LALIA ALBIDA BELLA. 
: [PLaTE 239. ] 
Native of Mexico. 
Epiphytal. Pseudobulbs ovate, clustered, becoming furrowed in age, and marked 
about the middle part with a transverse ring or scar, indicating the base of one of 
the deciduous ovate acuminate whitish bracts or scales, with which they are invested 
the earlier stages of their growth. Leaves in pairs, narrow-lanceolate acute, 
channelled down the centre, stout and leathery in texture, and of a deep green 
colour. Scapes terminal, slender, two or three times as long as the leaves, and 
bearing several flowers in a longish raceme. Flowers two and three quarter inches 
across, distinctly and pleasingly coloured, having a powerful and peculiarly’ pleasant 
primrose-like perfume; sepals oblong-lanceolate acute, plane, spreading, of a creamy- 
white colour; petals oblong-ovate obtuse, three-fourths of an inch broad, creamy- 
white, with the margins near the front broadly but faintly bordered with pale 
peach-blossom or lilacy-pink; lip obovate emarginate, three-lobed, the lateral lobes 
erect, triangular-oblong obtuse, white streaked below with pink, the broad flat roundish- 
oblong front lobe white, bearing on the disk a crest of three yellow ridges passing 
from the throat outwards, and having a broad band of deep bright rose at the 
margin, this marking being very conspicuous and_ effective. Column elongate, . 
glabrous, incurved, tinted with pink. 
LA&ALIA ALBIDA BELLA, of gardens ; Williams, Orchid-Grower’s Manual, 6 ed., 348. 
In our third volume, Plate 138, we have figured the original Lelia albida, 
and we now introduce to our readers the more novel Lelia albida bella, from 
Mexico, which is a very pretty form of the species, varying from the type both 
in size and colour. When well grown and bloomed it makes a charming decorative 
plant during the autumn and winter months. It belongs to the section of small- 
growing Leeias, and is one ‘that does not occupy much space. Our drawing was 
taken from a specimen in the collection of J. C. Bowring, Esq., Forest Farm, 
Windsor, who is a great lover of Orchids. 
Lelia albida bella is an evergreen plant resembling the type in its growth 
and manner of blooming, but producing stronger flower spikes and larger blossoms 
than the original form of the species. The sepals and petals are creamy white, 
tipped with rosy lilac; the lip is yellow with a broad band of rosy magenta round 
the middle lobe, and an orange and yellow throat. It blooms in December and 
January, and lasts for several weeks in beauty. 
This class of Lelias cannot be kept so long as others in a healthy vigorous 
condition, but require replenishing every few years, as they often grow and flower 
themselves to death, unless great care is bestowed upon them, and even then they 
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