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THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



CATTLEYA x MOLLIS VAR. LOIS & C. x TH AYERI AN A. 



In the last volume of theOrchid Review, p. 330, mention is made of Cattleya X 

 Lois var. mollis, and the writer expresses the opinion that there is very 

 little evidence of the diphyllous parent, C. superba splendens, and remarks : 

 — " It is most like C. Gaskelliana in shape, in the nearly entire lip, and the 

 mauve-lilac sepals and petals." I think Capt. Holford and his able 

 cultivator will agree with me that the plant in question was raised here, 

 and flowered first in the collection at Westonbirt— as also happened more 

 recently with Lselio-cattleya X Milton. The object of this note, however, 

 is to straighten out the parentage of the Cattleya X mollis. It seems to 

 have been overlooked that the C. Gaskelliana used was the true variety 

 virginalis ; hence all the colour, apart from yellow and white, is due to the 

 C. superba splendens, which was the pollen parent. Among the fifty plants 

 raised from this cross there are some that have almost every mature growth 

 twoleaved, and these generally show distinct traces of the influence of C. 

 superba in the lip, being distinctly three-lobed. There also exists a great 

 variation in colouring in individuals. Some are remarkably fine, and, from the 

 published accounts, Capt. Holford's plant must be one of the better forms. 



When a quantity of plants result from a cross between distinct sections 

 of a genus, it is a most wonderful revelation to the observer to see the great 

 divergence in form and colouring. This is remarked by all who have seen 

 our seventy plants of C. X Thayeriana in bloom. The parents were C. 

 intermedia X C. Schrcederae alba, and about three-fourths of the plants 

 produce flowers of a lovely uniform lilac, with no accentuation on the apex 

 of the lip. In the balance there are varying degrees of amethystine marking, 

 from the smallest dash of colour, as in the type plant, to heavy inverted 

 V-shaped masses of colour. This has led many to remark that no one 

 would credit their common origin were it not well authenticated. There is 

 also a similar variation in the shape of the labellum. Many are distinctly 

 three-lobed, while others are as finely rounded as any C. Schroederse. In 

 some the side lobes do not fold over the column, but only meet at the base ; 

 others overlap nearly their whole length. 



Last March we had over 200 expanded flowers of C. X Thayeriana. and 

 as by actual test it lasts longer in perfection than any other Cattleya known 

 here, a fine opportunity was enjoyed during the six weeks for study and 

 comparison. We hope next flowering season to preserve a series of flowers 

 for your inspection, showing the variation mentioned above. I enclose a 

 photo of the group of C. X Thayeriana taken last April, when over 200 

 blooms were open. It is hardly suitable for reproduction, but I thought 

 you would like to see it. E. O. OivPET. 



So. Lancaster, Mass., U.S.A. 



