LALIA AMESIANA. 
[PLATE 253. ] 
Garden H, Chae, 
Epiphytal. Stems clavate oblong, compressed, the internodes clothed with pallid 
membranaceous sheaths. Leaves oblong obtuse, solitary, leathery, of a deep green 
colour. Scape issuing from an elongate oblong pale yellowish green sheath, situated 
at the base of the leaf, and bearing three or four blossoms. Flowers moderately 
large, distinct in character, and handsomely coloured; sepals lanceolate acute, entire, 
spreading, with the apices recurved, almost white, the flush of purple being very 
faint and scarcely appreciable; petals ovate obtuse, frilled at the edge, of the same 
slightly flushed white as the sepals; lip with the basal portion enfolded over the 
column of a pale yellowish or cream-coloured hue, the throat, which has a_ very 
short orifice, flushed with purple down the centre, and having a clear yellow blotch 
on each side at the opening, the front lobe roundish ovate, neatly frilled, of a rich 
deep magenta-purple, somewhat paler towards the upper part where the edges meet 
over the throat, at which point it is almost white. Column included. 
LautA Ammstana, Reichenbach fil., in Gardeners’ Chronicle, N.s,, xxi., 109. 
CarrteyA AmeEsiana, Hort.; Williams, Orchid-Grower’s Manual, 6 ed., 173. 
This splendid hybrid Lelia is one of the most beautiful that has yet been 
obtained. It was raised by the Messrs. Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea, and is a cross 
between Cattleya (Lelia) crispa and CO. maxima, the admixture of which has 
proved a most successful experiment. We first saw this fine hybrid exhibited by 
the raisers in December, 1883, at one of the meetings of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, where it was much admired. It is named in honour of The Hon. F. 
Ames, of North Easton, Mass., U.S.A., who is a great admirer of good plants, and 
has many rare and_ beautiful specimens. We owe the opportunity of securing our 
drawing to the kindness of W. Lee, Esq., Downside, Leatherhead, in whose collection 
it has bloomed during the present year. 
Lelia Amesiana is a splendid free-flowering evergreen plant, having flowers 
similar in form to those of Cattleya exoniensis. The blossoms are bold and striking 
in appearance, the sepals and petals are blush white, and the lip a rich magenta- 
crimson. It blooms at different times of the year, according as it makes its growth, 
and it lasts some time in beauty if the flowers are kept free from damp. As 
Cattleyas often go spotted if they are kept too cool, a warm house, with on little 
moisture, offers the best conditions for preserving their flowers, even I spring ‘and 
summer, 
E 
