Often referred to as the classic corsage orchid or “the queen of flowers,” Jenman’s Cattleya orchid (Cattleya jenmanii) is a dwarf-pseudobulb member of the large-flowered group of Cattleyas. Its compact habit, along with its strong, wonderful fragrance, and free-flowering nature are the most distinguishing features of the species. From a single sheath, it normally produces three to five showy, dark lavender 5-inch blooms on each stem. It grows both as an epiphyte on tree branches and as a lithophyte on rock outcroppings. In nature, Cattleya jenmanii is reported to flower twice a year; in cultivation, however, it is normally only an autumn bloomer. It requires the normal temperature range of 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night and 85 degrees during the day, and benefits from a lot of sun and good air circulation.

Discovered growing along rivers in the dense jungles around the Gran Sabana in the southeastern corner of Venezuela, with humid summers and autumns and dry winters and springs, the Cattleya genus was named in 1824 by John Lindley after Sir William Cattley, who received and successfully cultivated specimens of Cattleya labiata that were used as packing material in a shipment of other orchids and tropical plants. The species was discovered and named in 1906 by John Rolfe, editor of The Orchid Review in honor of G. S. Jenman, the government botanist in Georgetown, British Guyana.

The orchid family consists of a large number of genera, each with its own unique characteristics. A common characteristic, however, is the basic form of the flower, which consists of three petals surrounded by three sepals -- often in dramatic and contrasting colors and in a variety of shapes and sizes. Although some orchids are native to temperate zones, most orchids tend to prefer a semi-tropical or tropical environment (USDA Zones 9-11) and have epiphytic roots -- meaning they derive moisture and nutrients from the air and support from another plant; few orchids grow in soil. Orchids usually prefer a diurnal temperature fluctuation -- meaning warmer days and cooler nights -- though the absolute temperature range (cool, intermediate or warm) varies by genus and is consistent with their natural habitat. While requiring adequate sunlight for a stunning bloom display, most orchids will not tolerate sustained direct sun.

Many varieties have pseudobulbs, a portion of the stem between leaf nodes that stores water to help sustain the plant through dry periods. Other varieties are monopodial, meaning upward growth is from a single growing point.

There is an exception to almost every general statement one can make about orchids. The family continues to challenge taxonomists.