Antique Chromolithographic Print of a Christmas Orchid or May Flower, ca.1880

Reference
BG-13009-249
Date
1880
Region
Americas
Category
Natural History Print
Sheet size
26.0 x 17.0 cm (10.2 x 6.7 in)
Condition
Good
Availability
Available
Price
EUR 180

Antique print titled 'Cattleya Trianae Superba'.

Cattleya trianae, also known as Flor de Mayo ("May flower") or "Christmas orchid", is a plant of the family Orchidaceae. It grows as an epiphytic orchid, with succulent leaves, endemic to Colombia where it was nominated as the national flower in November 1936. That year, the National Academy of History of Argentina asked the Latin American countries to participate in an exhibition with the representative flowers of each country. The Colombian government gave the botanist Emilio Robledo the task to designate the most representative flowering plant of the country.

The choice of Cattleya trianae was made for two main reasons:

The lip is yellow, blue and red, in the same way as the Colombian flag. The species was named after the 19th century Colombian botanist José Jerónimo Triana. The species grows at 1500–2000 meters above sea level, in Cloud forests. It is an endangered species due to habitat destruction.

This is an original antique print of an Orchid species. This print originates from 'Revue de l'Horticulture Belge et Étrangère'. Published circa 1880.

Artists and Engravers: Chromolithograph after P. de Pannemaeker.

Where this sits in the catalogue

Other sheets of Americas


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