CATTLEYA CRISPA DELICATISSIMA. 
[PLATE 424. ] 
Native of Southern Brazil. 
Kpiphytal, growing upon rocks and trees. Pseudobulbs erect, clavate, compressed, 
dightly furrowed, from eight to ten inches high, bearing a single leat upon the 
apex. Leaves oblong- lanceolate, obtuse, emarginate, coriaceous in texture, about a 
foot in length, and rich deep green. Scape rising from the base of the leaf, and issuing 
from a large oblong compressed sheath, bearing a raceme of from two to three 
flowers, which measure individually from five to six inches across. Sepals lanceolate, 
widening upwards, entire at the margins, recurved at the tips, pure white; petals 
same colour as the sepals, but much broader, ovate, lanceolate, narrow at the base, 
much undulated and crisp on the margins; lip three- lobed, the side lobes rolled 
over and enclosing the column, anterior lobe oblong, acuminate, slightly recurved at 
the tip, much lobed and crisp on the margin, pure white, stained with lemon on 
the interior, throat streaked with rosy purple, the frilled edges stained with soft 
lilac. Column enclosed, clavate, triquete. 
CATTLEYA CRISPA DELICATISSIMA, Williams, Orchid-Grower’s Manual, 6 ed., 
Dp ld 
LALIA ORISPA DELICATISSIMA, Hort. 
The present plant is a lovely variety of an old species which has been known to 
exist in our gardens for more than sixty years, and is familiarly known as Cattleya 
crispa, to which we have adhered instead of resorting to the name of Lelia. It 
flowered for the first time in this country in the year 1827, in the gardens of the 
Horticultural Society, having been sent there the year previously by Sir Henry 
Chamberlain. Naturally it appears to be scattered through the southern part of 
Brazil, and in the diamond district of Minas Geraes it is abundant, growing in 
immense masses. The first experiences with this species did not appear to be 
happy ones, the plant appearing to roll up its lip and not show its beauty, so that 
cultivators began to tire of it, whilst this, coupled with the high temperature in 
which it was grown, soon caused the majority of plant growers to set it on one 
side; we well remember forty years ago how it was shunned and not wanted. In 
the gardens of Mrs. Pearce, of Southampton, we first saw a very large quantity of 
these plants in splendid health, and as they had been grown cool—for that time— 
the plants appeared to open their lips and display their beauties in a far better 
manner than ever we had seen before. Hither through better treatment or by 
the introduction of better varieties, we have arrived at the happy time when Cattleya 
crispa can be looked upon as a charming plant, the one here figured being 
