LAELIA HARPOPHYLLA Reis. ¢ 
approximatis teretiusculis, laxe vaginatis monophyllis, foliis ligulatis acuminatis coriaceis, racemo 
Habitus Arpophyllorum. Caulibus secundari 
porrecto seu deflexo pauci—plurifloro, bracteis minutis, sepalis tepalisque lanceis acutis, labello trifido, laciniis lateralibus semioblongis parte libera subfalcatis 
acutis, lacinia mediana lineari acuta seu acuminata lateralibus bene undulato crispula, carinis geminis per discum prope obsoletis, columna trigona apice 
tridentata. 
t. 400, fid. T. Moore! Warner, Williams, 
L&LIA HARPOPHYLLA Rchb. f, in Gard. Chron., 1873, p. Floral Mag. 2 Ser., 372. Garden, xx 
T. Moore, Orch, Album, IIL, 1171! Williams Orch. Man., ed. 6, p. 360, xyl.! 
BLETIA HARPOPHYLLA Rchb. f., Herb. 
Vlanta dense caspitosa, ubi non florida Pleurothallides quasdam zmulans a baai caulis secundarii ad apicem folii bipedalis et altior, Ovaria superne 
viridia, infra cinnabarina. Perianthium cinnabarinum. Labellum vulgo per discum medium ad apicem carneum, antice per medium cinnabarinum seu cinna- 
barino striatum. In basi juxta discum carneum utrinque area ochracea guttulis paucis violaceis, 
Ex Brasilia nuper tanta copia introducta ut suspicio hybriditatis inter Laliam cinnabarinam ac Brassavolam quandam vix retinenda. Jam anno 1867 
egregie et procul dubio prima floruit apud exc. J. Day, Tottenhamensem, orchidophilum expertissimum. H. G. Rehb f. 
Icones analytice. Flos a latere. Sequentes figura: aucte, Labella duo. Columna a latere. Pollinarium superne. 
Tue charming colour of this Brazilian Orchid combined with its extremely graceful growth has made it a universal 
favourite. Its colour is unique among Orchids, for no other possesses such a glowing tint of orange-scarlet. Even 
those that most nearly approach it in colour, such, for instance, as L. cinnabarina, are dull in comparison. When it was 
first exhibited by Sir Trevor Lawrence at South Kensington some ten years ago it caused quite a sensation among 
orchidists, and since then it has been considered an indispensable plant in even the choicest collections of Orchids. 
Like many other fine Orchids it was at one time among the rarest in cultivation, now it is among the most plentiful. 
A few years ago it was one of the priceless treasures in Mr. Day’s famous collection at Tottenham ; at the present time it 
is one of the cheapest Orchids. After many fruitless journeys in search of it our collectors finally discovered the 
native home of the plant in 1882, and we were then able to import large quantities of it, and although thousands of 
plants have found their way to the Orchid collections of Europe there is always a demand for imported plants of it. 
Happily it is not difficult to import, as the collected plants generally arrive in excellent condition, notwithstanding that 
its native habitat is most inaccessible, necessitating frequent transhipment before the plants reach Europe. It is singular 
that an Orchid with such slender pseudo-bulbs should travel so well and be so easily established afterwards. 
It comes from the high mountain ranges in Brazil, where it grows sparingly on the thinner branches of the great 
forest trees. It flowers there in December and January, but in Europe its flowering season is later, extending from 
February till the end of March. The numbers of flowers produced from each sheath is variable, nine flowers being the 
largest number we have seen on one spike. They last a long time in perfection if the plant is kept in a rather dry 
house. It is an invaluable decorative Orchid as the flowers last so long when cut and the individual blooms are admirably 
appropriate for coat or dress bouquets. 
Being a free grower it is an easily managed plant, succeeding best in an intermediate temperature, such as that 
of a Cattleya house, choosing for it the coolest and shadiest part. It may be grown in pots or pans in the usual compost 
of fibrous peat, sphagnum moss and potsherds. The plants commence active growth in March after flowering, and then 
require good attention as regards watering, for the pseudo-bulbs being so slender are liable to shrivel if the plant is 
allowed to become dry. The moderately warm, airy and moist atmosphere of the Cattleya house suits the plants through- 
out the summer, but when the incipient flower spikes are seen in the sheaths the plants should be kept a few degrees 
warmer, so as to induce large size of bloom and richness of colour, Although the plants should be kept drier during late 
autumn and winter at no period should they be allowed to become absolutely dry. 
Drawn from a plant in the possession of F. Whitbourn, Esq. Great Gearies, Ilford, Essex 
