RHH's photos with the keyword: sophronitis

This is one of the few hybrids I grow and one of the few Cattleyas I grow. It's a hybrid of Laeliocattleya Culminant and the tiny red species, Sophronitis coccinea and due to the renaming of the species in its background would now be known simply as Cattleya Circle of Life. It is a small plant as Cattleyas go, only 25 cm tall with 7-8 cm flowers, two per growth. It blooms faithfully every winter or spring and is one I raised from a very small seedling.

Sophronitis acuensis is from Brazil, as are all the species in the genus Sophronitis. It has recently beeen reclassified as Cattleya acuensis, but by any name is colorful and desirable. Its flowers are slightly smaller than the better known Sophronitis coccinea and the plant is much smaller, the individual growths only 4 cm tall, smaller than the 5 cm flowers.

This will be the last for a while in my series of orchid shots on a dark background. This is the same species I posted recently, but a close-up of a single flower. All the species in the genus Sophronitis are from Brazil and all have been recently reclassified as Cattleya, but I've continued to use the older names since those are the names to which I'm accustomed.

There are a number of species in the genus, Sophronitis (now reclassified as Cattleya). They are all from Brazil and are some of the most desirable or orchids for their bright red and orange colors and for their potential in hybridizing. They are not the easiest plants to grow, however, preferring cooler temperatures and good light. This is one of the smaller species, though it has very large flowers for the size of the plant. The photo illustrates another feature of some of these species also: the flowers increase dramatically in size after opening, often doubling their size, as is evident from the two flowers in this photo, one recently opened and still much smaller than the other flower.

A hybrid of Epidendrum radicans crossed with Sophronitis coccinea.

From Brazil and recently reclassified first as a Sophronitis, then as a Cattleya.

This species has been recently reclassified first as Sophronitis alaorii and then as Cattleya alaorii: it is native to Brazil.

This lovely species is native to Brazil and has been recently reclassified, first as Sophronitis and then as Cattleya.

From Brazil.

This miniature species from Brazil is related to Cattleya and has been used in hybridizing to reduce plant size and to impart red color to its progeny. Sadly, this plant is no longer in my collection, but is a picture taken years ago and scanned from a slide. The picture below is a hybrid, about 6 inches tall, a fourth generation hybrid that has Soph. coccinea in it three times and has more than half its genes from that species.

Sophronitis coccinea is a miniature orchid species from Brazil that is related to the Cattleyas and has been much hybridized with them to produce miniature plants and sunset colors. The species is increasing rare in the wild due to illegal over-collecting, but is fairly common in cultivation and has been much interbred by the Japanese to produce plants of superior shape and color that are more warmth tolerant. It tends to be a bit temperamental but when given cooler temperatures and fairly even moisture will do well. This plant is 9-10 cm tall, typical for the species and the flowers about 6 cm across, and it a selected clone. orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2011/08/sophronitis-cocci...

This miniature orchid bloomed again for me recently, but I've been very disappointed in it - I expected much better form than this. The photo turned out better than the flower, in my opinion.

Slc. stands for Sophrolaeliacattleya a name for a hybrid of three different genera, Sophronitis, Laelia and Cattleya. Since the whole Cattleya alliance has been re-examined and many species renamed, it is now just simply Cattleya Circle of Life. It is a first-bloom seedling that I got in a batch from one of the best hybridizers around and is a large plant (for me), 8-10 inches tall with 4 inch flowers. It is a hybrid of Laeliocattleya Culminant and Sophronitis coccinea for those who are interested. orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2012/12/sophrolaeliocattl...

Here's another shot of Slc. or C. (for Cattleya) Circle of Life. It actually has another flower spike developing with two more flowers. orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2012/12/sophrolaeliocattl...

"Slc." stand for Sophrolaeliocattleya, which means that this is cross of three genera, Sophronitis, Laelia and Cattleya, Sophronitis coccinea, a species and the hybrid Laeliocattleya Pixie Gold, only now all the parents have been lumped under Cattleya so that this is simply Cattleya Seagulls Little Doll. The photo is an old one, however, and I no longer have the plant.

Now known as Cattleya sophronitis, this Brazilian species has been used to breed reds into the Cattleya alliance, but is spectacular in its own right. This clone is the result of intensive breeding and is a tetraploid with very heavy substance and excellent form. orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2013/02/sophronitis-cocci...

Here's another picture of my 4N (tetraploid) Sophronitis. The first year it bloomed with one flower, this year with two and hopefully does even better next year. orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2013/02/sophronitis-cocci...

One more shot of my tetraploid Sophronitis. The blooms were slightly misshapen this time, though I have no idea why, but are still striking. The plant is in our local show tomorrow. orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2013/02/sophronitis-cocci...