PI.ATB XXVII. 



CATTLHYA DOAVIANA. 



\ Munificent epiphyte, with remarkably showy nankeen and pun''* 1 flowers. ' n,c pseodobulto ai* stout, dub- 



. i,.,,..!. fnm»«.-]'. and tar 81 the lop i ringle, broadlj oblong, oblnao leaf, of thick texture, ami fr M«« I" 



a font long; The peduncle, which iMUCS from B Wont tpatbe, beam from Iwo lo «x large U n.l ven h<uid*.ine 

 Rowers, which measure from six to seven inche-a. ■«...* The sepals are lanceolate, acute, sOMUe, smooth and even 

 at the edge, of n clearnankeen colour. The petals are ovate, bluntfa*. much waved at the maigin, and of the 

 some peculiar nankeen colour aa the aepala. The Up i* very Urge, obscurely thrcc-lobed, oblong-emarginate, 

 von much crisped at the edge, the whole of the expanded from lobe being of a rich velvety purple, DeanWuUj 

 lined over with golden veras, while the lateral lobe* are small, entire, and incurved over ihe column, which 

 latter i* somewhat arched, and about one-third lis long as the lip. 

 Cattleva Dowiana, Bate***, Gardner* Ci/oair/r, 1806, 828 ; U. Bottnicaf MtfoxiMt, I. 661&. 



This U probably the mast beautiful of the many gorgeous forms which the genus Calllega lias produced. 

 magnificent and lovely as many of them arc. U a a native of Costa Itica, and was first discovered by the 

 traveller Warscewira, but ho failed to introduce it in a living state. That honour was reserved for M. Arce, 

 a zealous naturalist, who met with it in mi, and sent it to the collection of the Mean. Veitch and Son,. 

 Of Chelsea, with whom it (lowered for the first time in 1S05. The native specimens War as many as five or 

 six Dowers on a scape, in which state it must be exceedingly grand. The name is given in compliment to 

 Captain Dow. an officer in Ihe American Packet service, "w some slight acknowledgment of the many 

 " kindnesses shown and the frequent assistance rendered lo English naturalists and men of science who have 

 "been so fortunate as to come in his way in their passage along the coasts of the Pacific." 



In its general appearance this line species somewhat resembles V. labiata. although the colour of its 

 flowers is very different ; indeed, in this respect its beauty is peculiarly its own, as will be more readily 

 imagined by n glance at our illustration, which is a faithful representation of a plant which bloomed in the 



Broomfield collection. 



The plant now under consideration is compact yet robust in its habit of growth, usually attaining a 

 height of twelve or eighteen inches. The racudobulbs ate stout and furrowed, and support a single oblong, 

 obtuse, thick, fleshy dark-green leaf. The flowers, which arc very large, and three to sis in number, are 

 borne upon an erect spike, which proceeds from a large oblong dark-green snathe. The sepals arc strap- 

 shaped, and tapering to a point ; the petals are much broader than the sepals, finely serrated and undulated at 

 ihe edges, and like the sepals of a bright nankeen colour : while ihe lip is large, ihe middle lobe spreading, 

 undulated and crisped at the edges, its ground colour n rich deep purple, which is beautifully pencilled with 

 rich golden lines, thus forming a splendid contrast with the colour of the sepals and petals. 



Catlltya Pomona blooms usually at the latter end of the summer or the beginning of autumn, and 

 retains its full beauty for a considerable lime. It is easily grown, hut requires a little more heat than some of 

 the other species, C. Triana and its allies, for example; in fact, it should be placed in Ihe warmest pari of 

 the Brazilian house. It requires ample drainage, and should be potted in good fibrous peat, to which may 



SECOND SERIES. 



