CATTLEYA MOSSIiE HAKDYANA. 



[Plate 125.] 



Kative of La Guayra. 



Epiphytal. Stems oblong, club-sliaped, furrowed in age, and invested in tlic 

 lower part by wbitish membranaceous sheaths. Leaves leathery, ligulafo-obloii 



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obtuse, recurved at the tip, deep green. Scape about two-flowered, issuing from 

 the broad compressed leafy sheath, both scape and pedicels tinted with rcddisli 

 purple. Flowers large, exceedingly attractive from their peculiar striate colorafldii, 

 the colours very irregularly distributed, no two corresponding paiis b(>ing nlikc in 

 marking ; sepals lanceolate, slightly recurved, purplish blush, or very dilute lilac-puriile. 

 irregularly and striately blotched in the direction of the veins wdth rich mngcnta-piuple ; 

 petals broad, ovate, undulated, irregularly striate-blotched with niagcnta-pui-plc on a 

 very dilute lilac-purple ground, in the same way as the sepals ; lip obovat 

 cmarginate, with a densely frilled edge, the basal lobes enfolding the column of a dec 

 rosy magenta on the outer surface, the middle lobe with a golden blotch on the 



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throat and disk, tbe front portion striately marked with rich deep mngenta-purple, 

 tside which is an irregular zone of white, more or less traversed by pale i)urplc 



veins, the extreme margin being pale purple ; otherwise as in the typ 



Cattleya Mossi^ Hardyana, Williams and Moore, supra 



1. 



This is the most extraordinary variety of Cattleija Moss'kb that has ever come 

 under our notice, and, moreover, it is not only most distinct but most beautiful 



Its peculiar coloration is constant, for we have received flowers of it in two successive 

 seasons, and the colour and style of marking have not appeared to vary m tljo 

 least. We believe it has bloomed three years in succession. Our figure was taken 

 from the fine plant in the noble collection of G. Hardy, Esq., Timperlej 

 This plant we believe is uniaue, there havinoj been only one example with 



Chcsh 



d 



flowers obtained from tbe whole importation, and that was secured and iu>t t oworr( 

 by Mr. Hardy, in whose honour it is now named. We know of no other like it, 

 a^d we must congratulate tbe owner on his good fortune in obtanniig an. 

 blooming a variety with such wonderfully variegated flowers. ^ 



There are many other fine species of Cattleya in this collection, ^^^"^^^^^^^^^ 

 bloom magnificently, and are grown to great perfection. They are cultnn o< 

 good-sized houses, and have plenty of light, which is a great necessity to t u. 

 plaints, and f}...r ol.. „.. .i.. L' A.^r-o. nf heat and of moisture, an<l the annual 



and they also get the proper degree of heat and of mois 



"■■^st, togeticr with perfect cleanliness, all which seems to l.e thoroughly unau ^^^ 

 by Mr. Hill, the gardener, for the plants appear in the same vigorous 

 health year after year, and still go on improving. 



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