Cattleya maxima is a species of orchid with a superficial resemblance to the labiate species of Cattleya, but with a closer genetic relationship to the Crispid Laelias (such as C. purpurata).Sometimes referred to as the "peekaboo orchid" or Christmas flower. It first discovered in the year 1777, by Spanish botanists José Antonio Pavón Jiménez

José Antonio Pavón Jiménez

José Antonio Pavón Jiménez or José Antonio Pavón was a Spanish botanist known for researching the flora of Peru and Chile during an expedition under Carlos III from 1777 to 1788...

 and Hipólito Ruiz López

Hipólito Ruiz López

Hipólito Ruiz López , or Hipólito Ruiz, was a Spanish botanist known for researching the floras of Peru and Chile during an expedition under Carlos III from 1777 to 1788...

 during an exploration of Spain's South American colonies.In 1831, John Lindley

John Lindley

John Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...

 proclaimed Ruiz and Pavón's orchid as a new species,Cattleya maxima.Prior to 2000, C. maxima was separated from the Brazilian Laelias because it had only four pollinia in its pollinarium, as opposed to eight in Laelia sensu MCMXCIX.

Characteristics

C. maxima flowers bloom from mid-November to early December with a purplish-lavander color. C. maxima usually grow to 2 ft. high. C. maxima have 3 sepals and a unique yellow stripe on its flower lip. C. maxima have pseudobulbs which denotes its 2 varieties, one with larger pseudobulbs and one with smaller pseudobulbs.