L^LIA ANCEPS SCOTTIANA. 



[Plate 325.] 



Native of Mexico. 



Epiphytal. Psetidobulhs ovate-oblong, compressed, with two acute edges, and 

 ribbed on the flattened sides, when young clothed with membraneous sheaths, some 

 six inches high, and monophyllous. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, some six or 

 eight inches in length, leathery in texture, and deep green. Scape terminal, erect, 

 two _ or more feet in length, clothed with carinate sheathing bracts, ancipital, and 

 bearing towards the apex a raceme of from three to five flowers. Flowers large^ 

 some five inches across ; sepals lanceolate, acuminate ; petals ovate, acuminate, double 

 the width of the sepals, and, like them, of a rich purplish violet; /«p three-lobed, 

 side lobes convolute over the column, the front reflexed and deep purple, middle 

 lobe oblong, obtuse, and apiculate, slightly recurved, and of a rich deep velvety 

 purple ; disc and throat orange, traversed longitudinally by an elevated thickened 

 ridge, which terminates in front in three crests. Column semi-cylindrical, wingless. 



L^LIA ANCEPS SCOTTIANA, SUpra. 



The forms of the Mexican Lc^lia anceps have become very numerous, varying 

 in their shades of colour from pure white to the darkest purple. A few years 

 ago only two varieties of L. anceps were known, i.e., L. anceps Barkeri and X. 

 anceps Dawsoni, these two forms being both introduced by the Messrs. Low, of 

 Clapton, and some time afterwards came the beautiful L. anceps alba ; since then 

 the varieties have become very plentiful, for which we are indebted to the numerous 

 travellers and collectors of plants in Mexico, who have sent us home huge masses 

 of this plant, many of them of such a size as to suggest the idea that they have 

 been growing and blooming in their native habitats for a vast number of years, 

 probably unseen and untouched by the hand of man. The flowers of this beautiful 

 species are called by the Mexicans El taro, and they are used by them for 

 decorative purposes at their festivals. Plant collectors of the present day have a 

 better opportunity of finding these plants, as they have not the opposition to over- 

 come, which the earlier Mexican travellers had to contend with. The influence of 

 money is everywhere strongly felt, and now, instead of keeping the strangers away, 

 they encourage and assist them to explore the country; but, as Mexico is a very 



extensive place, it requires a long time, and a great expenditure of capital, to 



become thoroughly conversant with its more remote regions. 



The variety we here lay before our subscribers is of a splendid colour, and it 

 will afford a pleasing contrast with the lighter coloured and pure white forms. The 

 flowers our drawing has been prepared from were sent to us by W. A. Scott, 



J 



1 



L 



