[15 ] 
LAELIA ANCEPS sive SANDERIANA Rehb. f. 
LA&LIA ANCEPS Lindl.: pseudobulbis oblongofusiformi tetraquetris, mono-diphyllis, pedunculo ancipiti dense vaginato racemoso uni-paucifloro, bracteis 
ligulato spathaceis acutis ovaria glutinosa zquantibus, labello trifido, laciniis lateralibus oblongotriangulis involutis, lacinia mediana oblongoligulata porrecta, 
callo tridentato tricarinato depresso in disco. 
LA&LIA ANCEPS Lindl. Bot. Reg. xxi., 1751!; Hook. Bot. Mag,, tab. 3804!; Paxt. Mag. iv,, tab. 73!; Warner, Williams, Moore, Orch. Album ii, tab. 75! 
BLETIA ANCEPS Rchb. f. Walp. Ann. vi., p. 418 !; Xenia Orch. ii, 75! 
Pseudobulbi in singulis varietatibus ulterius describendi nunc valde abbreviati, nunc elongati. Folia valde coriacea, oblongoligulata obtuse acuta, 
margine integerrima, ubi soli exposita valde obscure brunneopurpurata. Pedunculus elatus, anceps, apice_uni-quadriflorus, Sepala ligulata acuta extus 
viscosa, Tepala bene latiora oblonga acuta. Flos typicus intense roseopurpurcus. Discus inter lacinias laterales ct callus xanthini. Linea atropurpureee 
extrorsum radiate ac nunc longitudinales in disco xanthino, Callus elevatus tricarinatus in basin lacinia mediz dentibus abruptis excurrens, dente medio 
longiore, Lacinia antica excepto callo obscure atropurpurea. In basi lacinie antic circa carinam arcola alba, seu flaveola, sape evanida. Columna albida 
striolis atropurpureis, 
Crescit in Mexici arboribus pracipue in quercubus. Primi legisse videntur cl. Ruiz et Pavon (Herb. Boissier! Rchb. f !) Ghiesbreght ! Galeotti 5142! 
Licbmann ! In monte Orizaba frequentissima dicitur. : 
VAR, SANDERIANA Rchb, f, in Gardeners’ Chronicle, 1887, Jan. 22, p. 104!: labelli lacinia mediana antice emarginata visa ob apiculum recurvum 
sub taminam flexo, macula una purpureoviolacea seu maculis gemini purpurcoviolaceis in disco, lineis radiantibus laciniarum lateralium validissimis, tepalis 
haud ita latis, ac illa Lelia ancipitis Dawsoni. 
Laelia anceps Sanderiana, Gardeners’ Chronicle, 1887, Feb. 26, pag. 281, xyl. 59 pag. 281! 
Exc, meritissimo F, Sander lubentissime dicata. 
Icones analytic. Labellum expansum Columna antice ac a latere visa. 
As years go by and orchid collectors explore more thoroughly every district in Mexico in which Lelia anceps might be 
expected to be found wild, the chances gradually diminish that Mr. Dawson’s variety of that orchid—the undisputed 
queen of the Leelias, and the envy of every orchid lover who does not possess it—will ever be found again. The unique 
plant that was found just twenty years ago and flowered by Mr. Dawson in the famous Meadowbank collection, will 
probably remain a rarity in orchid houses unless it can be increased more rapidly than at present. When, a few years 
ago, new localities were discovered in which L. anceps was growing, it was hoped that amongst the numerous lovely 
white varieties our collectors found and sent home one at least would prove identical with Dawsonii. But up to the 
present none are exactly like it, though when the variety Sanderiana first flowered it was actually said to be Dawson’s 
variety. Such, however, is not the case, although no other white-flowered variety resembles it so much. If 
Sanderiana possessed more rhomboid petals it could hardly be distinguished from Dawsonii, and therefore it is the nearest 
counterpart one can have for that matchless variety. We need but turn to the plate to see the loveliness of Sanderiana, 
and in it the features of Dawsonii. All the forms of L. anceps are so beautiful that every one must be said to be fine, 
each possessing a beauty peculiarly its own, but most orchidists would probably prefer Dawsonii or its nearest 
counterpart to any other were they confined to one variety only. We introduced Lelia anceps Sanderiana a few years 
ago from a district in Mexico on the Pacific Coast that had hitherto been unexplored. Now that these lovely orchid 
treasures of the Mexican forests are no longer the tantalising myths we once thought they were, it only remains for us to 
grow them to perfection—rivalling, if possible, the vigour of growth—profusion of bloom—the glorious masses that 
collectors tell us they see in the plant’s native home, and of which we have clear proof by the huge specimens our 
travellers send us. As all good orchid growers fully recognise the importance of knowing the conditions under which 
orchids grow naturally we will give an epitome of the observations gathered from our own collectors, who have spent a 
good deal of time in the homes of Lzelia anceps, as well as a few facts relating thereto from that keen observer and prince 
of botanical travellers, the late Benedict Roezl. a 
The range of Lzelia anceps extends in the State of Vera Cruz on the Atlantic Coast from Jalapa, its northern limit, 
to Orizaba southwards. It grows on the eastern side of the Cordilleras, and is most abundant in the neighbourhood of 
Leaving these districts it is not found again until, in a southerly direction, the Pacific Coast is reached. 
Cordova. : ; 
The original localities for this Lelia are on the Atlantic Coast, and in those the typical form prevails. It is from the 
gine alities 
