ew os. ee 
19 
Wal 
fom 
PL. DLX. 
CATTLEYA LABIATA uwor. var. SUPERBA ct. uno. 
SUPERB VARIETY OF CATTLEYA LABIATA. 
CATTLEYA. Vide Lindenia, I; p. 15. 
Cattleya labiata. Vide Lindenia, III, Pp. 35. 
Var, Lindeni Hort., infra. 
he varieties of Cattleya labiata figured from time to time in the Lindenia 
have, in our opinion, all been eclipsed by that which we now are 
7 so fortunate as to present to our readers. This very handsome species 
has never yet produced such a splendid form. 
Although the resources of lithography are not altogether capable of truly 
rendering the marvellous richness of sombre purple tones, still the accompanying 
plate will give orchidists some idea as to the beauty of this variety. The very 
broad and well extended petals are of a warm rose suffused with rose-purple ; 
the large broadly rounded lip, waved and crisped at the edges, has the anterior 
lobe entirely covered with a dark purple-red blotch which extends down into 
the throat, at each side of which the trace of white and yellow, usually occupying 
a large space in front of the opening, can scarcely be seen. 
By a happy coincidence our present double number contains the portraits 
of plants chosen from three superb Cattleyas which embellish the orchid houses 
during the spring season — first, C. labiata, closely followed by C. maxima, and 
then C. Trianae finishing in winter. What a wonderful vegetable family is that 
which gives us — not only during the whole year, but particularly at this period 
of it — such a series of incomparable treasures! Each one of these, rich in splendid 
variations, may be utilised by the orchidist to form quite a little collection, and 
around them may be grouped a multitude of less brilliant and less sensational 
orchids, but all very remarkable and possessing most valuable qualities. Those 
plants which to-day appear to be somewhat second-rate, were, scarcely ten years 
ago, the only consolation of amateurs from October to January when C. labiata 
and C. maxima were only represented by a few plants in a small number of select 
collections. 
To day both species are eminently popular, and there is no budding orchid 
grower who does not wish to have in: his collection some beautiful types of both 
C. labiata and C. maxima. 
