn't open fully and looks quite triangular in front view.
The flowers are also smaller (4" to 5") than those of the two mentioned other species, and are produced
in larger numbers (up to 10 on an inflorescence). Flowers of Laelia crispa
also have a very distinct and pleasant fragrance, one of the best in the orchid family.
Laelia crispa is very common throughout its distribution range, and actually occurs in large numbers
in the Tijuca Mountains, inside Rio de Janeiro City. It is interesting to note that the species also occurs in
the Pedra da Gávea, same habitat as Laelia
lobata. But although Laelia lobata grows on the rock cliffs facing the ocean, L. crispa
grows as an epiphyte on the cliffs facing land, so the two species never mix. The main occurrence for Laelia crispa is, however, in the Serra do Mar, which in Rio de Janeiro State is also called Serra dos
Órgãos (Organ Mountains). There, Laelia
crispa grows in astonishing numbers
high on old trees on the cliff forest, in altitudes over 400 (1300 ft.) meters. The habitat is about the same in
the Serra da Mantiqueira, and thus it is almost certain that the species goes a bit inside Minas Gerais and São
Paulo States. In terms of color, flowers of Laelia
crispa are usually white to very
light purple on the segments, and there is some variation on the lip, which can go from dark purple to red wine
color on the frontlobe, and white to dark yellow in the throat. So far, it seems that only one alba form has been found, and no coeruleas.
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Distribution Map for Laelia crispa.
The species is typical from Rio de Janeiro State, where it grown on all mountain ranges above some 400 meters elevation.
It also extends a bit into the States of Minas Gerais and São Paulo, following the Serra da Mantiqueira.
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Laelia crispa is a species that occurs almost exclusively in Rio de Janeiro State, and the main habitat
is the tropical rain forest that covers the Serra do Mar and the Serra da Mantiqueira. The species seems to be
quite tolerant of varied conditions, and this is probably why plants can be found almost everywhere there is primary
forest and elevation is above some 300 (1000 ft.) meters. The seeds of Laelia crispa
are very light and so the species spreads quite easily even out of the rain forest. On 1, we have
a good example of this. This huge plant is growing on an Imperial Palm which is more than 150 ft. tall and way
over 100 years old. The orchid is attached halfway up and certainly is also very old. This palm is out of the natural
forest, in a person's backyard. In the forest, Laelia
crispa usually grows on the upper
branches of very tall trees where the plants get plenty of light and air circulation, something in common with
this shown situation.
On 2, we see the typical color form of Laelia crispa,
and on 3 we have a very rare carnea form, with white flowers and just some pink stripes on the
lip's frontlobe. |
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