Plant
Cattleya intermedia
Cattleya intermediaAlso known as Intermediate Cattleya
Intermediate cattleyas thrive along the Atlantic coast of South America, clinging to windswept shrubs or rocky bluffs within reach of ocean mist. Each slender pseudobulb produces a pair of leathery leaves and a spray of fragrant, pale pink to white blossoms marked by a vivid purple or magenta lip. Adapted to sharp seasonal shifts in humidity, they rely on aerial roots clad in spongy velamen to absorb moisture and ambient nutrients from fog.
FloweringEpiphyticFragrant
—observations
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—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPhotosynthesis; absorbs moisture and dissolved mineral salts from fog, rain, and bark debris
Predators
- Herbivorous snails and slugs
- Grasshoppers
- Scale insects
ThreatsHabitat loss from coastal development and illegal collection for horticulture
HabitatsCoastal restingas, littoral scrub, swamp forests, and granite outcrops
Life spanDecades (perennial)
Classification
- FamilyOrchidaceae
- SpeciesCattleya intermedia
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognized by cylindrical pseudobulbs bearing two thick leaves and up to nine pastel flowers with a bright magenta lip.
- Support conservation
- Never remove, cut, or harvest wild plants, and avoid publishing exact GPS coordinates of wild stands.
Responsible observation
- Field Observation: Look for them growing low on stunted coastal trees or lichen-covered rocks along the shoreline.
- Fragrance Window: Sniff flowers during warm mornings when their floral scent peaks to draw pollinating bees.
- Leave in Place: Photograph wild plants where they grow; wild populations are protected from commercial harvesting.
Image unavailableSame Genus 
Same Genus (c) Diego Delso , some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-saClose Relative
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