I'M.. XXII. 



CATTLEYA SUPERBA. 



C.svper&a; foliis ovnto-oblongia obtusis coriaceifl nurginatis cnule clavato brevioribus, 



scpnlis oblongis ncutiuscnlis, petatis l&nceol&tis acntu membrimnecis duplA li.ti- 

 oribtis.lnbclli trilobi cncullnti lobw InterulibiiB ncutis : intermedin transrcno plant) 

 denticulate emarginato subunguiculato basi venis clevatis rugoso ; callis duubus 

 pone basin. 



Culllcya supcrba. Schomburgk in /ill. 



Catlleya Schombnrgkii. Loddigett Orchid, no. 434. 



This magnificent sweet-scented Catlleya ha* been found In British Guayana by Mr. Schomburgk. 

 who sen) a live plant of ii lo Messrs. Loddigcs, and n drawing to llie Linncan Society, by permission 

 of whirl. I am :.lsle- lo publish it in this work. 



The plnnt represented by Mr. Schomburgk a inferior in size to n dried specimen seal by him 

 to me, the stem of the Intlor Wing ten inclica long, and stout in proportion. Tho flower*, if not so 

 largo as those of Catlleya Mourn, are, from tho richness of (heir colours, inferior to none in beamy. 



Tho following is taken from the account of this plant communicated to the TJnncan Society by 

 Mr. Schomburgk. 



» The specie* in an epiphyte. The stem is narrow at the base, and increases in diameter 

 upwards : it is however seldom more tliaa two inches in circumference ; when young it is covered 

 with sheaths resembling the spathc, except in position, and so closely imbricated that the stem 

 appear* to be round ; but in old specimen*, whence the sheaths have fallen, it is found to bo com- 

 pressed and deeply channelled. From tho apex of the stem spring two coriaceous, elliptical, acute 

 leaves, between which the peduncle mokes its appearance from the midst of a large foliaceous 

 spathe ; the latter when young il striated and speckled, but soou dries up and becomes slrmw- 

 colonred. The peduncle bean from three lo sis Plowebb, each between five and six inches in 

 diameter. The sepals arc fleshy J tlic two lateral almost acinaeiform, the intermediate one lanceo- 

 late, the whole terminated by a sharp greenish point. Tlio petals are somewhat larger, wavy, ovate- 

 lanceolate, toothlettcd toward, tho upper end ; both sepals and petals arc of a beautiful pink colour. 

 their lower lurftce being paler with a bluish cast. The lip is 3-lobed, and cucullalo; (he middle 

 lobe is rounded and saddle-backed, wavy, apiculate, and along its edge denticulate, of a dark purple 

 colour, but yellow and Striated in the middle ; the lateral lobes Told over the column and each 

 other, are recurved at ,|„. uppor end. deep purple on tho outside becoming paler downwards, 

 yellowish white in (he inside. IV column has an incurved denticulated margin, and is white tinged 

 with pink at the base. 



' This plant appears to be peculiar to the 3rd or 111. degree of N. Lai. j it is not to be met with 

 in the Essequibo north of the mouth of the llupnnuny i from (hence it is found southward* on trees 



which skirt the banks of the brooks and rivers which meander through the savannahs. I ,1, , , ,.,| 



only a few solitary specimens in the Es*c |U ibo south of the Cayuwiai, and ..one at the equator. 

 The Caribees «.ll it Opmwpoduli, or Ducksmoull,. the Mocoosee* Matamt. 1 venture to say that in 

 bCtttlty. odour, and duration, it is not to be surpassed by any orchidaceous plant ; the odour in the 

 morning and evening becomes too powerful in a confined place : its splendid (lower? last fro... three 

 to four weeks." 







