This Lgelia is no stranger, having been introduced for thirty 

 years at least, and I well remember being present at the un- 

 packing of a quantity of it that had been brought over on spe- 

 culation in 1837 by a M. Deschamps, who was much surprised 

 to discover that because a few plants of the species had been 

 sold for several guineas a-piece, a cargo of many hundreds 

 could not find purchasers at the same rate. But however 

 numerous the specimens, none of them survived for more 

 than a few years, as was the case with a subsequent importa- 

 tion of the same thing by the Horticultural Society. In 

 two or three instances, indeed, flowers were produced, but 

 they gave a very inadequate notion of the beauty of the 

 plant which was not likely to succeed permanently under 

 other than cool treatment. It was reserved for Mr. Ander- 

 son, gardener to Mr. Dawson of Meadow Bank near Glas- 

 gow, to produce flowering specimens fully equal to those 

 that the plant sends forth in such rich profusion in its native 

 haunts, and which, exhibited at South Kensington in the be- 

 ginning of June last, excited much astonishment and admi- 

 ration. One of these is represented on the opposite side, 

 and its beauty is not in the slightest degree exaggerated in 

 Mr. Fitch's drawing, excepting that two flowers are shown 

 on a spike as sometimes, though rarely, occurs in the wild 

 specimens ; in cultivation it has hitherto produced only so- 

 litary flowers, but these were more than a span across. 



Mr. Anderson's plants are accustomed to a rather close 

 and warm temperature during the day in summer, but at 

 night are kept as cool as possible, while in winter they are 

 allowed a decided rest. I apprehend, however, that a cool 

 airy and rather dry temperature, — an imitation, in short, of 

 the Mexican climate, — will be found at least equally effica- 

 cious ; at all events, in such a climate my own plants are 

 thriving beautifully, being suspended near the glass on 

 branch orchid-pots. 



Descr. Psendobulbs ovate or subrotund, two inches high, 

 and bearing solitary, leathery, oblong leaves, which are 

 about the length of the Jloivers, i. e. fully a span across. Bracts 

 membranaceous, ovate. Spikes short, issuing from apex of 

 the bulb, one- or (very rarely) two-flowered. Sepals lanceo- 

 late. Petals oblong-lanceolate, twice the width of the 

 sepals, and like them of a beautiful rosy -lilac. Lip three- 

 lobed, the middle lobe emarginate, rounded, its edges lilac, 

 and its centre white with lilac streaks, the side lobes small, 

 white inside, with lilac streaks. — J". Bateman. 



Fig 1. Column. 2. Lip: — natural size. 



