Vivi's Orchid Corner

September 2003 - Volume 8, Issue 9

"Laelia jongheana"

Dear Orchid Friends:

Laelia jongheana, a lovely pale pink to light rose colored orchid, is quite fragrant and is admired by Brazilians. Several growers at the 15th WOC in Rio de Janiero in 1996 showcased these lovely laelias. Que linda!

Laelia jongheana is native to the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, however, through the careful cultivation by responsible orchid growers, this orchid can now be found in orchid collections in other states such as Parana (Rio de Janiero, Petropolis, Curtiba).

Due to deforestation, and development, Laelia jongheana, this Brazilian species is presently threatened with extinction and is on the CITES list. CITES is an acronym for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. An endangered species is an animal or plant listed by regulations as being in danger of extinction according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Orchids on the CITES list, Appendix I, require permits for importation and exportation.

The natural habitat of Laelia jongheana is the cool mountains and forested areas at elevations of 1300 - 1700 meters. Laelia jongheana prefer cooler, damp environments as mountains, but do need light. Yet, because of their adaptive abilities, these orchids can be cultivated in more intermediate type environments. The Spring months in Brazil are September through December - the time Laelia jongheana blooms. Springs can be cool, damp and rainy and the jongheanas thrive. They do require ample light and prefer to be drier in the winter months (June - August in Brazil). When these orchids are growing actively, provide them with plenty of water.

Laelia jongheana is not a large plant. Pseudobulbs average 2 inches long (3-6 cm.) and are somewhat compressed. Folds develop on the pseudobulbs as they age. Only one leaf develops per pseudobulb and leaves are approximately 5-6 inches (8-11cm) long.

Flowers form in pairs on short spikes and have a flattened appearance. Petals and sepals vary from pale pink to rose colors. Sepals are slender and tapered. The petals are fuller, wider and twice the width of the sepals. Laelia jongheana have a ruffled, tubular lip which may have cream colors on the edges with a yellow center.

Laelia jongheana is named after a man from Brussels, de Jonghe. The story is that in the 1850's an individual by the name of Libon collected these species and sent them to his friend de Jonghe. Nearly twenty years later, Reichenbach formally classified this orchid and named them Laelia jongheana after de Jonghe.

Credits:
U.S. Department of Interior, U.S .Fish and Wildlife Services
McQueen, Jim and Barbara, Orchids of Brazil, 1993.

Vivi