72 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
parents (Orch. Rev., 1893, pp. 259, 260). M. Debois, in the last edition of 
his Monograph of Cypripedium (p. 456), now states that when the plant 
flowered for the second time, in 1889, it came as ordinary C. X Dauthieri, 
and thus furnishes another instance of the curious sportive character of 
this hybrid, which has several times been discussed in the Review. 
CATTLEYA x CLAESIANA. 
A VERY interesting hybrid has been raised by Mr. T. L. Mead, of 
Oviedo, Florida, U.S.A., from Cattleya intermedia ? and C. Loddigesii 3. 
It is the first which has flowered in the collection, but, strange to say, this 
initial attempt solves the origin of a very doubtful natural hybrid, namely, 
Cattleya xX Claesiana, which appeared some few years ago with Messrs. 
Linden, L’Horticulture Internationale, Brussels. I am under the impres- 
sion that it was exhibited by them at a meeting of the Orchidéene, and 
obtained some award, though I have not succeeded in finding a record. At 
all events one of the plants flowered in the collection of the Right Hon. 
Joseph Chamberlain, M.P., at Highbury, Birmingham, in 1894, and the 
inflorescence was sent to Kew for preservation. It was supposed to be a 
natural hybrid between the two species just mentioned, but much resembled 
C. intermedia, differing somewhat, however, in shape, and in the more 
crisped front lobe of the lip. It was obviously not typical C. intermedia, 
but I felt that the evidence of its origin was not conclusive, and, therefore, 
waited until more evidence was forthcoming. In May, 1896, a Cattleya was 
exhibited at a meeting of the R.H.S., by the Hon. Walter Rothschild, 
Tring Park, under the name of C. x intermedio-Loddigesii. It is said to 
have been received from Rio de Janeiro as a natural hybrid of the species 
named. The sepals and petals were bluish white, with a few purple spots, 
and the front of the lip purple-crimson. In general appearance the flower 
was close to some forms of C. intermedia, but the prolonged isthmus to the 
front lobe of the lip, as seen in C. intermedia, combined with the more 
ample and frilled elge of C. Loddigesii seemed to indicate mixed parentage 
(Gard. Chron., 1896, xix, P- 593). Mr. Mead’s seedling is at present smaller 
than the C. X Claesiana above mentioned, but is otherwise so similar that 
their common origin can hardly be doubted, and thus its appearance is 
especially interesting. Mr. Mead describes the flower as 44 inches across, 
intermediate in form between the parents, with all the lobes of the lip 
charmingly fringed; the sepals, petals, and front lobe of the lip all of palest 
lavender, just a tinge, and the rest of the lip creamy-white. It is a very 
vigorous grower, and though only 34 years old produced two spikes of 
flowers from two leading growths. The pollen parent was purchased as C. 
