115633 Lyc. skinneri 'Strawberry Fields' photo by Lois Cinert

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20170928 lyc virginalis 2
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Orchid Species: Lycaste virginalis

Lycaste virginalis is an orchid species identified by (Scheidw.) Linden in 1888.
Genus
Lycaste (Lyc.)
Grex
virginalis
Parents
Species
Author
(Scheidw.) Linden
Year
1888
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ORIGIN: From wet montane forests and pine-oak-liquidambar forests at altitudes of 1200 to 1800 meters.

DESCRIPTION: This is a warm to cold growing, large sized, epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that has ovoid, compressed pseudobulbs carrying several, apical, deciduous, plicate, elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate leaves, dropping in the autumn, from that time on the plant needs no water or fertilizer and should only be resumed with the emergence of the new growth and flowering in the winter and early spring. The inflorescence is erect, with a few at once, 6 to 12 [15 to 30 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence with the peduncle being concealed by inflated sheathing bracts. The flower is long-lasting, fragrant, and highly variable in size and color. This orchid is the national flower of Guatemala where it is known by the common name 'Monja Blanca' or white nun orchid, it is also found in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

FLOWER SIZE: To more than 6 inches [to more than 15 cm] -- information provided by Jay Pfahl, author of the Internet Orchid Species Encyclopedia (IOSPE).
Other Names
Genus Name Genus Grex Name Origin
Add+ Lycaste Lyc jamesii
Add+ Lycaste Lyc skinneri
Add+ Lycaste Lyc jamesiana
Add+ Lycaste Lyc schoenbrunnensis
Add+ Maxillaria Max skinneri
Add+ Maxillaria Max virginalis
Add+ Lycaste Lyc alba
Most awarded/recent cultivars: Lyc. skinneri 'Perfection' (2 awards from 1974 to 1982) Lyc. virginalis var. alba 'Snow Queen' (2 awards in 1981) Lyc. skinneri 'Santa Barbara' (2 awards from 1971 to 1979) Lyc. skinneri 'Valentine' (2 awards from 1972 to 1974) Lyc. virginalis f. alba 'Linda' (2014) Lyc. skinneri 'Katharina' (2014) Lyc. skinneri 'Conni' (2014) Lyc. skinneri f. alba 'Linda' (2014) Lyc. virginalis var. armeniaca 'Claudia de Archila' (2014) Lyc. skinneri 'Juan Francisco Velasquez' (2012) Lyc. skinneri 'Strawberry Fields' (2011) Lyc. skinneri 'Wössen' (2011) Lyc. skinneri 'Tai Aus' (2011) Lyc. skinneri 'Franz' (2010) Lyc. skinneri 'German Padilla' (2010) Lyc. skinneri 'Mario Palmieri' (2009) Lyc. skinneri 'Pogo' (2009) Lyc. skinneri f. alba 'Golden Gate' (2008) Lyc. skinneri f. alba 'Frau Elise' (2008) Lyc. skinneri 'Heatherglen' (2006)
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