L^LIA 



L^LIA 



1767 



(meaning uncertain). Orchidacese. A useful 

 and attractive group of orchids, mostly with large, 

 showy flowers borne singly or in two- to many-flowered 

 racemes, which arise from the top of one- to two- 

 leaved pseudobulbs. The plants greatly resemble 

 cat t ley as and differ only by the presence of eight per- 

 fect pollen masses instead of four. 



Leaves oblong, coriaceous or fleshy, not plicate: 

 pseudobulbs terminating the annual growth, ovate, cla- 

 vate, fusiform or st.-like, long or short, consisting of 

 1 to several thickened internodes, or of slender and 

 quill-like form with merely a small bulbous swelling at 

 base, sheathed with scales and bearing 1 or 2 Ivs. at 

 the summit: sepals subequal, free, spreading; petals 

 wider and sometimes longer, spreading; all usually 

 plane; labellum free from the base of the column, more 

 or less distinctly 3-lobed, the lateral lobes short, erect, 

 folding over the column; middle lobe long, expanded, 

 lanceolate-ovate, etc.; column concave in front, and 

 thus narrowly 2- winged on the edges; pollinia 8, 4 in 

 each locule; scape terminal, long or short, bracted. 

 About 30 species, dispersed in the maritime provinces 

 of Mex. and Guatemala and in S. Brazil. No species is 

 common to the two widely separated regions. A single 

 species, L. monophylla, inhabits the mountains of 

 Jamaica. In their native homes the plants are often 

 found clinging to bare rocks and trees, where they are 

 exposed to the full force of the tropical sun, and, in the 

 wet season, to daily drenching rains. Some of the 

 species grow at great altitudes. Thus, L. autumnalis 

 var. furfuracea, is always found in alpine regions at 

 elevations of 7,500-8,500 ft. For a list of cult, kinds, see 

 R. A. Rolfe, G.C. III. 7:107, 256, 333, 355; 8:241, 652. 



Lselia may be conveniently divided into groups, as fol- 

 lows: 



GROUP I (species 1-10) . Pseudobulbs rounded, pyri- 

 form or ovate. The plants of this section are medium- 

 sized, with the pseudobulbs terminating each year's 

 growth, sessile at intervals on the rhizome, and sheathed 

 at least at first with bract-lvs. The scape, except in 

 L. grandiflora, is long and slender, erect, nodding or sub- 

 horizontal, and bears at its end 1 or 2 fls. (L. anceps), 

 or a raceme of 2-7 fls. (L. albida). L. grandiflora, placed 

 here on account of its thickened pseudobulbs, bears 

 greater resemblance to the members of the next group. 



GROUP II (species 11-13). Pseudobulbs short-cylin- 

 drical, st.-like, or swollen-jointed, i. e., consisting of 

 several internodes and sheathed with bracts. These 

 plants are of dwarf habit, bearing 1-2 very large fls. 

 on short scapes, so that the top of the fl. scarcely 

 exceeds the Ivs., which are oblong, about 6 in. long, and 

 leathery. 



GROUP III (species 14-23). Pseudobulbs long- 

 oblong, fusiform or clavate, tapering below to a 

 sheathed and jointed stalk. This group contains the 

 largest and most showy Iselias. The pseudobulbous sts. 

 are tall and tufted, a foot or more in length, forming 

 robust, compact, almost bushy plants. The flowering 

 sts. of L. superbiens are said to attain a height of 12 ft. 

 The racemes bear 3-7 large, handsome fls. 



GROUP IV (species 24-26). Pseudobulbs slender, 

 reed-like and tufted, clothed with scales and often some- 

 what swollen at base. This group includes a few species 

 which are very distinct on account of their bright scar- 

 let or orange-colored fls. and slender, reed-like pseudo- 

 bulbs. L. monophylla is perhaps the smallest of all 

 laelias, being scarcely over 6 in. high, with pseudobulbs 

 about as thick as a crow-quill. One variety of L. cinna- 

 barina has purple fls. 



