CATTLEYA MOSSI^ AUREA GEANDIFLORA 



[Plate 289.] 



J^ativG of La Guayra. 



Epiphytal. Fseudohulhs oblong-fusiform, and furrowed, a foot or more liigli, 

 clothed with numerous large sheathing scales, and bearing a single leaf upon the 

 summit. Leaves oblong-obtuse, slightly keeled beneath, and upwards of six inches 

 long. Scape terminal, three to four flowered, issuing from an oblong-acute compressed 

 spathe. Mowers very large and highly coloured, some eight inches in diameter ; 

 sepals lanceolate, spreading, recurved at the apex, entire at the margins ; petals 

 elliptic-ovate, irregularly crispate at the margins, except near the base, and there 

 plain, all soft blush in colour ; lip broadly obovate, spreading in front, the basal 

 part rolled over the column, the expanded portion is emarginate, crenulate and 

 beautifully crisp all round the margin, ground colour deep rose, barred and streaked 

 with lines of violet-rose, and heavily stained with rich orange towards the throat 

 and uj)per margin, the front bordered with rose colour. Column clavate, semi- 

 terete, included. 



Cattleya M0SSI.E AUREA GEAXDIFLOEA, Moove, in Gardeners' Chronicle, June, 

 1864, p. 554 ; Williams, Orchid-Growei^'s Manual, 6 ed., p. 192. 



We have already figured what we consider to be the typical form of this plant 

 in our sixth volume, t. 246, and likewise the wonderful variety Hardyana, vol. iii., 

 t. 125, which aptly illustrates the variableness of the species. It has been said of 

 C. Mossice Hardyana that this is not a permanently fixed form, but having known, 

 and observed it for several years, we are enabled to confidently assert that this variety 

 does keep true to its character, and we observed again this season a fine example 

 of the same plant blooming with G. Hardy, Esq., of Timpcrley ; and we hope to be 

 enabled to figure, from time to time, some of the numerous grand varieties which were 

 named and described by the late Mr. Thomas Lloore, in the Gardeners ChronicUj 

 in 1864, from the magnificent collection of Eobert AVarner, Esq., Broomfield, Chelms- 

 ford, where not only those then selected for varietal names, but many other grand 

 forms, helped to make up the most superb display of Cattleya MossiaB we 

 have ever seen together in ■ one place. The particular form we here portray is a 

 most beautiful and distinct one, as a glance at our illustration will fully prove. 



Cattleija Mossice aurea grandijiora resembles the typical jjlant in habit of 

 growth, but its flowers are larger, more highly coloured, and altogether superior ; 

 they are of good form and substance, and measure eight inches across, whilst 

 frequently four of these magnificent blooms are borne upon one spike. The sepals 

 and petals are blush ; lip large, marked with a bar, and a few broken lines of 



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