LAELIA ANCEPS Zina. 
VAR. SCHRCEDERIANA Reto. ¢ 
L&LIA ANCEPS, Lindl.; pseudobulbis oblongis tetraquetris mono-diphyllis, pedunculo ancipiti dense vaginato racemoso uni-paucifloro, bracteis 
ligulato-spathaceis acutis ovaria glutinosa zquantibus, labello trifido, laciniis lateralibus oblongo-triangulis involutis, lacinia mediana oblongo-ligulata porrecta, 
callo tridentato depresso in disco. 
LA&LIA ANCEPS, Lindl. Bot. Reg., XXI. (1836), t. 1751; Hook. Bot. Mag., t. 3804; id. Cent. Orch. t. 24; Paxt. Mag. 
Bot. IV., p. 73, with plate ; Warn. & Will. Orchid Album, IL, t. 75 ; Jenn. Orch, t. 6, fig. 1; Veitch Man. Orch, PI. pt. 2, pp. 56, 
57, with fig. ; Gard. Chron., Sept. 26, 1885, p. 405, fig. 88 (fruit). 
BLETIA ANCEPS, Rchb. f. in Walp. Ann., VL, p. 418; id., Xenia Orch., II, p. 75. 
Pseudobulbi nunc valde abbreviati, nunc elongati. Folia valde coriacea, oblongo-ligulata subacuta, margine valde obscura 
brunnco-purpurata. Pedunculus elatus, anceps, apice uni-sexflorus. Sepala ligulata, acuta, extus viscosa. Petala bene latiora, 
oblonga, acuta. Flos typicus intense roseo-purpureus. Discus inter lacinias laterales et callus xanthini. Line atropurpuree 
extrorsum radiate ac nunc longitudinales in disco xanthino. Callus elevatus linearis antice tridentatus in basin lacinias medi 
excurrens, dente medio longiori. Lacinia antica excepto callo obscure atropurpurea. In basi laciniae antice circa carinas areola 
alba, seu flaveola, seepe evanida. Columna albida striolis atropurpureis. 
Crescit in Mexici arboribus praecipue in quercubus. Primi legisse videntur cl. Ruiz et Pavon, Ghiesbreght, Linden, Galeotti, 
n. 5142, Liebmann, Bourgeau, n. 3355, Hahn, Coulter, n. 1531. In monte Orizaba frequentissime dicitur. 
VAR. SCHRC:DERIANA, Rchb. f. in Gard. Chron., Mar. 14, 1885, p. 342; planta majora, floribus albis, sepalis petalisque 
latissimis, labello magno, lacinia mediana latissima obtusa, laciniis lateralibus latis obtusis lineis sanguineo-purpureis ornatis, disco 
aurantiaco-luteo, 
Varietas superbissima ab cl. F, Sander introducta ; ill. Baroni Schréder, Orchidearum amatori excellentissimo, dicata. 
This superb variety was originally introduced by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., of St. Albans. It first flowered in 1885, when it was described by Prof. 
Reichenbach, being dedicated to Baron Schréder, of The Dell, Egham, Surrey. Its flowers are of great size and substance, and of the purest white ; the disc 
and keels of a bright orange-yellow, with three to five crimson-purple longitudinal lines, and several additional forked lines radiating outwards at the base of 
the side lobes. The flowers are larger than those of the variety Dawsoni, the petals remarkably broad, the lip with short and broad, blunt and nearly rect- 
angular side lobes, and the mid lobe very broad, blunt or emarginate, and flat. It is one of the finest and most distinct varieties known. R.A. Rolfe. 
Labellum. 
Tus is the largest and finest of all the white varieties of Lelia anceps, and is so remarkably distinct from all others 
that we think it a representative of a new type. The very broad, blunt, square and flat lip is certainly not to be found in 
any other variety of the species with which we are acquainted. 
It flowered in the collection of Baron Schroder in January of the present year, and simultaneously at Tring Park, 
the seat of Lord Rothschild. The whole flower is of a lustrous, satiny white; very large sepals and petals—larger than 
in any other white variety; labellum very broad, with short, blunt, rectangular side-laciniz; mid lacinia very broad, 
blunt emarginate, with a rich orange disc running to the base of the mid-lacinia, where are also a few crimson-purple, 
longitudinal and forked lines radiating outwards. This noble Lzelia has colossal pseudo-bulbs when fully developed, 
resembling more some of the Schomburgkias than the small, short bulbs of the Mexican Lelia anceps. Coming from 
near the Pacific coast and a warmer district, a little more heat is necessary in the cultivation. Wherever we have seen 
splendidly-flowered specimens of these white varieties the plants have been grown near the glass, with scarcely any 
shading, a high temperature, brilliant light, and an abundant supply of water and air. It is not only the high tempera- 
ture our growers so often lack-in our dull seasons, but also the want of sunlight, which is necessary to make them 
flourish as well as could be desired. 
In the United States of America, Lelia anceps and its varieties are among the most easily cultivated and most 
free-flowering of orchids, which is in all probability due to the greater heat, and much brighter and more abundant 
light. We often hear that it is more difficult to grow and to flower the white forms of Laelia anceps than the red, but 
this is not so—they flower just as abundantly and freely. We must look further for the reason. The dark varieties 
grow near the city of Mexico, and are transported from there by rail to Vera Cruz, from whence they are shipped direct 
home. The white forms come from the Pacific coast, and have to go to Panama by small coast steamers. These call at 
all intermediate ports and take a long time, and again much time in the home journey is lost by the plants having to 
cross the Isthmus of Panama by rail, after which they are shipped to England by steamers from Colon. The journey is 
very long, and the plants shrivel much during the delay across the Isthmus, so that they, as a rule, arrive home in bad 
order and take a long time to establish. Once this is thoroughly effected, there is no orchid which will flower freer than 
the white varieties of Leelia anceps. It is very curious and peculiar that these forms are not to be found growing wild 
in the forests! Every plant we have sold had been cultivated and grown in trees in front or near the huts of the 
Mexican Indians, and had to be purchased separately, and in these trees the plants have been growing for centuries. 
The natives use the flowers for their religious services, and are very chary in parting with their specimens. It is one 
of the discoveries of our collector, Mr. F. Bartholomzeus, whom we despatched in search of it, and whose honest 
enterprise and skill we cannot praise too highly. The plant is so rare that we do not think it will ever again come to 
Europe. Our importation was, indeed, at a great cost despatched v/a St. Francisco by one of the fast trains to New 
York, and thence by mail steamer home, and to this we attribute the splendid condition of the plants on their arrival. 
Drawn from a plant in the collection of Baron J. H. W. Schréder, The Dell, Staines, 
