LALIA MAJALIS. 
[Prase 872.) 
Native of Mexico. 
Epiphytal. Pseudobulbs clustered, ovate, or sub-rotund, smooth, but becomi 
furrowed with age, light green, bearing for the most part a solitary leaf, althoug 
occasionally two leaves are developed on one growth. Leaves lanceolate, from six 
to nine inches long, thick and leathery in texture, and deep green. Sca shorter 
than the leaves, usually one-flowered, but less frequently two-flowered, these indi- 
vidually measure from six to nine inches across; sepals somewhat narrow, lanceolate- 
acute, soft rosy-lilac; petals large, same colour as the sepals, but more than double 
their width, oblong-ovate ; lip three-lobed, side lobes small, erect, obtuse, closin 
over the column, the tips reflexed, white within streaked with lilac, and suffuse 
with the same hue towards the margins, anterior lobe large, spreading, emarginate, 
lobed round the edge, white in the centre, spotted and streaked with sch Ge lilac, 
and broadly margined with purplish mauve, the disc being traversed with a pale 
yellow ridge, which is broadest at the base. 
Laua magatis, Lindley, Botanical Register, xxx., t. 30; Bateman’s Orchids 
of Mexico and Guatemala, t. 23 ; Botanical Magazine, t. 5667; Paxton’s Magazne e. 
Botany, xii, p. 1; Belgique Horticole, 1869, p. 129; Jennings’ Orchids, t. 41; 
Williams, Orchid-Grower’s Manual, 6 ed., p. 362. 
Bieta speciosa, Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth, Nova Plantarum, Genera et 
WSpecies, i, p. 342. 
BLETIA GRANDIFLORA, Lexarza, in Orchidarum Opusculum ; Reichenbach fil., Xenia 
Orchidacee, ii., p. 55. 
This beautiful species would appear to have been discovered early in the days 
of intercourse between Mexico and Europe, as it is mentioned by Hernandez in 
1615, and to this day it must be reckoned amongst the very finest plants we have 
in cultivation. For the size of its bulbs, the flowers are larger than any other 
Orchid with which we are acquainted, but it has never been grown to the extent 
which its merits entitle it to. Many years ago this plant was in our ion, and 
we exhibited a fine specimen upon several occasions at the exhibitions of the Royal 
Horticultural Society held at Chiswick, and at that of the Royal Botanic Society held 
in the Regent’s Park during the months of May and June, where it was deservedly 
much admired, but at that time (nearly forty years ago) this species was rarely 
to be seen in bloom in our collections. Few Lelias even of the present time can 
eclipse this species in the size of its blooms, or equal the lovely soft colour of its 
flowers. Of this species there are from time to time large importation, and upon 
these occasions strong masses are easily procurable; these with care will make 
