CATTLEYA GIGAS FRANCONVILLENSIS. 
[Puate 505. | 
Native of U.S. Colombia. 
Epiphytal. Psewdobulbs short, fusiform, coarsely ribbed, invested with a light 
greyish sheath, monophyllous. Leaves lanceolate-oblong, obtuse, deep green, about nine 
inches long, two inches broad. Scapes two or more flowered, springing from the 
top of the pseudobulbs. Flowers large and handsome, exceeding six inches in 
diameter; sepals oblong-lanceolate, acute, slightly undulate at the edges, pure 
white; petals ovate, edges more or less undulate, pure white; lip very strikingly 
bold and handsome, the front lobe suffused with a rich deep magenta-purple, the 
intense purple veins encroaching on the pure white undulated margin. In the 
throat the white ground colour is_ visible through the pigment in the form 
of radiating veins. The two eye-like blotches on each side of the throat, so 
peculiar to this species, are of a straw yellow, which becomes paler towards the 
outside margins ; lateral lobes folded over the column, bright rosy magenta ex- 
teriorly, slightly veined with a deeper shade, the reflexed portions of the inner 
surface suffused and veined with deep magenta-purple. 
CATTLEYA GIGAS FRANCONVILLENSIS,  H. Williams, Orchid Grower’s Manual, 
7th ed. p. 164 
This most lovely Cattleya was first flowered in the rich collection belonging to 
the Due de Massa, Chateau de Franconville, par Luzarches, France. It turned up quite 
accidentally out of an importation of Cattleya gigas, and we must congratulate the 
Duke as being the fortunate possessor of this unique novelty. Among the many 
forms of C. gigas we have seen several with light-coloured sepals and petals, but 
this is the first instance of one having flowered with pure white sepals and petals. 
Cattleya gigas Franconvillensis in habit of growth is similar to the type. 
The flowers are large and of good form, measuring about six inches in diameter, 
sepals and petals pure white, lip fine in form, deep magenta-purple, with deeper 
veins and margined with white, the contrast of the rich-coloured lip against the 
white sepals and petals being most striking and beautiful. We have found C. gigas 
succeed best in a basket suspended from the roof, where a plentiful supply of 
sunshine is available, and air can readily be given. It should be grown in a 
compost of peat or polypodium fibre and sphagnum moss, with a few nodules of 
charcoal added. It requires an abundant supply of water during the growing 
season, and a long period of rest. 
