L^LIA ALBIDA SULPHUREA. 



[Plate ' 320.1 



Jfative of Mexico. 



Epiphytal. Pseudohulhs clustered, ovoid or sub-pyriform. sulcata, about three 

 inches high, enveloped in numerous membraneous scales, and bearing upon the apex 

 a pair of linear-lanceolate, acute leaves, which are leathery in texture, from three 

 to six inches long, and deep green. Scape terminal from between the leaves, erect, 

 slender, from a foot to eighteen inches or more long, and bearing upon the upper 

 portion a somewhat lax raceme of from five to eight flowers, which are about two and 

 a half inches in diameter, yielding a grateful perfume, resembling the odour of 

 primroses. Bixicts numerous, ovate, sessile ; sepals oblong-lanceolate ; petals oblong- 

 ovate, much broader than the sepals, undulate, with a broad mid-rib, both sepals 

 and petals sulphur-yellow ; lip oblong, three-lobed, lateral lobes erect, but not closed 

 over the column, front lobe reflexed, sulphur-yellow, the crest orange, bordered with 

 rose, the inner side of the lateral lobes streaked with purple. Column concave, white, 

 suffused with purple. 



L^LiA ALBIDA SULPHUREA, Reiclienhach Jil., Gardeners' Chronicle, 1884, xxi., 

 p. 76 ; Williams, Orchid-Grower's Manual, 6 ed., p. 349. 



A figure of the typical Lcelia alhida appeared in the third volume of the 

 Album, t. 138, and in the fifth volume, t. 239, is an excellent portrait of the 

 Lcslia alhida hella ; nevertheless, we have no hesitation in introducing another form 

 of this species here, feeling sure it will be welcomed on account of its extreme 

 beauty, as it is so very distinct from the type, and there is little doubt that its 



novel colour will cause it to be eagerly sought after by lovers of these Mexican 



Laelias. The form of sulphur ea, here figured, is by far the best, both in shape and 



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colour, that has hitherto come under our notice. The typical Lcelia albida has 

 been imported in large quantities during the past few years, chiefly from the 

 neighbourhood of Oaxaca, in Mexico, some of the collectors sending home enormous 

 masses of this species ; and it is from amongst these that this and other 

 varieties have been obtained. Our illustration was taken from a fine well-grown 

 specimen in the collection of S. T. Walley, Esq., Small wood, Fallowfield, Man- 

 chester, where it bloomed in November, 1887, bearing six spikes of its charming 

 flow^ers. 



Lcelia albida sulphurea is a lovely chaste variety, like the species, it is a 

 compact evergreen plant ; the pseudobulbs are oval, sulcate, about three inches 

 high, each bearing a pair of lanceolate acute leaves ; the spike is produced from 

 the top of the bulb after growth is completed ; the sepals and petals are sulphur- 

 yellow, whilst the lip is crested with orange, the anterior lobes being tipped 



