CATTLEYA SPECIOSISSIMA BUCHANANIANA. 
[PLate 261.] 
Native of Venezuela. 
Epiphytal. Stems oblong, deeply and closely furrowed, attaining from six to 
eight inches in height, monophyllous. Leaves of a shining dark green colour, 
paler beneath, leathery, ligulate-oblong, with a short recurved acute point, hence 
appearing obtuse and bilobed when seen from above. Scape two or more flowered, 
issuing from a spathe at the top of the stem, and developed after the leaf- 
growth is completed, as in the other forms allied to C. labiata. Flowers very large 
and magnificently coloured, measuring nearly eight inches in expansion; sepals lanceo- 
late, entire, recurved at the tips, of a rosy hue, the dorsal one an inch and a 
quarter wide ; petals very large, ovate, a little erose at the edges and but slightly 
undulated, fully three and a_ half ‘inches long, and about three inches across in 
the broadest part, wide spreading, of a pleasing tint of streaky rose colour ; lip 
convolute over the column, its front edge being continued so as to meet over the 
tube, about three and a half inches long, the anterior portion two inches broad, 
deeply biparted, the margin neatly undulated, of a rich magenta colour which fades 
off towards the upper margin of the tube, the throat beautifully marked on either 
side with blotches of yellow passing into stripes where it joins the bar of paler 
purplish rose which runs down the centre of the throat. Column included. 
CATTLEYA SPECIOSISsIMA BucHanantana, Williams and Moore, supra. 
Cattleya speciosissima is quite an old inmate of our stoves, and, although shy 
flowering, is, nevertheless, a very beautiful Orchid. The variety we now introduce 
to our subscribers is, as may be seen from our figure of it, a very fine form of 
Cattleya speciosissima, which we consider to be far in advance of the original 
type. There are many other handsome forms, especially one that we received 
from R. H. Measures, Esq., The Woodlands, Streatham, which was of a most 
beautiful outline and colour, and quite distinct from the above. We have also 
received a very fine one from A. Heine, Esq., Manchester; and a white-flowered form, 
with very large flowers, from M. Finet, of Argenteuil. It will thus be seen that 
there are many varieties of Cattleya speciosissima, but though some of them are of an 
inferior character, they are all remarkably showy plants. This Cattleya is, no doubt, 
allied to the section of which C. labiata is the type. Our drawing, which was 
taken from a good plant in the fine collection of J. Buchanan, Esq., Oswald Road, 
Morningside, Edinburgh, after whom it is named, was made at the end of September, 
& circumstance which proves it to be a most useful plant for blooming as até 
autumn months when Orchid flowers are scarce. The forms of C. speciosissima 
are considered to be shy bloomers, and often produce but one or two flowers on a 
spike. 
G 