Cultivation of laelias. (E. O. Orpet.) 



These orchids have ever held an important place in 

 gardens, and were it not for the trifling generic distinc- 

 tion of having double the number of pollen-masses of 

 the cattleya, they would have been known as a part 

 of the last named, the ease with which both have been 



hybridized even from the beginning proving the close 

 affinity; and one authority at least is willing to merge 

 the two, were it not for the mixing up it would cause 

 in garden nomenclature. The Brazilian species, L. 

 purpurata and L. crispa, are strikingly beautiful, easy 

 of culture, and are long-lived in gardens. These were 

 the first to be used by the hybridist, and the multiple 

 crosses made since, with the later addition of L. tene- 

 brosa, show evidence of the gorgeous coloring of the 

 labellum due to the Iselia parentage. 



It has always been the impression that the Brazilian 

 laelias require very much warmth to enable them to 

 grow well. This has been proved to be an error, as 

 stronger growth is made in an intermediate tempera- 

 ture. The plants get an absolute rest in winter, flower 

 better and grow stronger when kept at a temperature 

 of about 50 in winter. 



The Mexican kinds that mostly flower in midwinter, 

 such as L. anceps and its white forms, will do equally 

 well in a similar house, but are best grown outdoors in 

 summer in the partial shade of overhanging trees, giv- 

 ing a spraying of water overhead at evening of each hot 

 day. This has been found to be the only way to get the 

 white forms to bloom freely, as they need special treat- 

 ment and thorough ripening to secure good results. 

 Removal indoors should take place before frost; cool 

 nights seem to invigorate them, but while they experi- 

 ence slight frosts in Mexican uplands, it is harmful here. 

 These Iselias make an abundance of roots, and the 

 plants should be kept off the ground to avoid the danger 

 of slugs. If these gain access, soak the pots or baskets in 

 water for an hour and the slugs w r ill appear and can 

 be caught. 



The repotting of Iselias must be done in early spring, 

 or just before the appearance of the new bunches of 

 roots at the base of the growths. Native-born species 

 have a regular way of living, but the hybrids have a 

 go-as-you-please habit, due perhaps to their mixed 

 origin, that makes the repotting an operation that lasts 

 throughout the year. Flowers are produced at all sea- 

 sons, while, with introduced plants, their blooming is as 

 fixed as the days of the year. This makes it hard to 

 make a rule when to repot or separate plants; but, 

 should the roots begin to get outside the receptacle, it 

 is wise to give the plants more space. Good firm 

 osmundine is the best material, as these are strictly 

 epiphytal plants. Imported specimens are received 

 with mats of dwarf polypodium attached, and these 

 often grow with the plants in cultivation, giving a clue 

 to the best way to treat them afterward. The other 

 Mexican species, L. Gouldiana, L. autumnalis and L. 

 albida, are not so durable in gardens as some others. 

 They are most valuable midwinter-flowering orchids; 

 they need similar culture as that given to L. anceps, 

 but have to be replaced by new specimens after a few 

 years, as they are not permanent. 



There are many pretty dwarf -growing species, L. 

 prsestans, L. Dayana, L. pumila, L. grandiflora, L. 

 Jongheana and others, that require extra care to keep 

 them in health, and this care is largely in the matter of 

 moisture. The plants are small, need shallow pans and 

 to be suspended close to the roof glass where they dry 

 out speedily, and unless moisture is given regularly, the 

 health of the plants soon weakens. The drying out is 

 desirable, for the plants experience this on rocks or 

 trees in their native habitat, but there they have the 

 benefit of the night dews that amount to a shower of 

 moisture; this is easily imitated by spraying over the 

 plants each dry evening. The roots will take this up 

 during the night, and be fortified for the succeeding 

 day. If one examines the aerial roots of L. anceps, 

 they will be found to be in segments, some longer than 

 others, the longer ones being those formed on a dull or 

 wet day when evaporation was slower and the tender- 

 growing tips could grow longer. This is suggestive in a 

 cultural way. 



