Catoblastus 



( 182 ) 



Cattleya 



division, and is best adapted for the lower parts of 

 the rockery. 



CATOBLASTUS. 



Stove Palms (ord. Palms;), closely allied to 

 Iriartea. Rare in cultivation. Propagation is by 

 seeds. Soil, two-thirds loam, one-third decomposed 

 cow manure, with sand. Prsernorsus, 50' (syn. 

 Iriartea pr.emorsa), has a remarkable development 

 of aerial roots, which give considerable support to 

 the plant. 



CATOPSIS. 



Stove herbaceous plants (ord. Bromeliacese), 

 closely allied to Tillandsia, under which genus 

 it was at one time placed. (For culture, tee 

 TILLANDSIA.) 



Principal Species : 



nitida, wh., long slender spikes, Ivs. dark, 

 shining grn. (syns. Tillandsia nitida and Tussacia 

 nitida). 



CATTLEYA. 



Description. In the whole vegetable kingdom it 

 would be difficult to find a group of plants pro- 

 ducing such exquisitely beautiful or gorgeously 

 coloured flowers as the large genus Cattleya {ord. 

 Orchidacese). The Cattleyas of the labiata group 

 have club-shaped pseudo-bulbs, while those of the 

 guttata section are like elongated stems; the 

 fragrant Cattleya citrina, which grows head down- 

 ward, has ovoid pseudo-bulbs. Other species fill 

 up the gaps between these extremes. Then there 

 is a considerable difference in height, from Ac- 

 landUe, 3" or 4" in stature, to guttata Prinzii or 

 Leopoldii, about 3' high. The leaves are borne 

 singly or in pairs at the top of the pseudo-bulbs, 

 and in the case of strong growing labiata forms 

 these are sometimes 1' long and nearly 3" broad, 

 stiff and leathery, while those having elongated 

 pseudo-bulbs are generally furnished with shorter, 

 elliptic, oblong, or even rounded foliage, which is 

 also thick and leathery. 



Distribution. Cattleyas all come from tropical 

 America, and it is found that most members of the 

 genus are grouped into three areas, one inhabiting 

 the maritime provinces of Brazil ; a second (the 

 Colombian group) distributed through Colombia, 

 Ecuador, and British Guiana ; and a third (the 

 Mexican group) distributed in Southern Mexico, 

 Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica. The most 

 northerly Cattleya is citrina, and the most southern 

 one Loddigesii. It is interesting to note that few 

 species grow within 5 of the Equator, superba 

 growing nearest it. Thus superba and citrina are 

 at the extremities of the genus horticulturally, the 

 former needing stove treatment and the latter a 

 place in a cool intermediate house. So much, 

 however, do elevation and proximity to the sea 

 affect climate, that by far the larger proportion of 

 the Cattleyas may be grown in this country in one 

 house the whole year round. 



Hybrid Cattleyas. The garden-raised hybrids 

 have become very numerous during late years, and 

 in many cases they are more amenable to cultiva- 

 tion than the imported species. They generally 

 but not always show the greatest relationship to 

 the seed parent. Pollination is easily effected, 



Catmint {see Ncneta). 



Cat's Tail (see Typha). 



Cat's Tall Grass (see Phleum). 



Vat's Thyme (see Teucrium Marum). 



and seed can be ripened if care is taken to expose 

 the plant to sunshine, but it must be remembered 

 that seed-bearing weakens a plant considerably, 

 and flowers should not be allowed to form on it 

 until a year after the seed has ripened. Seed is 

 best sown on the top of the potting material of a 

 newly-potted Cattleya, where germination may 

 take 'place in a few weeks. The tiny seedlings are 

 delicate subjects, and must not be hurriedly re- 

 moved to tiny pots. Having secured a cross, 

 ripened seed, and raised seedlings, the grower has 

 still to exercise a vast amount of patience, because 

 Ciittleyii hybrids may first flower when four or five 



ritotit ; Ctiaai-tl tt Company, Ltd. 



CATTLEYA WM. MUUUAY. 



(See )>. 185.) 



years old, but they often wait longer than this, and 

 have been known not to flower until nineteen years 

 old. The parents chosen should always be the 

 finest forms of the particular species. 



Cultural Requirements. Where possible a house 

 or division should be devoted to Cattleyas (and 

 Laelias), but in any case the structure should be a 

 roomy, light one, fully supplied with means of 

 ventilation at the top, bottom, and sides. A double 

 stage should be provided ; the lower one to carry 

 sufficient ashes, gravel or shingle to hold a quantity 

 of moisture, and support above it an open trellis 

 stage on which to stand the plants. All the 

 stronger growers may be cultivated successfully in 

 pots, but those which produce excessively long 

 roots, or are of lowly growth, are best managed if 

 placed in teak baskets and suspended near the 

 roof. Free drainage is of the utmost importance, 

 and when pots are used these ought to be two- 

 thirds filled with crocks. Over this place a layer 



