I04 ORCHIDS 



Cattleya. 



have been found. Others have deeper shades of lilac and 

 distinctive markings on the labellum. It is of good constitution, 

 and does well with the usual Cattleya-house treatment. 

 Colombia. 



C. Skinned {Batem.). — An old favourite with English Orchid- 

 growers, and one that during the past few years has become 

 very scarce. It enjoys a little more warmth than most of the 

 species — the warm end of the Cattleya-house suiting it. The 

 pseudo-bulbs are from 6in. to i2in. high, and bear a pair of deep 

 green, oval leaves, 6in. long; the scape is erect, and bears from 

 six to twelve flowers, each about 5in. across, and coloured a 

 beautiful rose-purple except the lip, which is white, bordered 

 with purple ; the petals are as broad again as the sepals, the 

 column is shorter than in most of the species, and the lip is 

 folded into a tube at the base, spreading and open at the apex. 

 The flowers are produced during April and May, lasting several 

 weeks in full beauty. It was introduced in 1836 from 

 Guatemala, where it was discovered by the indefatigable Mr. 

 Skinner (whose name it bears). It is in great request among the 

 natives of those regions for the purpose of decorating the altars 

 of their churches, and is known to them as the Flower of 

 S. Sebastian. It grows upon very high trees, and, according 

 to its discoverer, is very difficult to get at. (B. M., t. 4270.) 



A'ar. a/iia has pure white flowers, save for a primrose-yellow 

 blotch on the lip. 



Var. ociilata is characterised by a large blotch of maroon on 

 the lip. 



Var. parvifloni has smaller flowers than the type, and a uni- 

 coloured lip. (B. M., t. 4916.) 



C. speciosissima {Hort.). — A synonym of C. Ltiddemanniana. 



C. superba {Schomb.). — A beautiful species. The pseudo- 

 bulbs are slender, channelled, about Sin. long, purplish, two- 

 leaved. Leaves 5in. long, ovate. Spikes three- to five-flowered; 

 flowers 5in. across, bright rosy-purple, suffused with white, very 

 fragrant ; lip with acutelj'-angled side lobes folding over the 

 column, the front lobe spreading, kidney-shaped, crimson-purple, 

 with a blotch of yellow and white in front. This plant was very 

 successfully cultivated by the late Mr. Spyers, who grew it as 

 follows : The plants were fastened to a piece of soft fern-stem, 

 and from the commencement of growth, till the flowers expanded, 

 they were liberally watered, and suspended in the hottest stove. 

 Whilst in flower they were placed in a cooler, airier house, which 

 assisted the new pseudo-bulbs to ripen. After flowering, the 

 plants were again removed to the hot-stove. When well managed 



