LA:LIA EUSPATHA Reto. ¢ 
fe Pseudobulbis ac foliis Laelia purpurate Lindl, florum tela levi submembranacea, sepalis lanccis acutis, tepalis tencrioribus, latioribus, subrhombeis, 
hinc crenulatis, labelli trilobi lobis lateralibus obtusatis, lobo medio producto semiovali bilobo valde crenulato ac minute undulato, columna androclinio 
sinuato exciso, 
ELIA EUSPATHA Rchb. f. in Otto Hamb, Garten und Blumenzeitung, xvi. 1860, p. 420! 
BLETIA EUSPATHA Rchb, fin Walp. Ann,, vi. 425! 
r Sepala ac tepala dilute roscola, Labellum margine pulchre purpureum, lobo antico toto purpurco lineaque mediana purpurea. Discus reliquus 
albidus seu dilutissime flaveolus. 
Figure analytic offerunt partes speciminis primarii typici. Labellum explanatum. Columna a latere. Eadem antice. Pollinarium inaquale. 
Ex Brasilia. H. G. Rehb. f. 
THERE are modern phytographic writers who propose to make six different classes of species according to their excellence. 
It would be hard to decide between two botanists as to whether a certain species should belong to the fifth or sixth class. 
We must admit, in any case, that the array of subjects we are called upon to term species, vary much in value, and so long 
as our knowledge is not strengthened by growing the plants from seeds and by cross fertilising them, the situation is very 
often helpless. Our decision in these circumstances, must in great measure depend upon the value of the plant. Just so with 
varieties. We should feel a greater necessity of giving a name to a fine spotted Odontoglossum Pescatorei, or a lovely white 
Lelia anceps than to an indifferent weed. I gladly confess this is not of great consequence, but it is evidence of all those 
forces which obtrude on the botanist who works keenly in that difficult and wearing arena of garden botany. 
There are some types of very subtile character, and yet very distinct appearance, which bear the names Leelia cuspatha, 
Rcehb. f.; Laelia Schilleriana Dayana, Rchb. f.; and Lzelia Stelzneriana, Rchb. f. The latter is well figured in Van Houtte’s 
Flore des Serres, xiv. 1861, p. 267, tab. 1494, 1495! It is immediately recognised by the short midlobe of its lip. To the 
horticultural world these plants are distinct, and to take them as varieties of well established species would not appear wise, 
since there is great probability that they are mules, perhaps some of them descendants of the cross fertilisation between 
mules and mules, or mules and species. I fully appreciated this difficulty when describing Laelia euspatha in 1860 in the 
following terms: “I have no doubt that this Lelia is likewise a mule. The pollinia are unequal, as is the case in Laelia 
elegans, and I found but four, and these cohering to both sides with the caudiculas. The limits of the connate pollinia 
may very often be seen by sinews on the border of them. The plant gives the impression of being a mule between Lelia 
Boothiana or purpurata with some Cattleya, as, for instance, C. intermedia. There appear occasionally very inconvenient 
things botanically, which one may neither regard as varieties nor well defined species.” Leelia euspatha is easily known by 
its fine rose sepals and petals and by the dark purple anterior lip, the inner parts of which are white or light yellow. It 
first appeared at Berlin with the late Herr Geheimer Medicinalrath Dr. Casper, and at Paris with the late M. Liiddemann. 
H. G. Rehb. f. 
Every addition that is made to that beautiful group of Brazilian Lzlias represented by L. purpurata and L. elegans 
is welcomed by orchidists, and L. euspatha has affinity, apparently, with both of these. From the plate it may be seen that 
in growth the plant resembles L. purpurata, but the form of the flower is more like that of L. elegans, while in colour it 
differs from both. It is a lovely Orchid but unfortunately will remain a rarity, as it seldom occurs in its native habitat. 
It was found by one of our collectors, E. Rimann, when travelling in Brazil, but he succeeded in bringing home about 
half-a-dozen living plants only. These we have been successful in establishing, and some of them flowered in the early part 
of the present year. The large bold flowers, with broad richly coloured lips and delicately flushed sepals, are extremely 
beautiful, qualifying them to rank with the splendid varieties of L. purpurata and the fairest among the several varieties 
of L. elegans. 
As regards its culture, we find that it succeeds under the same conditions as L. purpurata. Pot culture suits it best, 
and in order to ensure good drainage, the plant must be potted high, the pot being nearly filled with crocks and charcoal. 
Like other Brazilian Lzelias, it needs most water when in growth, but should never be allowed to become dry at any time. 
It likes plenty of light and an intermediate temperature which should not fall below 60 deg. F. for any lengthened period. 
The plate was prepared from a plant in the possession of Charles Dorman, Esq., The Firs, Lawrie Park, Sydenham, London. 
