CATTLEYA LABIATA HOUSE 



This is the oldest of Cattleyas, for the plant now 

 recognised as Catt. Loddigesii, which was introduced to 

 Europe a few years earlier, passed under the name of 

 Epidendrum. One might call labiata the ' eponymous hero ' 

 of its tribe, for Lindley christened it in honour of his friend 

 Mr. Cattley, an enthusiastic amateur of Barnet. This was 

 in 1818 ; from that year until 1889 Cattleya labiata was 

 lost. It seemed easy enough to follow the journeyings of 

 Swainson, who discovered it, and so reach the country where 

 it dwelt ; collectors innumerable made the attempt, but never 

 succeeded. Mr. Sander, for instance, sent three at different 

 times, expressly to trace Swainson's footsteps so far as they 

 are recorded — Oversluys, Smith, and Bestwood ; beside four 

 others who skirmished along the track. He assured himself 

 that they had explored every district which Swainson could 

 possibly have visited ; but of Cattleya labiata they found no 

 sign. Meanwhile the plants of the first importation died off 

 gradually, and the richest of mortals competed for the ftw 

 surviving. Ten years ago, when the long search came to an 

 end, very f^w were the persons in England who owned a 

 specimen. I think I can name most of them — Baron 

 Schroder, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Lord Rothschild, Duke of 

 Marlborough, Lord Home, Lord Howe, Messrs. J. 

 Chamberlain, Statter, R. H. Measures, R. I. Measures, Blandy, 

 Hardy, Coleman, and Smith of the Isle of Wight. One of 



