CATTLEYA HARDYANA. 
[PLATE 231.] 
Native of New Grenada: a supposed natural hybrid. 
Epiphytal. Stems short, clavate-fusiform faleate, each bearing a solitary leaf, 
as in ©. gigas. Leaves ligulate-oblong obtuse, emarginate, with a central furrow, 
oe 
eight to ten inches long, and upwards of two inches broad. Peduneles about four- 
flowered. Flowers’ very large, measuring as much as eight inches across, strongly 
scented and superbly coloured; sepals lanceolate recurved, four inches or more in 
length and fully an inch broad, striate, of a rich rosy mauve, white at the extreme 
ase; petals ovate, undulated at the margin, nearly three inches across, marked 
with a distinct and conspicuous wedge-shaped spot of white at the base, otherwise 
of a deeper rosy hue than the sepals, somewhat uneven on the surface whence 
the colour appears to be shaded or mottled; Jip extremely beautiful, about three 
inches. across, with a squarish outline in front, the basal part folded over the 
column, the apex deeply bilobed, and the margins excessively undulated so as to 
have the appearance of being deeply lobate; the whole of the front lobe, the 
margin of its upper portion, and the part which encloses the column are all of 
the richest and deepest crimson-magenta, and this is continued backwards as a 
ground colour as far as the mouth of the tubular portion, but is decorated with 
a network of closely reticulated golden veins, while towards the upper angle on 
each side the crimson ground colour dies out, leaving a broad patch of clear bright 
yellow. Column included. 
_ Cartteya Harpyana, Hardy MS.; Williams, Orchid-Growers’ Manual, 6 ed., 
633; Gardeners’ Chronicle, .8., xxiv., : 
The Cattleya we now figure is assuredly one of the most magnificent of the 
Many species or varieties or hybrids that have come under our notice, notwith- 
Standing that of late years many very beautiful and greatly varied kinds have 
been introduced. The appearance of these fine new Cattleyas is always a source of 
Steat pleasure and the signal for. much excitement among Orchid growers, for there is 
really nothing to surpass them in their colours, the size of their flowers, and their 
showy appearance generally. A few years ago we were satisfied with our Orchid 
houses looking gay for part of the year, but now there are so many species and 
_ Varieties in cultivation that such structures can be kept gay all the year round 
with these plants alone. Through the kindness of G. Hardy, Esq., of Pickering 
Te Timperley, we received for illustration flowers of this exceptionally fine species, 
and we believe that in his well-known collection it is quite unique. 
| In its manner of growth Cattleya Hardyana resembles C. gigas, the plant being, 
We think, undoubtedly a natural hybrid between C. gigas and (. Dowiana aurea, 
