96 ORCHIDS 



Cattleya. 



Var. C. i. alba (Fig. 27) is the whitest of any known Catt- 

 leya. It is held in high esteem, and sometimes flowers among 

 imported plants. It is a rare and valuable variety. 



C. labiata {Liiidl.). — This name is used by the Messrs. 

 Veitch for a large group of distinct kinds which are reduced 

 by them to mere varieties. To us, however, it appears 

 much the simpler plan to treat such as C. Mossue, C. Tri- 

 anai, C. Dowiana, &c., as species, therein following the late 

 Professor Reichenbach, The typical plant, now known as 

 C. labiata vera, is robust in habit, attaining a height of from 

 I Sin. to 2oin. ; it bears a single, broad, leathery, dark green 

 leaf on a pseudo-bulb 5in. to loin. long, swollen in the middle 

 and furrowed. The flowers are large, measuring upwards of 6in. 

 in diameter. The sepals and petals are very broad, and of a 

 deep rose-colour, the latter being beautifully waved ; the lip is 

 large and somewhat folded, the front portion being of an intense 

 deep velvety crimson, bordered with rose lilac, and with a blotch 

 of yellow below. The colours of this portion of the flower 

 are gorgeous ; and the substance and te.xture being singularly 

 clear and translucent, the plant, when in full bloom, seems 

 actually luminous. As we have already observed, this species 

 was the first to flower in England, having been introduced from 

 Brazil in 18 18. It blooms always during the late autumn 

 months, and lasts for a long time in perfection. Its habitat was 

 practically lost for forty years, but since its reintroduction it has 

 become a most commonly distributed plant, and may be met 

 with in almost every garden. (B. M., t. 3998.) 



Among the great numbers of plants imported of late years 

 many charming forms have appeared, varying from intense 

 shades of colour to delicate tints of white, the latter being very 

 valuable and rare. The following are among the most prominent 

 sub-varieties : C. I. alba, flowers pure white except the yellow- 

 throat ; C. I. albescens (Fig. 28) has a faint tint of rose on the 

 labellum, the remaining segments being white, excepting the 

 yellow throat ; C. 1. Cooksotiice, flowers white, except the" front 

 lobe of the lip, which is rich purple, and the yellow throat ; 

 C. I. R. I. Measures (Fig. 29), flowers pure white save for the 

 lemon-yellow on the throat and most distinct rosy-pink veinings 

 down the front lobe of the lip. 



C. Lawrenceana {Rchb. l.).—K most useful species. The 

 pseudo-bulbs are 6in. long, one-leaved, the leaf 9in. long. 

 Flowers sin. acros.s, produced in spikes of from five to seven 

 flowers or more ; sepals narrow, pale purple or lilac ; petals as 

 broad again as the sepals, similar in colour ; lip rolled 



