CHYSIS BRACTESCENS. 
[Puate 446.] 
Native of Mexico. 
Epiphytal. Psewdobulbs stem-like, fusiform, thick and fleshy in texture, from six 
inches to a foot im length, bearing towards the apex several ovate-lanceolate plaited 
leaves, which are deciduous, thin, and sheathing at the base, and bright light green in 
colour. Scape rising with the young growth, three to eight flowered, the individual 
blooms some three inches across, having a leafy bract at the base. Sepals slightly 
incurved, oblong, thick and waxy; petals similar to the sepals, also slightly incurved, 
obovate-oblong, all of the purest white; lip three-lobed, side lobes erect, incurved, 
white like the other parts of the flower on the outside, yellow within, having a 
few streaks of red at the sides; middle lobe fleshy, somewhat four-sided, bilobed in 
front, yellow, flushed and lined with red, having at the base five raised fleshy ridges. 
Column broad and fleshy, boat-shaped, the upper part white, yellow beneath. 
Cuysis BRacTEscENS, Lindl., Botanical Register, 1840, mise. 131. Id., Botanical 
Register, 1841, t. 28. Botanical Magazine, t. 5186. Bateman’s 2nd Century of 
Orchids, t. 138.  Reichenbachia, i., t. 18. Flore des Serres, vii., t. 675. Revue 
Horticole, 1859, t. 294. Illustration AHorticole, 2nd series, t. 398. Williams’ 
Orchid Grower's Manual, 6th ed., p. 210. 
We have in this plant a beautiful free-flowering species, which was introduced 
to cultivation by Mr. Barker, of Birmingham, who grew it and first flowered it 
just fifty-two years ago, since which time it has always remained a popular plant. 
During the past few years, Messrs. Veitch and Sons have added two hybrids to the 
somewhat limited number of species which comprised this genus, and which have 
done much to raise and increase interest in them. The plant from which our 
drawing was made, flowered in our establishment in the spring of last year, during 
which time we had a goodly number flowering, and the blooms lasted a long time 
in full beauty. 
Chysis bractescens is a deciduous plant, casting its leaves after the growth is 
completed, requiring at this time to be kept at the cool end of the Cattleya house, 
and giving it just sufficient water to keep the bulbs from shrivelling. In the 
spring of the year the plants should be re-potted if grown in pots, but we prefer 
to grow them in baskets, which is more in accordance with their natural conditions, 
where they grow upon the branches of forest trees, and consequently have some shade 
during their growing season. After potting or basketing, as the case may be, they 
should be removed to the East Indian house. The plants grow low down in 
Mexico, in the province of Vera Cruz and the province of Tabasco, where they 
