Laelia anceps alba

A famous pure-white Laelia anceps! One of the earliest recorded alba form Laelia anceps, and renowned in breeding for its pure-white progeny. .
Temperature Tolerant. 
December blooming. 
Species from Mexico.
Laelia is one of the orchid genera known to use crassulacean acid metabolism photosynthesis, which reduces evapotranspiration during daylight because carbon dioxide is collected at night.

Most are epiphytes, but a few are lithophytes, such as Laelia anceps. They are closely related to Cattleya, but have twice as many pollinia. Stems are usually short, however the stem of Laelia anceps can be more than 1 m long. The ovate pseudobulbs are clearly separate. These are about 6 – 30 cm long. One or two waxy, leathery leaves develop from each pseudobulb. This leaf can be up to 20 cm long. The inflorescence is a raceme, which can be 30 cm long, with up to eight flowers, growing from the top of the pseudobulb. These flowers can be pink to purple, with a beautifully colored purple lip becoming white close to the column . They bloom in spring or autumn. Albino varieties are rare and therefore prized. Due to high demand for such a rare mutations, many horticultural labs use modern tissue culture or mericloning techniques to increase their availability.
Members of this genus tend to be fairly easy in culture, and some plants are surprisingly drought-tolerant. Culture is highly dependent upon the natural habitat of the species in question, although many do well as mounted (plaqued) specimens so that the roots receive plenty of air circulation and a sharp wet-and-dry cycle.
Plant bloom from fall to spring with three to six 10 cm wide flowers. Flowers are fragrant.
Plant is found growing on rocks and pine trees in the forest of Mexico and Honduras at elevations of 500 to 1500 meters.

Plants should be grown in medium fir bark with partial to full sun. Plant is a cool to warm growing orchid species. Water approximately once a week. Plant can also be mounted. Reduce watering during the winter.

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