cattleya

[ kat-lee-uh, kat-lee-uh, -ley-uh ]

noun

1. any of several tropical American orchids of the genus Cattleya, having showy flowers ranging from white to purple.

cattleya

/ ˈkætlɪə /

noun

1. any tropical American orchid of the genus Cattleya, cultivated for their purplish-pink or white showy flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of cattleya¹

1820–30; after William Cattley (died 1832), English botany enthusiast; -a ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of cattleya¹

C19: New Latin, named after William Cattley (died 1832), English botanist

Example Sentences

Our Cattleya House is 187 feet long, 24 feet wide; glass screens divide it into seven compartments.

From Project Gutenberg

Here also is Cattleya bicolor Measuresiana, an exquisite example of a species always charming to my taste.

From Project Gutenberg

Cattleya Sanderiana was first discovered under circumstances rather odd.

From Project Gutenberg

Like Cattleya Schroderae it filled a gap when discovered in 1883, for there was no species at the time which flowered in July.

From Project Gutenberg

This was Cattleya Sanderiana—sometimes as much as eleven inches across; in colour, a tender rosy-mauve.

From Project Gutenberg