218 ORCHID- geowek's manual. 



C. cristata, Lindley. — A magnificent Orchid, dwarf and of 

 evergreen habit, with leaves about six inches long. The 

 flowers, six or eight together, proceed from the base of the 

 oblong angulate pseudobulbs in a di'ooping raceme, each flower 

 being three or four inches across, with charmingly undulated 

 lanceolate sepals and petals ; the colour pure white, with a 

 prominent blotch of yellow on the crests of the lip. It 

 blossoms in February and March, and will continue in per- 

 fection four or five weeks if the flowers are kept free from 

 damp. This plant, which is largely grown for cut flowers, is 

 the finest of the genus, and in fact one of the finest of all 

 Orchids, and ought to be in every collection. We have seen 

 on a specimen grown in the collection of J. Buchanan, Esq., 

 Edinburgh, as many as 600 flowers at one time ; and on 

 another, grown by Mr. Cross, at Melchet Court, seventy-five 

 spikes are recorded as being produced, the specimen measuring 

 five feet across. We find it make its growth best in the cool 

 house, but after this is completed we place the plants in the 

 Cattleya house, as if left in the cool the flower spikes are 

 apt to damp and turn black. — North India. 



'FlG.—Bot. Reg., 1841, t. 57 ; Pescaiorea, t. 25 ; Gartenflora, t. 245 ; 

 Warner, Sel. Orch. PL, i. t. 35 ; Flore des Serres, t. 1807 ; Jennings, Orch., 

 t. 7; Paxt. Fl. Gard., iii. 171, fig. 812; Card. Chron., N.S., vii. 697, 

 fig. 95 (specimen plant) ; Moore, 111, Orch, PL, Coelogyne, t. 4. 



C. cristata alba, Moore. — This fine novelty is in all re- 

 spects similar to the type, except that instead of having the 

 yellow blotch on the lip, its flowers are everywhere of a pure 

 white. It blooms during winter and spring, and lasts from 

 two to three weeks in perfection. — India, 



Fig. — Orchid Album, ii. t. 54, 

 Syn. — C, cristata holoUuca. 



C. cristata citrina, Williams. — This is a very distinct 

 variety, which invariably flowers some two or three weeks 

 later than the type, which is a decided advantage, as it pro- 

 longs the flowering season, and it also differs in having the 

 centre of the lip stained a delicate lemon-colour, and not deep 

 yellow as in the ordinary form of the species. — Nejxd. 



Stn. — C, cristata Lemoniana. 



C. cristata major, Williams. — A very large-flowered, superior 

 variety, with much broader and stouter sepals and petals, 

 and with flowers altogether larger and superior to the type. — 

 India. 



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