84 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
still generally known under this name. On its original description in 1838 
Bateman remarked: ‘‘ This is a most remarkable species, and I was for 
some time doubtful whether it were an Encyclia, Cattleya, or Epidendrum. 
On the whole, however, it seems to approach nearest to the latter genus.” 
And elsewhere he observed, “‘ The habit of this plant is so precisely that of 
Cattleya, that, prior to its blossoming, and when nothing was known of its 
flowers but their colour, we gave it the provisional name of ‘ Orange 
Cattleya "—a title by which it is still known in many collections.” Two 
years later, Mr. P. N. Don removed it to Cattleya, remarking that it only 
differed in the size of the flower. Lindley, who retained it in Epidendrum, 
placed it in a separate section, called Epicladium, to which, however, he 
added two species which belong to section Encyclium, namely, E. 
campylostalix, Rchb. f. and E. Boothianum, Lindl. Reichenbach reduced 
the whole genus Cattleya to Epidendrum, but Bentham, who took the more 
rational view of its generic distinctness, agreed with Don in considering 
this particular species as a true Cattleya, an opinion which, after an 
examination of living flowers, I-fully endorse. The habit, the large 
spathe, and the free lip enrolling the column are entirely those of 
Cattleya, as are all the other characters, in fact, the natural affinity 
of the species is with C. Skinneri, in spite of the smaller size and 
different colour of the flowers. It grows in Mexico and Guatemala, on 
exposed rocks, and sometimes on branches of Taxodium distichum, at 
a high elevation, and was originally sent from the latter country in 
1835 by Skinner, who remarks that it is plentiful only in the higher 
parts, where it is subjected to great extremes of heat and cold, and where 
the mean temperature does not exceed 65°. Flowers and a drawing were 
originally communicated to Bateman by Sir Charles Lemon. It also 
flowered in Mr. Bateman’s collection at Knypersley, and in those of Lord 
Rolle and Mr. Brocklehurst. The flowers are rich orange colour, or 
sometimes rather paler, but they have a tendency to self-fertilise and not 
to open properly, a character which was observed years ago. In some 
localities it grows with C. Skinneri, and the two have intercrossed and 
given rise to the rare and beautiful natural hybrid C. x guatemalensis. 
Some years ago, on the supposition that one parent was an Epidendrum, I 
called this plant Epicattleya x guatemalensis, but it is now evident from 
the above facts that this name must give place to the original one. Mr. 
Ross’s plant was obtained from the Liverpool Horticultural Co., and I 
believe few others are now in cultivation, The following is the amended 
synonymy :— 
CATTLEYA AURANTIACA, P. N. Don in Florists Journ., 1840, p. 185. 
Epidendrum aurantiacum, Batem. in Bot, Reg., xxiv., Peas, p. 8; zd. Orch. Mex. and 
Guat., t. 12; Lindl. Fol. Orch. Epid., p. 2. 
R. A. ROLFeE. 
