Selected Species – Laelia anceps

John Lindley, in 1831, proposed the genus Laelia in Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants. Two species were listed: Laelia grandiflora and Laelia autumnalis.

The English nursery of Loddiges & Sons imported plants in 1835, soon described in the Botanical Register by Lindley as Laelia anceps. Lindley apparently remarked: "This plant is equal in beauty to any of the cattleyas." My exact sentiments, yet I fear that a situation of 'familiarity breeding contempt' may exist amongst many of the orchid fraternity regarding this species. Because of its ease of culture, it is an ideal "beginner's" orchid. It grows readily and flowers regularly with often spectacular flowers but, because of these characteristics and the fact that thousands of back-cuts find their way into collections, Laelia anceps is often considered commonplace. I do not believe, as I once heard a judge exclaim, that "If you've seen one 'anceps' you've seen them all!"

The selected species for this month is Laelia anceps var. chamberlainiana. This variety first came to England as a huge plant in 1885 and, for many years, was considered the best of the 'anceps'. The accompanying photograph does justice to the beauty of this orchid. Note the large size flowers, approximately 13cm across, the beautiful pale rose-purple sepals and petals, and the wonderful labellum (yellow striped with purple on the inner side and a rich purple-crimson border). Surely this is not a 'common' flower!

There are some other spectacular varieties of Laelia anceps. The variety williamsii, which I also grow, is almost pure white except for a yellow disc on the lip and a few purple lines on the inner side lobes of the labellum. It was imported to England by Frederick Sander, the 'Orchid King', and sold at auction in 1884. Mr. B.S. Williams, after whom the variety was named, purchased the plant for 30 guineas.

Laelia anceps var. albs, an almost pure white form, is less robust in growth than the previously named varieties. It first appeared in the Gardeners Chronicle of 1887 and received an FCC from the Royal Horticultural Society. This form has no pink or purple coloration, but an attractive patch of pale yellow on the lip forms a wonderful contrast to the white flowers.

An article by Joyce Stewart in the American Orchid Society Bulletin (1987, p.492) highlights a number of the superb early varieties of Laelia anceps. Two of the most beautiful are variety scottiana, illustrated in the Orchid Album in 1888 (the entire lip a rich, very deep velvet purple) and a sensational early white, variety dawsonii, characterized by a large labellum with a deep purple blotch. Stewart maintains that "The Royal Horticultural Society gave approximately 30 awards to Laelia anceps up to 1915, nearly all of them to plants with different varietal names." I wonder where these varieties are today? Undoubtedly, some would have been lost in continental collections because of the ravages of the Great War, but surely others lurk in species collections somewhere. Still, there are some fine examples of the species in Australian collections, particularly Laelia anceps 'Irwin's' ANVAOS, a variety of excellent size, substance and colour.

Many articles related to the culture of Laelia anceps use a famous quote from the Gardeners Chronicle of 1887 by M.L. Kienast-Zolly, which describes the conditions experienced by the species in habitat. It is worth considering the following:

"This orchid is always met with on the borders of the virgin forest, growing on the trunks of trees……exposed to a powerful sun and wind…… often clinging to rocks …… during the rainy season, May to October, the plants are daily drenched……and are thoroughly wet during the night, (in the morning) a sharp and fresh wind comes from the highest peaks ………begins to dry the plants, a work which the burning sun completes. (Then) the daily storm drenches them afresh ……. under these conditions, Laelia anceps grows with extraordinary vigour, and flowers about the end of October or November, just as the pseudobulbs arrive at their perfect development. About the end of February, new roots start from the base of the bulb ….. the fine rain falling almost like fog …….  this rain is too weak to saturate the plants."

The temperatures that Laelia anceps encounter (and enjoys!) are extreme. From winter lows of 2°C to summer highs of 36°C in Baulkham Hills (Sydney), Laelia anceps maintains its regular growth pattern, and flowers regularly and beautifully.

I believe that this interesting Mexican species is worth a place of pride in all species collections. It is far from a'common' orchid!