CATTLEYA BOWRINGIANA Paitca. 
Pseudobulbis clavatis vel fusiformibus 12—18 pollices altis, di-tri-phyllis ; foliis oblongo-ellipticis 6—7 pollices longis ; spatha compressa pallida 
viride-flava ; pedunculis 8—13 floris, floribus roseo-purpureis ; sepalis oblongo-ellipticis acutis ; petalis quam sepala multo latioribus ovato-oblongis obtusis ; 
labello subcylindriformi obscure trilobato apice paullo emarginato, Columna parva, alba. 
Icones analytice. Columna aucta antice et postice. Flos sine columna explanatus. 
Tuts handsome autumn-flowering species is a native of British Honduras, discovered, we believe, and sent home to 
Europe first by M. Turkheim, a resident gentleman of that country, and an orchid enthusiast. In growth it is distinct 
from all other Cattleyas in having a peculiar globe-shaped base to its pseudo bulbs; it is a free-growing plant, producing 
in October and November large spikes of showy blossoms, ranging in colour from rosy pink to deep purple and crimson; 
lower half of lip deep maroon-crimson, inner half white or rosy, and often veined light purple, the number of flowers on 
each truss varying according to the vigour of the plant ; we have had spikes bearing seventeen flowers. The construction 
of the flower and other peculiarities of this plant guided us to the unsearched parts of British Honduras, and we sent Mr. 
Oversluys, a clever and enterprising collector, in search of it, and after a year’s fatiguing labour he was at last rewarded, 
and sent home the first large consignment in 1887. The plant soon found its way into collections, being justly considered 
one of the finest Cattleyas yet introduced ; a batch of some five hundred plants in full bloom in dull November, as we 
saw it last year, is a sight not easily forgotten. This Cattleya should have an abundant supply of water as the growing 
season of the plant is in summer, when evaporation is more rapid, and in its native habitat even in the dry season it is 
subjected to much vapour arising from the many water courses with which its native locality is intersected, hence 
this species should never be overpotted, and some crocks, charcoal, or broken bones can be incorporated with the peat 
and sphagnum moss, so that the roots may not become decayed through stagnant and sour material. 
In its native rocky ravines the plants are often found matted to the bare rocks, fully exposed to the sun, with 
nothing to sustain it in the dry season but the nightly dews. In the rainy season a great many of the plants are eaten 
by the wild animals, which are very fond of the young succulent shoots ; and in their search for these the plants are often 
trodden down and so much broken as not to be worth collecting. 
It was first shown by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Exotic Nurseries, King’s Road, Chelsea, London, on 
October 31st, 1885, under the name of Cattleya autumnalis, and received a first-class certificate—later this plant was 
altered to C. Bowringiana. 
Our plate was taken from a plant now in the possession of F. L. Ames, Esq., Langwater, North Easton, Mass., U.S.A. 
