Tas. XXXVITI. 
rAbisA. SUPER BIE NS: 
GORGEOUS LALIA. 
Trisus: EPIDENDRE#.—Linptey. 
Lata superbiens ; scapo longissimo multifloro, sepalis petalisque lineari-oblongis obtusis membra- 
naceis labello longioribus, labelli lobo medio obtusissimo : disco lamellis quinque maximis subserratis antice 
truncatis aucto, anther cristé biaurité, clinandrio denticulato.—Lindl. Bot. Reg. Misc. 87, 1840 :—sub 
Tab. 62, 1842. 
Habitat in Guatemalad.—Sxinner, Harrwec. 
Description, 
PSEUDO-BULBS elongated, swollen in the centre, channeled, slightly compressed, a foot or more 
high, and bearing two extremely rigid, shining, sharp-pointed LEAveES, of about their own length. 
Scare upright, springing from between the leaves, very thick and strong, and occasionally attaining 
the length of twelve feet; it is almost entirely cased by the sheathing, ventricose, acute BRACTS. 
FLOWERS numerous (sometimes not fewer than twenty), forming a dense and magnificent head at 
the extremity of the scape. SEPALS linear-oblong, more than two inches long. PETALS obtuse, 
broader than the sepals, and, like them, rose-coloured. L1p shorter than the petals, three-lobed, the 
middle lobe depressed, exceedingly blunt, and larger than the lateral lobes, which are rounded ; the 
colour of the lip is an intensely deep rose, enlivened by rich yellow streaks along the dise and base, 
where are placed five large somewhat serrated plates. Cotumn arched, not half the length of the 
lip. AnruER furnished with a two-eared crest, and a clinandrium with indented edges. 
THIS truly magnificent plant is a native of the cooler districts of Guatemala, where the honour of 
first discovering it is justly claimed by Mr. Skinner. Mr. Harrwec also met with it in abundance in 
the neighbourhood of Chantla, and forwarded some enormous masses to the Horticultural Society ; but 
unfortunately neither these nor any of the plants sent over by Mr. Skrnwer have yet flowered. Miss 
Draxr’s drawing was most carefully prepared from materials communicated by Mr. Skinner, and there 
can be no doubt that, however brilliant her representation may appear, it will fail to do justice to the 
splendour of the living plant. Respecting its habitat, &c. Mr. Skinner writes as follows :— 
“ | first found Lelia superbiens in the village of Sumpango, planted by the Indians in front of their 
doors. This was in 1839; afterwards (in November, 1840,) I went in search of its true habitat, and, after 
an excursion of three days, found it in the barrancas of Sachmarachon, near the town of Comalapa, about 
twenty leagues due north of the city of Guatemala. Here it exists in immense quantities; the finest 
specimens growing out of crevices of the rocks, and sheltered from the north winds. Some of the plants had 
bulbs of the height of twenty-two inches, with flower stems four yards in length, and bearing upwards of 
twenty flowers (one, of which I sent you the dried specimen, had twenty-two.{) On the morning on which 
* Supra Tab. IX. 
+ From this specimen, which. was remarkably well preserved, Miss Draxe compiled the figure. The flowers appear to have been all in 
perfection together. 
