Name: Brassanthe Maikai
Etymology: Brassanthe = nothogenus derived from Brassavola and Guarianthe; Maikai = Hawaiian for "good," "excellent," or "beautiful."
 
First description: Artificially produced hybrid (Brassavola nodosa × Guarianthe bowringiana), registered in 1955 by Hirose with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) (originally as Brassocattleya Maikai).


Description & Notes: Brassanthe Maikai (particularly well-known as the clone 'Mayumi') is an extremely vigorous and free-flowering hybrid. It forms slender, club-shaped pseudobulbs with stiff-fleshy, narrow leaves. The upright inflorescence produces dense clusters of star-shaped flowers that have a bright, pink-violet coloration. The heart-shaped, open lip is intensely speckled. In the evening and at night, the flowers emit an intense, pleasant fragrance.

In cultivation, this hybrid is considered very robust and beginner-friendly. It requires plenty of light (tolerates lightly shaded morning and afternoon sun) and warm to warm-intermediate temperatures. It thrives best in very well-drained pots with coarse pine bark or mounted on cork. Water generously during active growth, but the substrate should always dry out quickly and completely between waterings.