[91 ] 
CATASEMU Me SPR b AGU Nites. 
CATASETUM BUNGEROTHII N. E. Brown. 
CATASETUM PILEATUM : Sepalis ligulatis acutis ; petalis oblongis acutis ; labello transverso subtriangulo obtusangulo amplissimo in conum obtusum 
expanso basi saccato ; columna apice longe rostrata, basi solito more bicirrosa. Flores belli, albi. 
Ex Venezuela imp cl. Linden . G. Rehd, if 
CATASETUM PILEATUM, Rchb. f, Gard. Chron, April 15, 1882, p. 492; id. Nov. 13, 1886, p. 616; et in litt. 8 Aug., 1887. 
Pseudobulbis breviusculis cylindraceis vel fusiformibus sulcatis, foliis elliptico-lanceolatis acuminatis plicatis ; racemis multifloris (8—16) ; floribus 
amplis concoloribus eburneis pallide stramincis vel aurcis labelli basi ochraceo, sepalis obl spathulatis petalisque paullo majoribus obovato-oblongis 
abrupte caudato-acuminatis, labello maximo explanato orbiculari transverse oblongo vel subtriangulari margine denticulata, basi truncato-cordato breviter 
obtuse calcarato, columnz ramis crasse subulatis, anthera in cornu porrecto producta. 
CATASETUM BUNGEROTHI, N. E. Brown, in Lindenia ii. t. 57; id, iii, t. 104 (var. Pottsianum) ; id, iii, t.116 (var. aureum) ; Illust. Hort., 1887, 
xxxiv,, t. 10; Bot. Mag,, t. 6998 ; Warner & Williams’ Orchid Album, viii., t. 352 ; Gard. Chron., April 13, 1889, p. 461, fig. 83 (female flowers). 
Our analytical figures represent side view of column with anther and pollinia slightly removed ; two sections of the same ; front and back view 
of pollen-masses, caudicle (or strap) and gland ; and anther case. 
Tr cannot be said that the great majority of Catasetums are held in much esteem by most cultivators, notwithstanding 
the fact that no other genus of Orchids has excited such universal interest among botanists. There are, however, a few of 
the sixty or seventy species known which one frequently meets with in cultivation. Among these may be mentioned the 
large-flowered C. macrocarpum, the charming C. Russellianum, the fantastic C. Scurra, the handsome C. fimbriatum and 
its handsomer and larger-flowered variety platypterum, as well as the pretty little C. Garnettianum and the curious C. 
callosum, with its allies C. Darwinianum and C. discolor. All these are worthy of the cultivator’s attention, but they 
cannot compete with their comparatively newly-introduced congener, C. pileatum. Its appearance, less than three 
years ago, caused a flutter among orchidists, and raised the genus Catasetum many degrees in favour. As a proof of the 
importance which was attached to the introduction of C. pileatum, it may be mentioned that as much as fifty guineas 
were willingly paid for some pieces when first sold at auction in Mr. Stevens’ sale rooms. Now, however, owing to large 
importations, the price has decreased, and good plants may be had for a reasonable sum. 
It is a matter of surprise that such a splendid plant as Catasetum pileatum should not have been introduced to 
cultivation before 1886, when the traveller Bungeroth first sent plants to Europe, as we have it on the authority of Mr. 
Rolfe, in a communication to the Gardeners’ Chronicle in 
October, 1889, that this species was collected over thirty years 
ago by Spruce, whose specimens had lain unrecognised and 
unnamed for several years in the Kew herbarium. It has stout 
fusiform pseudo-bulbs, clothed with broadly-lanceolate plaited 
leaves. The large flowers are borne on arching scapes, which 
spring from the base of the current year's growth during the 
summer and autumn months. When first introduced six to 
eight flowers on one scape were considered to be a large number, 
but this has recently often been surpassed, as we have had 
plants in our own establishment which produced two scapes 
from the same pseudo-bulb, and had an aggregate number of 
twenty-nine flowers. The colour is ivory-white, the large cup- 
shaped lip having a golden-yellow stain at the entrance to the 
shallow spur. There are, however, many variations as to colour, 
some of the flowers having no yellow stain in the lip, others, 
as in the variety “ Pottsianum,” having the sepals and petals 
densely covered with minute mauve-purple spots, which give the flowers a charming appearance; while one variety, 
known as “aureum,” has, as the name indicates, golden-yellow flowers. This variety is very rare at present. 
