CATTLEYA SUPERBA sina, SPLENDENS Zem. 
CATTLEYA SUPERBA: racemo paucifloro, labello trifido, laciniis lateralibus acutis antrorsis, lacinia mediana ab ungue brevi dilatata transversa 
rotundula, columnz alis lateralibus inflexis. 
CYMBIDIUM VIOLACEUM, Hb. B. Kth.!; N. Gen. et Sp., pl. i, 341 !; Kth. Synopsis, I., 329! 
A SCHOMBURGKH, Lodd. Cat, 4: ; Cf. Hook. Bot. Mag,, Ixx., 4083!; Lindl. in Paxt. Fl. Gard., L., 6! 
y, A SUPERBA, Lindl. Sert. 22!; Paxt. Mag. Bot, ix., 265, c. tab!; Hook. Bot. Mag., ., 4083!; Van Houtte, Flore des Serres, ix., 926 !; 
Warner Sel. Orch, L,, 24! 
Dj DRUM SUPERBUM, Rchb, f, Xenia, IT, 32! 
2NDRUM VIOLACEUM, Rchb. f, Walp. Ann,, vi. 318! 
zoma repens pseudobulbis approximatis clavatis sulcatis vulgo diphyllis 
longe exsertus, usque florus. Flos j illi Cattleyee Acklandia aqualis, pulchre amethystino purpureus, labii lobo medio atropurpureo, disci 
linea mediana flava, nunc maculis flavis distantibus geminis, areis externis albis. Sepala oblonga acuta, lateralia nunc paulo falcata. Labellum ima basi vix 
humeratum, dilatatum : laciniz laterales triangula acute oblique antrorse, lacinia media cuneato ovata, transversa, antice nunc emarginato biloba, lateribus 
minute denticulatis. Vena: venulaque quedam elevatule. Columna clavata semitercti trigona per dorsum argute carinata alis medianis triangulis involutis. 
Bene fragrans. 
VAR. SPLENDENS, Lem.,, Ill. Hort., 605!; Warner, Williams, Moore, Orch, Album, I., 33!: floribus majoribus, coloribus intensioribus, labello multo 
obscurius atropurpureo, 
Crescit in sylvis Orinocensibus prope cataractas Aturensium et San Fernando de Atabapo florens Majo. Humboldt et Bonpland!  Parasitica frequens 
in arboribus tivi Orinoco, “ngre et lestiquina,’ Humboldt in sheda! Ultima verba non intelligo. Essequibo, ad Cayuwini meridiem versus, Rupununy in 
arboribus. Oponopodoli Carib. Masame Macoosces. Robt. et Rich. Schomburgk! Taruma, Rio Negro, Para v. Martius! Barra de Rio Negro, on trees, 
abundant. Jan.—Jul. Spruce, 1660! Ff, G. Rehb. f. 
Folia oblonga obtusa breviuscula. Spatha oblonga anceps. Pedunculus 
Oe @ Ge 
Icones analytic. Labellum expansum. Columna a latere. Columnaa fronte. Vertex frontis anthera dejecta + Vertex idem ab apice visus + 
Anthera postice visa. (Caudicule prope connate.) + Pollinarium a latere -+ 
Axout fifty years ago Cattleya superba first flowered in the famous Loddiges’ nursery, at Hackney, where numberless 
other children of the tropics first opened their flowers under an English sun. The living plants were first sent to Messrs. 
Loddiges by Sir Robert Schomburgk, who gathered this Orchid in 1837 in British Guiana, but it had been found many 
years previous by Martius near Taruna, on the banks of the Rio Negro. Professor Reichenbach found out, as early as 
1846, that the Cymbidium violaceum, gathered by Humboldt and Bonpland on the Orinoco, was the same species. 
There are, therefore, two distinct localities for this Cattleya, and the plants from each represent distinct forms. The most 
northerly habitat extends from Demerara, where it is found plentifully on the banks of thc Essequibo river, to 
Venezuela, where it grows on the banks of the Orinoco and its tributaries. The northern form is distinguished from the 
southern by its flowers being paler in colour. The southern or Brazilian form, growing in the vicinity of the Rio Negro 
and Amazon rivers, is identical with that known as the splendens variety, which is represented in our plate. This 
Brazilian variety is no doubt that which Martius first discovered, while Schomburgk’s plant is identical with that 
generally regarded as the type, and which is much more commonly seen in gardens. Schomburgk had the opinion 
that the home of C. superba was limited to the regions comprised within the third and fourth degrees of latitude north 
of the Equator, but the discovery of the variety splendens disproves this. The first living plants of the Brazilian form 
were sent to Europe about twenty years ago by Gustav Wallis, and since then it has been imported in quantity. 
There are very few Cattleyas that rival even the typical C. superba in point of colour and fragrance, and this 
splendens variety is far more beautiful and rare. C. superba, as well as the variety, flower during early summer, usually 
about June : their fragrance is delicious, particularly in early morning and late evening. The splendens variety can always 
be distinguished from the type as, besides having larger flowers, longer sepals and petals, and richer colour, it has more 
white on the labellum, accompanied by golden markings. 
This Cattleya may be grown either in hanging baskets or on blocks of wood, baskets culture being preferable. It 
requires a warmer treatment than most Cattleyas, therefore should be placed during the season of active growth in the 
cooler end of an East Indian house or a warm moist stove. The growing season extends from early spring till the end of 
summer, during which period the plants must be grown in a temperature ranging from about 65 deg. to 80 deg. F., and 
must be well watered and syringed daily. The flower spikes are produced from the new bulbs when about three parts 
developed, therefore, after flowering, the plants must be kept growing until the bulbs are fully developed. They should 
then be removed to a cooler house and kept there till the middle of February, when they should again be started into 
growth. Imported plants should be bought from importations in the spring, taking care to select strong plants with 
sound buds or “eyes.” They should be started in an East Indian house in charcoal and potsherds, and when well rooted 
should be placed in baskets in the usual compost. 
Our plate represents a plant in the possession of F. G. Tautz, Esq, Studley House, Goldhawk Road, London. 
