CATTLEYA LABIATA WARSCEWICZII koe 7 
WICZH, Rchb. f, in Seemann Bonplandia 11, 112, 1854; Rchb. f,, Xenia Orchid, i., 31. 
C. GiGas, Jenn. Orch, 18. Ill. Hort, 178. Fl. Mag. n.s. 144 ; Gard. Chron., 1874, p. 617. Warner Sel. Orch. Pl. Ser. 3, t. 7; Gard. Chron., March 11, 
1882, p. 343, fig. 53. Lindenia ii. t. 63. Garden and Forest, 1888, p. 437. Garden, May 20, 1882, p. 348. 
Arr. CATTLEYA Moss1&, Hook. : pscudobulbo fusiformi elongato, racemo plurifloro (4—8) labello cceruleo-lilacino. 
Pseudobulbus cylindraceus folio oblongo ligulato apice attenuato equilongus seu longior, racemus usque octoflorus, folium aquans seu codem longior. 
Spatha usque ad bracteam floris infimi protensa. Sepala cuneata lanceolata acuta. Tepala a cuneata basi sensim ascendentia tertiam usque, inde paulo 
apicem versus attenuata, apice retusiuscula, minutissime crenulata. Labellum basi angustiori utrinque subsemicordatum, late oblongum, apice retusiusculo 
bilobum, utrinque ante medium sinuatum minute denticulatum, undulatum, disco (in sicca) velutinum. 
Icones analytica. Columne antice et a latere. Pollinaria. 
WueEn this noble Cattleya was first discovered by Warscewicz, about forty years ago, he unfortunately lost nearly all his 
living plants by the wreck of the vessel which carried them down the turbid Magdalena river. Prof. Reichenbach, 
however, named it from the dried specimens which the collector managed to save. Then M. Triana sent a small 
consignment to Linden, nurseryman, Ghent, as also did Wallis, and the plant was figured as C. gigas in the 7Wustration 
Hlorticole. But no considerable stock came to our gardens, nor were the superb beauties of the plant at all recognised 
until B. Roezl refound it in the province of Antioquia, where Warscewicz had discovered it some twenty years or more 
before. Not only are the flowers of this plant larger than most other forms of the typical labiata, but they differ in shape, 
the larger-flowered varieties often being very much deeper than they are broad—a flower seven to eight inches from 
tip to tip of the outstretched petals being nine or ten inches from the tip of the dorsal sepal to the line connecting the tips 
or apices of the two lateral ones. Cultivators readily recognise the plant by its long and stout bulbs and leaves, and by 
the two eye-like sulphur yellow blotches, or rather spaces, on either side of the revolute margins or throat of the lip. As 
a rule, the plant flowers with us during July and August, and sometimes earlier, so that its blooming season may be 
reckoned to be at least of three months’ duration. 
Warscewicz discovered this Cattleya, and his name, given to it by Prof. Reichenbach, must remain, although for 
garden purposes the name gigas, given later, is preferable, it being so widely spread. The variety imperialis was 
discovered by Roezl in 1872 near Amalfi, in Antioquia, and has larger and finer flowers than the ordinary form; and in 
1882 the variety Sanderiana was discovered, undoubtedly the finest of the three. The flowers of this are of an immense 
size and deep colour, and frequently measure ten inches across. Much controversy has passed in Orchid growing circles 
as to the correctness of this and other Cattleyas of the labiata group being classed among, or named labiata. This is, 
however, easily explained; Dr. Lindley named the old labiata, and Sir Joseph Hooker, in describing C. Mossize, followed 
his predecessor, and Prof. Reichenbach retained this and placed the remaining forms mentioned in our table at end with 
the labiata group. Botanically they are not different; all have the same thick, short column and very nearly the same 
form of flower, hence the necessity of the word labiata preceding the specific name. However distinct the variations may 
be in colour and habit, they are nevertheless so nearly alike in structure that, as Prof. Reichenbach long ago perceived, no 
botanist could venture to separate them. From the amateur's point of view the case is very different, since those niceties 
of form and colour often make the whole difference as to whether an individual plant is worth five shillings or a 
hundred guineas. The original old autumnal C. labiata came from near Rio de Janeiro, and its yellow form, C. 
Dowiana proper, from north of the Isthmus, having been found in Costa Rica, and curiously enough, with C. Skinneri as 
its nearest companion. But since the original discovery of C. Dowiana a paler form has been found in Medellin, and near 
to, and now and then mixed with it near Frontino, is the subject of our plate, the so-called C. gigas of gardens. This is 
a remarkable fact, for, as a rule, all the Cattleyas of this group are scattered about the great Columbia-Guiana region in 
isolated localities, scarcely any two forms occurring together; hence there is but the most remote chance of natural 
hybrids being produced. But would they hybridise if they did grow together? The exquisite Cattleya Hardyana is, it 
is almost certain, a natural hybrid between our present plant and C. Dowiana aurea, which do grow together. This fact 
seems to suggest that a Cattleya farm or ranch in a suitable district in South America, where all the species could be 
grown side by side in the open air and sunshine, will eventually be the outcome of our love of floral variation here at 
home. What a happy life for a hybridist, ever alert and patient, industrious and reliable! To return to the subject of our 
plate, it is found widely distributed in a district bounded east and west by the Cordilleras, and extending from latitude 
