Wal 
fan * 
PL. CDLVI. 
CATASETUM SPLENDENS coe. var. ATROPURPUREUM cocy. 
THE SPLENDID CATASETUM, DARK-PURPLE VARIETY. 
CATASETUM. Vide Lindenia, vol. 1, p. 59. 
Catasetum splendens. Pseudobulbo crasso, fusiformi-conico ; foliis lanceolatis, acutis, 
scapo subrecto, obliquo, superne 8-10-floro; floribus majusculis, patulis; bracteis parvis, anguste triangularibus, acu- 
inferne longe attenuatis ; 
minatis; sepalis membranaceis, oblongo-spathulatis, acuminatis, dorsali erecto, lateralibus erecto-patulis; petalis 
membranaceis, satis obliquis, ovato-oblongis, acuminatis, satis divergentibus, sepalo dorsali approximatis; labello crasso 
carnoso rigidoque, margine submembranaceo et integerrimo, suborbiculari, fere ad medium late saccato, sacco late 
conico obtusissimo, apice leviter reflexo, lateraliter subpatulo, disco sub apice leviter incrassato obscure dentato ; 
columna elongata, apice longe rostrata, antennis elongatis divergentibus laevibusque. — Sepala albo-viridia ad medium 
dilute purpurea. Petala alba apice leviter dilute purpurea, maculis parvis numerosis purpureis notata. Labellum album, 
in sacco pallide viride, lobis basilaribus leviter purpureo-maculatis. Columna alba, inferne maculis parvis numerosis 
purpureis vestita. 
Catasetum splendens Coan. in Journ. des Orchid., 5me année, Pp. 302; ROLFE in Orch, Rev., Il, p. 355 
(pro parte); Lindenia, X, p. 38. 
Var. aureum. Sepala pallide lutea. Petala anguste obovata, pallide lutea. Labellum paullo brevius, obscure 
triangulare, aureo-luteum. Columna pallide lutea. 
Var. aureum Con. in Fourn. des Orchid., 5me année, p. 303; Lindenia, X, p. 38. 
Var, atropurpureum, Petala anguste obovata, sepalaque brevissime acuminata et atropurpurea. Labellum paullo 
minus, suborbiculare, atropurpureum, sacco latiore fundo rotundato, flavescente et leviter purpureo-maculato. Columna 
superne flavescens, inferne atropurpurea. 
Var. atropurpureum COGN. supra. 
j c have mentioned previously, as also in the Fournal des Orchidées, our 
| reasons of thinking that C. splendens and C. Lindeni are both natural 
hybrids between C. Bungerothi and C. macrocarpum ; but while in C. Lin- 
ree the intermediate characters may be lost sight of, they are quite evident in 
C. splendens. Here the evidence of hybridity is as great as it can well be in the 
case of a natural hybrid. 
It is however obvious, if we compare the preceeding plates and the present 
one, that although these various hybrids are derived from the same species, they 
owe their origin through the crossing of widely distinct varieties; and the various 
seedlings are so distinct each from other, that we must give to each of them a 
special name, according to the rule which prevails in such cases. 
The flowers of the variety atropurpureum, which we received on December 22", 
are somewhat smaller than in the type, especially the lip; the petals, narrowly 
obovate, are scarcely acuminate, like the sepals, and, like them, of an extremely 
dark purple. 
C. splendens and its two varieties flowered for the first time in the houses 
of L’HorticuLTuRE INTERNATIONALE, where they were introduced from tropical 
America. 
avs 
