ae 
: LAHLIA ELEGANS ALBA. 
[Puate 30. | 
Native of Brazil. 
: ~ : ‘ : 
Epiphytal. Stems terete, somewhat club-shaped, about eighteen inches in height, 
the weaker ones bearing one, the stronger two, leaves at the apex. Leaves solitary 
or in pairs, ligulate-oblong, from six inches to a foot in length, very thick and 
leathery in texture, of a bright green colour. Scape two to three-flowered, issuing 
from a terminal oblong compressed bract, about three inches in length. owers 
white and crimson-purple, large and very handsome, about six inches in» expansion ; 
sepals oblong lanceolate, acute, plane, pure white; petals rather shorter than the 
sepals, broadly-lanceolate, undulated at the margins, pure white; lip three inches 
long, three-lobed, the lateral lobes rolled over the column, the front portion spreading, 
undulated, and marked within the edge with a blotch of crimson-purple, the middle 
lobe roundish, flabellately expanded, crispato-undulate, of a rich crimson-purple, the colour 
breaking out near the tip into crimson veins on a purplish ground, and extended 
mto a claw-like base through the pale yellowish disk. Colwmn about as long as the 
convolute base of the lip, enclosed. ‘ 
LA&LIA ELEGANS var. ALBA, Walliams, Catalogue 1881, 68, 
= 9 
PIE al 
_ We have here one of the most beautiful of this charming class of Orchids, and 
one which no Orchid fancier can fail to admire. The showy blossoms of the forms 
of this species offer many shades of colour, those of the variety before us being 
exceedingly chaste and delicate. The accompanying figure is a good representation of 
_ this charming variety, and was prepared from ‘a sketch of a well-grown specimen 
which bloomed in the fine collection of W. Lee, Esq., Downside, Leatherhead, under 
c 2 
the care of Mr. Woolford, the gardener. ms : 
This Leelia grows about eighteen inches high; it is furnished with sone ome 
foliage of a pleasant green, and produces its blossoms in June and July, continuing: 
a about three weeks in beauty. The sepals and petals are of a pure white, while om 
lip is of a rich magenta-crimson, the two colours making a wiraeke ad oe 
Contrast. This delicately beautiful variety is extremely rare. , 
Lelia elegans alba is like the Cattleyas in its growth, with the exception of the 
stems being more slender, most of them producing two short leaves about vor eo 
in length. The plants require the same temperature © and the same material in which 
eo SS the allied Cattleyas, and also about the same amount of water during 
Cattleyas. There are 
the stowing season, The rest required is also the same as od d_ others 
“ome of the species, such as L. albida, autwmnalis, meals, P esi rare 
me They are all subject to insects, 
is sometimes troublesome, and 
= 
hie will thrive better in a cooler temperature. 
Which should be diligently looked after. White scale 
