plate. The pseudobulbs are ovoid, somewhat compressed, densely tufted, and 
each bears a single, linear-oblong, subacute leaf, which is narrowed at the base 
into a distinct petiole. The scapes are very short, not half Sata ing the leaves, 
and covered with loose, tubular, sheathing bracts. The sepals are Hees, some- 
what broader below, attenuated above, and the lateral ones falcately inenmed 
towards the apex. The petals are shorter, strongly recurved LOW the middle, 
and as strongly incurved again near the summit, which gives the flower a 
somewhat curious appearance. The lip is three-lobed; the erect side lobes oblong 
and subacute, and the recurved front lobe elliptical, with an undulate margin. 
As regards colour, the sepals are white in their lower part and yellow above, 
and the petals similar, except that they are strongly suffused with maroon at 
the base. The side lobes of the lip are deep maroon, and the front lobe white 
with a yellow disc. It is a pretty little species, much like a smaller edition of 
Maxillaria luteo-alba, which is well known in many collections. 
R. A. Roire. 
LAELIA PURPURATA VARIETIES FROM BRUSSELS 
(Extract from The Garden, of London) 
I have received from M. Linven, of Brussels, a box containing twenty-eight 
named varieties of this species. All are bright and beautiful, but space will not 
permit me to notice all the kinds. Some under different names seen at the last 
Temple Show appeared similar, thus showing the confusion which is likely to 
accrue from naming all flowers that appear amongst imported plants. Looking 
at these as a whole, they are exceptionnally beautiful, and I could not have 
thought so many fine and distinct-looking forms could have been found amongst 
Laelia purpurata. 1 will describe a few which appeared to me to be the best. 
First of all comes a fine flower called 
Laelia purpurata triumphans. This has fine rose-coloured sepals and petals 
veined with a deeper shade of the same colour, lip very large and of a deep 
shining purple, the tip lighter varied with darker lines; throat yellow veined 
with deep purple. 
L. purpurata formosa is a very similar flower with a longer lip. 
L. purpurata delecta is very showy, the sepals and petals pure white with a 
narrow marginal band of rose; lip deep velvety purple, the apex white flushed 
with rose; throat light yellow. 
L. purpurata lobata is a large and distinct flower, measuring upwards of 
8 inches across, with broad sepals and petals of a soft rose; lip dark purple 
(To be followed on p. 40.) 
