Cattleya forbesii
Cattleya forbesii is one of the most common species in the bifoliate group, and without flowers the plants
of the species are indistinguishable from the ones of C.
harrisoniana. When we look at the
flowers, however, Cattleya forbesii is not really closely related to any other species in the
genus. The two species grow together in the swamps in Rio de Janeiro State, and occur in large quantities. These
swamps are created as the result of water coming from the mountains being blocked by the sand dunes at the beach,
and the water level varies quite substantially depending on the amount of rain that is drained down by numerous
streams that feed them. Hybridization between the two species is rather common, and the hybrid is Cattleya xvenosa. In some areas, the hybrid population is so high to the number of plants exceed the parents
in quantity. The occurrence of Cattleya
forbesii is not limited to these
swamps though. The species is extremely common in Rio de Janeiro State, either on shrubby coastal forest at the
beaches or at the slope forest inside the City of Rio de Janeiro. The distribution goes uninterrupted to the south
until the State of Santa Catarina, and this continuous distribution is quite puzzling. If we consider Cattleya intermedia and Laelia
purpurata, for example, their distribution
is interrupted in the State of Paraná, but this doesn't occur with C. forbesii.
It is equally difficult to explain the continuous distribution of Cattleya forbesii
as is why it is interrupted for the other two species. In the State of Paraná, Cattleya forbesii
grown on boulders by the sea, one of the typical habitats of C. intermedia
in the Santa Catarina Island.
Cattleya forbesii is not a colorful species and is considered one of the least showy in the genus. However,
it is readily available and extremely easy to grow under warm to intermediate conditions. As in Brazil most people
grow cattleyas outdoors, it is easy to understand why the species is so common in mixed collections. Flowers average
about 4" across and segments are star-shaped, thin and quite flat. Colors vary from green to light tan, sometimes
with a pink tint. The rather small lip is the most colorful part of the flower, being white with red stripes and
a yellow throat.
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Distribution Map for Cattleya forbesii.
As can be seen, this is a strictly coastal species. Its distribution mirrors that of Laelia purpurata
from Santa Catarina to São Paulo, but without the interruption in Paraná State.
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On 1 and 2,
we can see the typical habitat for Cattleya
forbesii as an epiphyte. Throughout
the distribution range of the species, this is the most common way to find the plants. Near the sea, plants grow
as epiphytes on small trees inside the thick, shrubby vegetation, as well as lithophytically on rocks facing the
sea. A bit away from the sea, plants grow as epiphytes on larger trees in the swamps. More to the interior, plants
of the species are found growing as epiphytes on larger trees in the slope rain forest. Regardless of the location,
plants of the species seems to prefer a bit more protection than Cattleya harrisoniana.
or C. intermedia. On 1, we also
see a green form of the species which blends very well with the habitat. On 2, we see a
pinkish color form, more typical from Santa Catarina and very rare in the upper range of the distribution.
On 3, we can see the most typical color form of Cattleya forbesii.
This light tan color is widespread throughout the distribution, and in this particular case, the red stripes in
the lip are very intense. Out of that, there is not much variations on the color of the flowers, except foe a few
albinos, apple green with white lips. |
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