Cattleya maxima is a species of orchid in subfamily Epidendroideae found from Ecuador to Peru.
Epiphytic herb with club-shaped pseudobulbs, up to 39 cm or taller with one leaf at the top (total height of pseudobulb and leaf about 61 cm).[1][2] Leaf oblong or broadly oblong, rounded at apex, light green, up to 35 cm long and up to 6 cm wide, thick and fleshy.[2] Inflorescence stem up to 30 cm long, with 3–6 (upland variety) or 12–15 (lowland variety) flowers.[1] Flowers 12–15 cm wide, with lilac or pale rose sepals and petals, except the lip or labellum, which has dark purple veins and a yellow area in the middle.[1][2][3] Dorsal sepal narrowly elliptic; lateral sepals elliptic lanceolate; petals elliptic with wavy margin; lip folded forming a tube, with the front margin curly and wavy.[2] Column slender and arched.[2]
Cattleya maxima occurs as an epiphyte on trees in dry forests from 100 to 1800 m of elevation,[3] from Ecuador to Peru.[4] The upland variety can be found growing on rocky slopes.[1]
Cattleya maxima is a species of orchid in subfamily Epidendroideae found from Ecuador to Peru.
Habit.
