280 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



minal, large, showy and fleshy. The petals and sepals 

 are nearly equal or the petals larger; labellum fluted, 

 usually trilobed, inclosing a club-shaped column. No 

 other genera of orchids have more intense coloration. 

 They are often delicately fragrant. These vary much in 

 color, but are usually shades of lavender or purple with 

 the labellum variously striped and marked. The number 

 of flowers on a peduncle varies with the species, from three 

 to thirty. They flower at different seasons, therefore, to 

 have cattleyas constantly in flower, one must carry a 

 large stock. 



Cattleya labiata (type) flowers in October and Novem- 

 ber ; Bowringeana in October and November ; Percimliana 

 in December ; Triance in January, February and March ; 

 Schroederce in March and April; Mossice in April and 

 May ; Mendelii in April and May ; Warneri in May and 

 June; gigas in June and July; chrysbtoxa in June and 

 July ; Gaskelliana in June, July and August ; and Loddi- 

 gesii var. Harrisonice in September and October. 



Cattleyas are collected and imported probably in larger 

 numbers than any other genera. They are popular with 

 the commercial florist, because they are large, splendidly 

 colored, have good keeping qualities and are easily grown. 



Habitat. Tropical America. 



371. Culture of cattleyas. A temperature of about 

 55 or 60 at night suits most species of cattleya. They 

 are grown in baskets, on boards, or in pots and pans. 

 They should, however, have excellent drainage facilities, 

 and are, therefore, potted in osmundine (osmunda fiber). 

 A little live sphagnum moss may be placed over the top, 

 but this is not absolutely necessary, for if the peat used 

 is fairly soft, the plants will grow just as well without the 

 moss. Where cattleyas are grown commercially for 



