Orchid Rhyncholaeliocattleya Alma Kee ‘Tipmalee’ AM/AOS

Rhyncholaeliocattleya Alma Kee ‘Tipmalee’ AM/AOS is a Cattleya alliance hybrid registered by Miyamoto in 1975, a cross of Cattleya Alma (1931) as seed parent with Rhyncholaeliocattleya Cheah Bean-Kee as pollen parent.  Its lineage is led by Cattleya dowiana at roughly 35.2%, with notable contributions from Cattleya mossiae (12.5%) and Cattleya cinnabarina (9.4%), alongside smaller traces from a long list of classic large-flowered Cattleya species, plus a touch of Rhyncholaelia digbyana further back in the cross. That heavy dowiana influence is the genetic backbone behind this grex’s reputation for rich, saturated color and full, well-formed blooms. The ‘Tipmalee’ cultivar stands out as one of the most consistently awarded selections within the grex, having earned AM/AOS recognition from the American Orchid Society. As with other Cattleya alliance hybrids, it grows best in bright light, intermediate-to-warm temperatures, good airflow, and a drying period between waterings to support strong, well-textured blooms.