SOPHRO-CATTLEYA— SOPHRONITIS. 715 



SOPHRO-CATTLEYA, Eolfe. 



(Tribe Epidendreae, subtribe Laelieae.) 



A hybrid genus recently established by Mr. Eolfe for the reception 

 of hybrids raised between the genera Gattleya and Sophronitis ; the 

 first plant, a most remarkable one, S. Batemaniana, was included by 

 Reichenbach under Laelia. 



Culture. — Same as Gattleya and Laelia, which see. 



S. BATEMANIANA, Rolfe.— This interesting and beautiful hybrid, is the 

 result of a cross between Sophronitis grandijlora and Gattleya intermedia, and 

 was called by the late Professor Keichenbach " a lovely gem, a miniature Laelia, 

 ■with the short peduncle of a Sophronitis." It is described in Veitch's Manual of 

 Orchidaceous Plants as follows : " Latest formed stems sub-cylindric or olavate, 

 3 inches high, diphyllous ; leaves ovate-oblong, 3 inches long, leathery, deep green ; 

 peduncles three- to five-flowered ; flowers 3 inches in diameter ; sepals broadlj"^ 

 lanceolate, petals broader, ovate-oblong, both sepals and petals bright rose 

 colour, toned with scarlet ; lip very distinctly threo-lobed, the side lobes 

 roundish convolute over the column, slightly reflexed towards their apex, pale 

 lilac externally, on the inner side cream-white bordered with- amethyst-purple at 

 the anterior margin ; middle lobe broadly oval, undulate at the margin, crimson- 

 purple; column white, stained with purple at the apex." — Garden hybrid. 



FlG.— Vcitoh's Man. Orch. PI., ii. pp. 92, 93 ; Jimrn. of Hurt., 1887. xv. p. u5, f. 6 ; 

 /rf., p. 472,1 56. 



Sys". — Laelia Satcmaniana. 



SOPHRONITIS, Lindley. 



(Tribe Epidendreae, ■•subtribe Laelieae.) 



A small genus of dwarf-growing tufted. Orchids, some of the species 

 of which are very beautiful. On this ground, as well as on that of their 

 occupying but little space, most of those which are known are worth 

 cultivating. They are evergreen plants, producing their flowers in short 

 few-flowered racemes or solitary from the top of the pseudobulbs, which 

 are small, clustered, and furnished each with one or two leathery or 

 fleshy leaves. The broad-petalled flowers are very showy. There are 

 four or five species recorded from the Organ Mountains of Brazil. 



Culture. — These pretty little plants thrive best on blocks of wood in 

 the Cool House, or in small baskets, with a moderate supply of heat and 

 moisture all the year round. They are propagated by dividing the 

 plants just as they begin to grow. 



