38 ORCHIDS. 
LALIA. — Roman Lady's Name. 
Tus genus bears the name of the daughter of Caius Lelius 
(an ancient Roman nobleman), who was famed for intellectual ac- 
quirements, and for her beauty. The plant originates chiefly in 
Brazil; is of easy culture, and several of the varieties blossom 
in winter. 
The Lelia is closely allied to the Cattleya, being of the same 
tribe —the second. Many varieties are known indiscriminately by 
either name, so close is their resemblance. Some very choice 
hybrids are produced by crossing the two species. Like the Cat- 
tleya, the Leelia thrives well on blocks of wood. 
A French florist says that “the Lelia rivals, while it resem- 
bles, the Cattleya. The species are compact in growth, with 
evergreen foliage, producing their flowers (some of which are very 
large) on spikes from the top of bulbs. So far as gracefulness of 
leaf, brilliancy of coloring, form and size of flowers are considered, 
the orchids of this division are among the gems of the vegetable 
world.” 
