Cattleya porphyroglossa L. Linden & Rchb. f. 1856 is a member of the Orchidaceae family, endemic to Brazil, this obscure and little known form was described by Reichenbach. This specie has always been rare and few plants have ever reached cultivation. It is a near-relative of C. granulosa, with which it shares a lip midlobe covered in purple granulations. It grows epiphytically on low trees near water. First introduced into cultivation by Low and Co. in England in 1864. It is often found in nature with C. harrisoniana. 

C. porphyroglossa is an small epiphytic with pseudobulbs erect, thin, cylindrical, 30 cm tall, carrying two apical leaves, narrow, oblong and light green. The inflorescence  has 3-5 flowers. The flower has 5-7 cm in diameter, heavy fragrant, with petals and sepals of light brown color. The tri-lobed lip is purple colored, wavy, streaked with red stripes. It blooms in spring to summer.