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He was particularly fond of the spring-blooming species, Cattleya mossiae, which is the national flower of Venezuela and can produce up to five flowers on a spray. He made sibling crosses of the best ...

At one point one of the most important orchids to the commercial horticulture industry, Cattleya mossiae first flowered in the collection of the English orchid enthusiast Mrs. Moss in 1836. C. mossiae ...