a are produced 
CATTLEYA SUPERBA SPLENDENS. 
[PiaTE 33. ] 
Native of Brazil in the region of the Rio Negro. 
Epiphytal. Stems slender, subterete, furrowed, with distant nodes, nearly a foot 
in height. Leaves in pairs, ovate or ovate-oblong, obtuse, barely four inches in 
length, of a deep bluish green colour and stout coriaceous texture. Scape four to 
five-flowered, issuing from a terminal oblong obtuse compressed sheathing bract, of 
a pale brown colour, which is about two inches long and three-quarters of an inch 
broad. Flowers richly coloured, nearly six inches in breadth; sepals elliptic-lanceolate, 
plane, about two and a half inches long, of a deep rich purplish rose colour; petals 
of the same colour somewhat broader and longer, rhomboid, more or less undulated 
at the margin in the upper half; lip about two inches long, three-lobed, the basal 
lobes elongately connivent into a tube acute in front, of a rich magenta-crimson, 
white at the base, middle lobe transversely rounded, broader than long, emarginate, 
harrowed into a claw, the front portion of the same rich crimson colour, the disk 
and interior of the tube yellow, the former traversed by five elevated golden yellow 
lines. Column enclosed. 
_ CATTLEYA SUPERBA SPLENDENS, Lemaire, Illustration Horticole xvi, t. 605; 
Williams, Orchid Grower's Manual, 4 ed., 127; 5 ed., 132. 
The plant we are now about to describe is one of the most magnificent members 
of its genus, so far as regards the brilliant colouring of its flowers. This may be 
seen by a reference to the accompanying illustration, which was taken from a fine 
Plant that flowered at the Victoria Nursery, and was subsequently purchased by 
William Lee, Esq., of Downside, Leatherhead. The plant was seen to great advantage 
When suspended in a basket from the roof of the Orchid-house, and in this position 
ey <a admired, by connoisseurs on account of its rich and brilliant colours. 
=a mr of Cattleya superba vary considerably in the colour of their flowers, 
Wa " the original or type form being well represented in the first series of 
“eyaapdie Select Orchidaceous Plants (t.. 24), where a most beautiful spike with 
«8X of its really superb flowers is shown. 
. aoa which we now introduce to the notice of our readers—Cattleya 
‘ fe endens—is one of distinct character, and of unparalleled beauty. On comes 
plant " “ig country, viz., the Rio Negro region of Para instead of ‘Guiana. The 
=a = compact growth like C. superba, and generally flowers during July and 
> ee Stems (pseudobulbs) are ten to twelve inches in height; the leaves 
in pairs, and are longer and more pointed, and its splendidly 
col 
.- flowers are produced four or five together in the spike from the top of 
