CATT EEA ODDIGE SEL 2.47 
“VAR. O’BRIENIANA Rove. 
Pseudobulbis subclavato-elongatis sulcatis diphyllis ; foliis oblongis v. ovato-oblongis obtusis coriaceis ; spatha subcoriacea foliis duplo breviora ; 
tacemo 1—6-floro ; sepalis patentibus lanceolato-oblongis subobtusis, lateralibus subfalcatls ; petalis multo latioribus ; labello trilobo, lobis lateralibus amplis 
rotundatis, lobo medio dilatato obtuso crispo lateribus reflexis, disco sublave ; columna clavata arcuata. 
CATTLEYA LoppIGEsH, Lindl. Collect. Bot. (1821), sub. t. 33 ; id, t. 37; Hook. Exot. FL, IIL, t. 186; Lindl. Bot. Reg., XXX, sub. t. 5, n. 10 (excl. 
vars. et syn. C. ovata) ; Rolfe in Gard. Chron, 1889, pt. I, p. 718 (excl. syn. Hook. et vars.). 
EPIDENDRUM VIOLACEUM, Lodd. Bot. Cab., IV. (1819), t. 337. 
CATTLEYA AREMBERGII, Scheidw. in Otto & Dictr. Allg. Gartenz. XI. (1843), p. 109. 
EPIDENDRUM LoppiIGEsH, Rchb. f. in Walp. Ann,, VI, p. 316 (excl. syn, Cattleya maritima et C. ovata). 
Var. O’BRIENIANA.  Floribus pallidioribus, labelli lobis lateralibus brevibus et parvioribus, 
VaR. O'BRIENIANA, Rolfe, supra. 
C. O’BRIENIANA, Hort, Gard. Chron, 1889, pt. 2, p. 700; id., 1890, pt. 2, p. 702. 
Cattleya Loddigesii, according to Hooker's Exotic Flora, was originally introduced to Great Britain from the neighbourhood of St. Paul’s, in Brazil, by 
Mr. Woodforde, in 1810. It flowered in the Liverpool Botanic Garden in the following year, and every following year till 1827, the date of the work in ques- 
tion, when an excellent figure was given. It appears to have been first described by Messrs. Loddiges, in 1819, as Epidendrum violaceum, and when Lindley 
established his genus Cattleya he added this plant as a second species, under the name C. Loddigesii. After a time it became confused with other closely 
allied species, which confusion, though partially rectified, has scarcely been thoroughly cleared up to the present day, Cattleya ovata and C. maritima were 
first described by Lindley as distinct species, and then reduced as synonyms of C, Loddigesii ; but both are forms of C. intermedia, as Lindley’s type specimens 
clearly prove, The fact is, Lindley never fully grasped the differences between some of the species of this group, and several specimens in his Herbarium are 
incorrectly named—that is, they are not in accord with his own type specimens. C. Harrisoniana, Bateman, is undoubtedly the nearest ally of C. Loddigesii, 
but can be distinguished by its narrower segments, less ample side-lobes to the lip, the corrugated plates on the disc, its thinner substance generally, as well as 
by its more slender pseudobulbs, and the different aspect of its flowers in a living state. C, Loddigesii is a native of the provinces of Sao Paulo and Rio de 
Janeiro, but the Uruguayan habitat stated in the books belongs to C. intermedia. The variety here illustrated was introduced by Messrs, F. Sander & Co., of 
St. Albans, and was exhibited by them at a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on December 11th, 1889, and again on the gth of the same month in 
the following year under the provisional name of Cattleya O’Brieniana. On the latter occasion it received an Award of Merit. Its flowers are pale rosy-lilac, 
and the side lobes of the lip are shorter and altogether smaller than in typical C. Loddigesii, to which, however, it bears so close a resemblance in other 
respects that I do not see how to distinguish it except as a variety of that species, R.A. Rolfe. 
Icones analytice. Labellum expansum. Columna fronte et a latere visa, Pollinia. 
Tuts is a charming and very distinct variety of Cattleya Loddigesii; its habit of growth when first seen led us to 
suppose that we had at last received an importation of Lelia Jonghiana, but when its flower-buds appeared we were 
inclined to think it Cattleya Harrisoniz. However, when fully developed, it proved undoubtedly distinct, and although 
we are confirmed in our decision by Mr. Rolfe in calling it a variety of C. Loddigesii, it must not for a moment be 
supposed that there are not many quite distinct features in the plants, and from an amateur’s point of view it varies 
totally. It is a plant of low, short habit, and its satin-rose flowers are simply superb in colour and shape ; it is one of 
the most beautiful of the so-called dolosa section. 
The satiny gloss adds greatly to the attractiveness of the flowers. The petals stand erect; the side lobes of the 
lip are much reflexed, and more than half the column is thus exposed—much in the same way as C. Walkeriana. 
It does not require great heat, and we find that it does best in baskets, hanging near the glass. We are, indeed, 
pleased to have been able to introduce such a superb new Cattleya from the Brazils, and have named it in honour of Mr. 
James O’Brien, of Harrow-on-the-Hill, who has been for so many years connected with the horticultural press, and whose 
writings on orchids have enabled so many uninitiated growers to succeed in the culture of orchids. 
Our plate was taken from a plant which flowered in our establishment. 
