Tab. 5845. 



VAN DA Cathcarti. 



Mr. Cat/icarfs Vanda. 



Nat. Ord. Orchide^e. — Gynandria Monandria. 

 Gen. Char. (Vide supra, Tab. 5174.) 



Vanda Cathcarti; foliis lineari-oblongis planiusculis apice oblique 2-Iobis, 

 lobis rotundatis, racemo subrecto laxo paucifloro foliis paulo longiore, 

 floribus amplis, sepalis petalisque oblongo-rotuiulatis rabequalibus Kf- 

 siJibua pallide flavidis brunneo creberrime transverse iasciolatis, labello 

 breviter vmguiculato ambitu subrotundato lobia lateralibm tlbu au- 

 ricula? formibus, lobo intermedio fiavo reniibrmi marginibus incurvis 

 crenulatis, disco crasso 2-costato basi callis 2-ornato. 



Vanda Cathcarti, Lindl. Fol. Orchid. Vanda. p. 8. Hook. /. III. Himal, PL 

 t. 23. 



By far the noblest species of the noble genus to which it 

 belongs, and of which Dr. Lindley said when originally 

 describing it, — " No more remarkable orchid has been found 

 in Northern India." The flowers much exceed in size those 

 of its congeners, and though less brilliant than many of 

 these, are singularly rich in hue, owing to the colour 

 number and disposition of the bright red brown transverse 

 bars, the effect of which is not matched by any other known 

 orchid. It is a rare native of hot damp shady valleys in the 

 Eastern Himalaya, delighting in the neighbourhood of water- 

 falls where exposed to constant humidity ; and has hitherto 

 proved to be a very difficult plant to cultivate and propagate. 

 It was discovered by myself in 1848, and transmitted to the 

 Calcutta Botanic Gardens, where after flowering it was sent 

 off to England, but did not survive the voyage. Repeated 

 attempts have subsequently been made to introduce it with 

 more or less success, and the honour of first flowering it in 

 this country is I believe due to the Messrs. Veitch, whose 

 July 1st, 1870. 



