170 oeohid-gkower's manual. 



CaTTLEYA, Lindley. 

 ( Tribe Epidendrese, subtribe Laelieaa.) 



The species of this popular genus rank among our finest 

 Orchids ; they are general favourites, and we are glad to find 

 that they are now being extensively introduced and cultivated, 

 and that new species and varieties are being obtained 

 through the unflinching energy of our hybridisers and col- 

 lectors. The pseudobulbs are in many cases elongated and 

 thickened, assuming the form of club-shaped stems ; and 

 the dark massive evergreen foliage when in a healthy con- 

 dition, together with the compact habit of growth, renders the 

 plants peculiarly attractive. Some of the sorts have only a 

 single leaf at the top of each stem, while others have two, 

 and in some instances three. The flowers are large, elegant 

 in form, and scarcely surpassed in this brilliant family for 

 their sparkling richness and depth of colour, the most frequent 

 tints of which are violet, rose, crimson, magenta, white, 

 yellow, mauve, and purple, with their intermediate shades. 

 The flower scape, which is enclosed in a sheath, rises from 

 the top of the stem, and a single spike sometimes contains 

 as many as nine perfect flowers — we have seen as many as 

 thirty. 



The whole of the Cattleyas are on scientific grounds 

 referred by Prof. Reichenbach to E2ndendrum ; but it is not 

 necessary to overload our pages by quoting this synonymy. 



Culture. — The plants generally begin to make their growth 

 for the next season as soon as the flowering is over ; 

 but some of them, such as C. Walkeriana, C. violacea, C. 

 superba, and several others, flower while making their growth. 

 We have found Cattleyas thrive best in pots and baskets, 

 with the exception of C, Walkeriana, C. marginata, C. citrina, 



