Lae 
CATTLEYA DOWIANA CHRYSOTOXA. 
CATTLEYA Dowiana, Batem. : pseudobulbis fusiformi clavatis varie sulcatis monophyllis, foliis lato oblongis obtusis, spatha obtusa, pedunculo 2—6 
floro, subzequali, floribus speciosissimus, sepalis ligulatis acutis, sessilibus planis, petalis plus quam duplo latioribus margine bene crispulis obtusiusculis labello 
fere obtecta et labello triplo breviore, 
CATTLEYA DowIANna, Batem. in Gard. Chron., Oct. 1866, p. 922 ; Bot. Mag., 1867, t. 5618; Flore des Serres, tt. 1709-1710; Ill. Hort, XIV,, t. 525 ; 
Warner’s Sel. Orch. Pl. IL, t. 27; Belg. Hort., 1869, t. 193 ; Revue Hort, 1869, tt. 30, 460; Lem. Jard. Fleur, t. 1708 ; Jenning’s Orch., t. 33 ; The Garden, 
Nov. 10, 1887, t. 99. 
CATTLEYA LAWRENCEANA, Warscew. 
Found by Warscewicz in Costa Rica about 1850, 
@. AUREA, sepalis petalisque sulphureis, labello vulgo multo magis flavo reticulato, 
CATTLEYA DOWIANA AUREA, Warner, Williams, Moore, Orchid Album, t. 84 ; Reichenbachia Ih fe 
CATTLEYA AUREA, Linden, III. Hort, 1881, t. 80. 
8, CHRYSOTOXA, sepals and petals bright yellow ; the lip with a large golden yellow blotch on each side of the disc. 
CATTLEYA DowIANA CHRYSOTOXA, supra. 
Discovered in Colombia by one of our collectors, 
Icones analytics. Columna antice, postice et a latere. Pollinaria. 
Ir is now nearly a quarter of a century since the orchid-growing world was thrown into great commotion by 
the appearance of Cattleya Dowiana. The excitement caused at the time was rendered keener by the fact that when 
Warscewicz discovered it in Costa Rica in 1850—some fifteen years previous—and sent a most glowing description 
of it home, the idea of such a magnificent Cattleya being in existence was almost universally ridiculed. And, perhaps, 
after all, there was some excuse for these sceptical views being expressed, for as weeks, months, and years rolled 
by no such plant appeared, owing to the consignment sent home by Warscewicz unfortunately arriving in such a 
poor condition that it was impossible for the plants to recover. Thus it happened that orchidists throughout the 
country prided themselves on their foresight, and at length forgot all about Warscewicz’s famous Cattleya. For fifteen 
years after its first discovery nothing more was heard or seen of Cattleya Dowiana, its precise locality being unknown 
until it was accidentally discovered for the second time in 1865 by Mr. Arce, a naturalist, to whom the actual introduction 
of this species to cultivation is due. The plants which he sent to Mr. G. Ure Skinner reached England in good 
condition, and one of them soon after flowered. What a glorious moment that must have been for poor Warscewicz, 
whose story about this particular plant had been treated with scepticism so many years before! It is not to be wondered 
at if his feelings were somewhat embittered on the first occasion, but surely he would have considered himself highly 
Distinct varieties of Cattleya Dowiana appear to be exceedingly rare. Of course, there are differences caused by 
culture or situation, but these are not distinct enough to merit varietal names being applied to them. At present there are 
only two very marked varieties in cultivation ; the one known as aurea, which was illustrated and described in the first 
volume of this work ; the other, which we have much pleasure in introducing to our readers in the annexed illustration 
under the name of chrysotoxa, and which was discovered by one of our collectors in 1888 in Colombia, many miles 
distant from the habitat of the variety aurea. C. chrysotoxa is much superior both to this latter and the typical 
Dowiana, and is characterised by producing, as a rule, larger flowers, with sepals and petals of a bright yellow-lake; the 
beautifully fringed lip is remarkable for its rich golden yellow colour, with obliquely radiating, interrupted lines of deep 
crimson in the throat, passing into a large dark crimson-purple triangular blotch in front, and gradually tapering upwards 
on each side into a narrow border of the same colour, thus leaving a very large and characteristic golden yellow space on 
each side between the throat and the Margins. 
Cattleya Dowiana chrysotoxa enjoys the reputation of being much more easily managed, and producing its flowers 
more freely than either C. Dowiana or its variety, aurea. It flowers at the same season as these—that is, during the 
months of July, August, and September—from the current year’s growth, which becomes mature about the end of the 
flowering season. C. Dowiana and its varieties thrive best in the warm end of the intermediate house, where they should 
be placed in as light a position as possible, care being taken not to let the plants get scorched during the hot summer 
days. When growth begins in spring, the plants should be encouraged by copious supplies of water, which must be 
continued more or less until the flowering season is over, after which they should be allowed three or four months 
complete rest, receiving only just enough water to keep them from shrivelling. 
Drawn from a plant in the collection of J. Connell, Esq., Bushey Down, Tooting Common. 
