THE CATTLEYA HOUSE 



31 



Mendelii, and Laelia Lucasiana ; among them no less than 

 five Cattleya speciosissima alba. 



Speciosissima Dawsonii is here also, finest of the coloured 

 varieties — purplish rose of sepal and petal, lip large, yellow 

 in the upper part, rosy crimson below, with margin finely 

 fringed ; and 



Laelia pumila marginata, — In its ordinary form L. 

 pumila is one of the loveliest flowers that blow, and admira- 

 tion is enhanced by surprise when we observe how small and 

 slender is the plant that bears such a handsome bloom. But 

 this rare variety is lovelier still — its broad, rosy-crimson 

 sepals and petals and its superb crimson lip all outlined with 

 white. 



Cattleya Bowringiana 



The third division of the Cattleya house contains, in the 

 centre, some hundreds of Mendeliis ; Cattleya Bowringiana 

 on the right hand, Cattleyas Mossiae and Wageneri on the 

 left ; all ' specimen ' plants, for health and vigour as for 

 size. 



Cattleya Bowringiana was imported fifteen years ago from 

 British Honduras, but it has since been found in other parts 

 of Central America. In colour — rosy purple, with deep 

 purple lip, white in the throat — it does not vary much, nor 

 in shape ; at least I have not heard of any named varieties. 

 But Cattleya Bowringiana in good health is always a cheering 

 spectacle ; its young growths push with such a demonstration 

 of sturdiness — having to rise much beyond the ordinary stature 

 — and its bunch of eight or ten flowers stands so high above 

 the foliage. Nowhere may that pleasant spectacle be enjoyed 

 with more satisfaction than at Woodlands. 



