LiELIA ANCEPS STELLA 



[Plate 329.] 



Kative of Mexico. 



Epiphytal. Pseudohulhs obloug-ovate, compressed, angulately ribbed, clothed with 

 a membraneous sheath, four to six inches high, usually bearing a single leaf; more 



rarely, _ however, two leaves are developed. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, acute, six to 

 eight inches long, about two inches wide at the broadest part, channelled at the 



base, leathery in texture, and bright green. Scajje terminal, erect, furnished with 

 numerous sheathing keeled bracts at the joints, and bearing at the apex a raceme 

 of from two to five flowers, which are about four and a half inches in diameter. 

 Sepals lanceolate -acuminate ; petals ovate-acute, much broader than the sepals, all 

 spreading and pure white ; lip three-lobed, the lateral lobes convolute over the 

 column, the front edges reflexed, the anterior lobe oblong and undulated, pure white 

 saving the yellow disc and the radiating purple streaks in the throat. 



L^LiA ANCEPS Stella^ Reichenbach Jih^ Gardeners^ Chronicle^ n,s. xxv,, p. 136, 



. This splendid variety of Lselia, which we here laring to the notice of our 

 subscribers, is one of the many forms of Lcelia anceps which have been introduced in 

 large quantities, wdthin the last few years, by ]\Icssrs. Shuttleworth, Carder & Co., 

 Messrs, Sander & Co., and various other firms, some of the varieties having been found 

 in the old locality on the Atlantic side of the country, whilst others are said to be 

 from a new district on the Pacific side ; the enormous masses which have been 



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imported prove that they grow in great luxuriance in their native habitats, 

 and they probably had never before been disturbed by the hand of man. The 

 introduction of these Lselias and so many other Orchids to this country in such 

 large quantities has realised our expectations, and rendered the papers upon Orchids, 

 which w^e contributed to the pages of the Gardeners' Chronicle nearly forty years 

 ago, entitled "Orchids for the Million," veritably true, for they have become so 

 reasonable in price, and the wants and requirements of so many of them are 



becoming so well understood, that they are really and truly the plants of the 



million ; for the magnificent and exquisite colours, the curious and fantastic forms, 



the length of time the flowers remain in beauty, and the delicious fragrance 



yielded by them, induce nearly every one who has the convenience to commence 



the cultivation of Orchids. 



The variety here figured was kindly sent to us by H. Gaskell, Esq., Woolton 

 Wood, Woolton, Liverpool, in whose grand collection this plant flowered during the 



early part of the present year, under the care of Mr. Todd, who has charge oi 

 this Orchid collection. 



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