THE CATTLEYA HOUSE 



With L. elegans are lodged fine examples of Cattleyas 

 gigas and aurea, with some of their varieties ; generated, as 

 we may assume, by natural hybridisation. These rank 

 among the supreme treasures of the orchidist, unequalled for 

 size and rarity — perhaps for beauty. To those who have 

 not seen the offspring it might seem impossible that the 

 stately loveliness of the parents could be excelled. But by 

 a very simple process Nature achieves the feat — she combines 

 their charms. 



Of Cattleya gigas we have some two hundred specimens. 

 It is the largest of the genus, saving its own hybrids, a native 

 of New Granada, discovered by Warcewicz in 1848. He 

 sent no plants home, and though a few were despatched 

 afterwards, Roezl practically introduced the species in i8';^o. 

 Conscious of supreme merit, it is far from eager to bloom ; 

 but at Woodlands we do not personally feel this drawback. 



Of course there are many varieties of Cattleya gigas, for 

 it is truly said that two blooms of orchid exactly alike 

 cannot be found. But I shall mention only two. 



Imschootiana is huge even above its fellows, for a 

 fiower may be nine inches across ; the colour of sepal and 

 petal mauve, with a crimson-purple lip of splendour beyond 

 conception. The golden throat under a crimson-purple 

 tube is lined with bright crimson ; the characteristic ' eyes ' 

 gamboge, fading to v/hite. 



