132 OKCHID-GRO wee's MAmjAL. 



channelled, bearing ovate, shining leaves ; flowers large, fre- 

 quently measuring eight inches in diameter ; they are borne 

 upon a somewhat short spike three or four together ; sepals 

 and petals broad soft flesh colour, the latter being the broadest 

 with erose edges. The lip fonns a circle, through closing 

 over the column, the front portion being of an intense 

 amethyst colour, varied with white and yellow markings towards 

 the centre, where are also several lines of bright amethyst. 

 It is a gem amongst GattJeyas. 



C. superba. — This truly beautiful plant comes from Guiana. 

 It is a slow-gi'owing species, and usually ten inches high. It 

 flowers in June and July. The blossoms, which are of a deep 

 rose colour, with a rich crimson lip, will remain in bloom 

 three weeks ; it produces three or four flowers on a spike, and 

 is a very distinct species. It requires plenty of water at all 

 times, and should never be allowed to get into a shrivelled 

 state — if so, it is diflicult to restore to a healthy condition 

 again ; requires more heat than the other Cattleyas, and is 

 best growTi on a block of wood or basket with live sphagnum 

 moss, but is a bad one to propagate. 



C. superba splendens. — A variety of the preceding, which 

 has been introduced from the Rio Negro ; the flowers are 

 much larger, the sepals and petals being considerably longer 

 than the form originally introduced from British Guiana ; 

 sepals and petals delicate bright rose ; lip white at the base, 

 rosy-violet in front, and having in addition several lines of 

 golden 3'ellow tow^ards the middle. It is altogether a very 

 distinct and handsome form. 



C. Triancc. — There are an immense number of varieties of 

 this lovely winter blooming Caftleya, all of which are beautiful, 

 and some in particular ; in habit of growth it resembles 

 C. MossicB. The flowers are produced during the winter 

 months, and measure several inches in diameter ; sepals and 



