MILTONIA (HYBRIDA) BLEUANA fort 
A hybrid raised from Miltonia vexillaria fertilised with the pollen of M. Roezlii. The vegetative organs are but little different from those of the 
mother plant, and the form of the dorsal sepal and the petals are also very similar. The lip is quite intermediate in shape, while the column and the colour 
of the flowers closely resemble the pollen parent in character. In this latter character there is a considerable amount of variation between different indivi- 
duals. The one first figured had the flowers white, with some yellow at the base of the lip, and a few radiating rosy lines immediately in front of this. Two 
others soon followed, in which the basal part of the petals was of violet-rose colour, as in the typical form of M. Roezlii. One of these, which had a large disc 
of bright yellow, was called variety aurea, while the other had the lines in front of the disc of a light brown shade, and was called variety splendens. The one 
here figured approaches the latter, but is more brilliantly coloured, and it seems doubtful if any two individuals are quite alike. 
MILTONIA (hybrida) BLEUANA, Hort. Gard. Chron,, Feb, 16, 1889, p. 203 ; Lindenia, IV., p. 67, t. 176. 
MILTONIA (hybrida) BLEU], Godefroy Orchidophile, 1889, p. 45. 
MILTONIA (hybrida) BLEUANA VAR. SPLENDENS, Bleu, ex Williams’ Orchid Album, IX,, t. 412. 
Miltoniopsis (hybrida) Bleui, Godefroy Orchidophile, 1889, P. 145, with plate (varieties aurea and splendens), also p. 179. aan ? 
It was in June, 1883, that M. Alfred Bleu, of Paris, a well-known hybridist, ‘crossed Miltonia vexillaria with the pollen of M. Roezlii, with the hopes of 
raising some distinct garden form of this beautiful genus. The pod ripened in April, 1884, and the seed was sown at once. In November, 1888, one of the 
seedlings was seen to be pushing a flower-spike, the flowers of which expanded in the following January, four years and nine months from the time of sowing 
the seed. It was exhibited at a meeting of L’Orchidéenne, of Brussels, on February roth, and was awarded a Dipléme d’Honneur. This early flowering 
seems to have been somewhat abnormal ; at all events, others appeared later, about the time of flowering of the two parent species. Like many other hybrids 
it has proved very variable, especially in colour, though few other first crosses have produced such distinct varieties out of the same seed-pod as has the 
present one, None, however, have retained the bright rose colour of the mother plant, though this defect will probably be remedied in future. It isa decided 
acquisition, and specially interesting as the first artificial hybrid to flower in this or the allied genus Odontoglossum, in which natural hybrids are so 
numerous, R. A. Rolfe. 
“Our analytical drawings represent the lip and column, seen from the front ; the column, seen from the side, 
with the anther case and pollinia, 
Tus magnificent orchid is a hybrid raised by Mons. Alfred Bleu, of Paris, and we give in the following his description 
of the plant, read by him before the Horticultural Society of France. One of them was shown in May, 1890, at the 
Horticultural Exhibition in Paris, and purchased by us. It is a hybrid raised between Miltonia (Odontoglossum) Roezlii 
and Miltonia (Odontoglossum) vexillaria. Both parents are indigenous to the United States of Columbia, and both are 
equally beautiful and continue to be grown in every collection, and this is fully justified by their large and elegant 
flowers, which remain in flower for a considerable time. ‘ 
Mons. Bleu says :— These considerations account for the great desire of orchid hybridisers to obtain offspring 
from these two interesting species. As is the case with a great majority of the genus of this family, the fertilisation is an 
easy matter, and the seed is both abundant and of good quality ; but great difficulty is encountered in the germination 
and raising of the young plants. It is a double satisfaction to me to have been able both to solve this problem—until 
now insoluble—and also to place under the eyes of the Society the first specimen in flower of this new type. 
“The seed obtained by fertilisation made in June, 1883, was sown in April, 1884. A few plants were raised, 
among which I found the specimen represented here—a plant not only remarkable for its large and numerous flowers, 
but by its great development compared with other plants of the same age. On calculation it will be seen that it has 
taken four years and nine months to bring it into bloom, 
“One may be allowed to suppose that this cross, possessing many characters of both parents, will be heartily 
welcomed, and become of great commercial value. Its vigorous vegetation, its abundant flowering, seen even in 
the weakest plants (in proof of which four specimens are now actually in bud in my establishment), will assign to 
it a place in collections, making it a plant much in demand. Although the flowers are very large in the specimen 
presented to the Society, I am in a position to affirm, after numerous observations I have noted at the period of their 
first flowering, that the plant will still improve in growth by at least a fifth, and perhaps more. 
“ By the arrangement and shape of the petals, as well as the upper sepal, the flower reminds us of O. vexillarium. 
The lower sepals are distinguished from those of its two parents by their being strictly horizontal. The lip is inter- 
mediate, and the middle lobe is more pronounced than that of M. Roezlii, but not so deeply sloped as M. vexillaria. The 
graceful ornament of the base, which has imparted its elegant shape to the last-named, has, like its parents, a yellow- 
sulphur ground, with brown stripes. The deep violet blotches on the petals of M. Roezlii are transmitted to this hybrid, 
but with a more delicate hue. The rosy colour of M. vexillaria has entirely disappeared, but the pure white ground of O. 
Roezlii is preserved ; finally, the column is more developed and pronounced than that of the seed-bearing plant, but not 
so large in the case of the male variety.” 
We can but congratulate Mons. Bleu on his great success and achievement in obtaining such a grand hybrid 
orchid. 
Our plate was taken from a plant purchased by us from M. Bleu. 
