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The following article was written for the Orchid Species Bulletin published by the Orchid Species Society, which is based in Brisbane, Queensland in January 2003. Bear in mind that any cultivation notes refer to the sub-tropical conditions of Southern Queensland, Australia.
C. forbesii has slightly swollen, thin elongate pseudobulbs that are 10-20 cm tall and 10-15 mm diameter, which are borne along a short creeping rhizome. There are two elliptic or narrowly ovate, leathery leaves that are 9-14 cm long and 2.5-5 cm broad at the apex of each pseudobulb. Inflorescences that are 9-12.5 (-14) cm long are produced from a sheath that is 4-6 cm long at the apex of the stems. The raceme bears 2-5 flowers that are 6-10 cm across. The flowers have pale green or yellow-green sepals and petals that may be tinged purple-brown or muddy-tan. Its lip is white on the outside, with pale pink inside on the side-lobes and a deep yellow streak in the centre. The side-lobes are veined on the inside with purple to tan or carmine and the mid-lobe has a white margin. The hidden column is yellow, stained and spotted with red.
Found in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Minas Gerais states, Brazil, C. forbesii grows on rocks and trees near sea level. A common inhabitant of coastal tidal swamps and streamside forest, C. forbesii grows on large trees that are 2-10 m high, on the trunk or outstretched horizontal branches. The environment where this species grows is shady and is shared with wet moss, lichen, philodendrons and bromeliads. Conditions are hot and humid with regular sea breezes. An easy species to grow and flower in the Brisbane region, C. forbesii requires 70-80% shade and a well drained medium. Maintain high humidity during the warmer months with good air circulation and ensure that the roots do not dry out for long periods. In winter provide it with a drier rest, with reduced watering or misting in the mornings of warm sunny days. Despite its lowland habitat, C. forbesii survives winters down to 12 oC, without ill effects particularly if the leaves are dry at night.
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Cattleya
forbesii Lindl.
is a distinctive member of the genus that cannot be confused with any other. H.O.
Forbes collected it in Brazil for the Horticultural Society of London and
introduced it to European cultivation. John Lindley described it in Collectanea
Botanica in 1823, naming it in Forbes' honour.
C.
forbesii var. punctata Day ex
Braem is best referred to as the rare spotted form (fma. punctata) of the
species, which has yellowish sepals and petals that are profusely spotted with
reddish-brown. I have seen several colour forms in cultivation that may be
labelled as "yellow", "green" or "pink", which
vary in the amount of yellow or green colour in the sepals and petals or pink in
the lip. These colour forms do not appear to have been validly published.