[ i5] 



CATTLEYA (HYBRIDA) HARDYAXA miiiams. 



A natural hybrid between Cattlcya Warscewiczii and C. Dowiana aurea, and quite intermediate in character. In the original form the vegetative 

 organs closely resemble those of C. Warscewiczii, also the sepals and petals, which are rosy-mauve in colour, with a little white at the extreme base. The lip 

 is proportionally a little broader and shorter, the front lobe and margin of the side lobes of a very deep rose-purple shade, with a large yellow blotch on either 

 side, and the disc reticulated with deep yellow nerves, as in C. Dowiana aurea. The flowers are also very fragrant, as in this parent. Other forms show 

 different combinations of characters. In some the sepals and petals are very pale pink, marbled and veined with light yellow, or the petals may be more 

 strongly marbled with bright rose. In these the flowers resemble C. Dowiana aurea rather than the other parent. The veining of the lip also varies consider- 

 ably, in some cases being very much reduced, at others extending over a considerable part of the lip. Thus the different forms of this hybrid exhibit a rather 

 wide range of variation. 



CATTLEYA (hybrida) Hardyana, Williams' Orch. Gr. Man., ed. 6 (1885), p. 633 ; Gard. Chron, 1885, pt. II., p. 206 ; Warn. & Will. Orch. Album, V., 

 t. 231 ; Rolfe in Gard. Chron., 1889, pt. II., p. 560; Rolfe in Lindenia, VII., t. 305 (var. laversinensis). 



CATTLEYA (hybridaj Massaiana, Williams' Orch. Album, VIII., t. 362. 



This magnificent Cattleya came to light in August, 1884, when it bloomed for the first time in the collection of George Hardy, Esq., of Pickering 

 Lodge, Timperley, Cheshire. It was purchased about the year 1880 as C. Warscewiczii, and until it flowered no difference was suspected. Then, 

 however, it was at once seen to be a natural hybrid between the two Cattleyas above named. They both grow together near Frontino, in the province of 

 Antioquia, on the western Cordilleras of New Granada, and it is from this spot, where the areas of the two species overlap, that all the plants of C. Hardyana 

 now in cultivation have been obtained, which fact, taken in conjunction with the combination of characters seen in it, leaves no doubt of its origin and 

 parentage. It would appear that the two species cross together very readily, as numerous individuals have since bloomed out of importations from this 

 locality. And, as in the case of most other natural hybrids, scarcely any two of them are precisely alike, while the extreme range of variation is very great, 

 according as the characters of one or the other parent preponderate. Most of them are extremely handsome, though there are a few forms, with very pale 

 sepals and petals, in which the two colours of the parents seem to have neutralised each other. The one here figured is an exceptionallv brilliant form. 



R. A. Rolfe. 



he lip, expanded, and colu 



from the trout and side. 



This is undoubtedly a natural hybrid between Cattleya aurea and Cattleya Warscewiczii. It must take first rank for 

 beauty, and is one of the very finest of the genus. Belonging to the labiate, or broad-lipped group, it unites all the 

 beauty of the finest vars. of C. aurea and C. Warscewiczii. It has been named in compliment to G. Hardy, Esq., of 

 Pickering Lodge, Timperley, Cheshire, who was the first to bloom this magnificent Cattleya. Cattleya Hardyana was 

 introduced by our own collectors from Colombia, and sold by us at Stevens' rooms in an importation of Cattleya 

 Warscewiczii, Mr. Hardy being the fortunate purchaser. Since that time we have introduced many varieties of this 

 marvellous natural hybrid, none of which are exactly like the original, and no two of which are quite the same in form, 

 size, and colouring. The colours are usually rosy-pink, crimson, maroon, and bright gold ; but in the var. Oweniana 

 the sepals and petals are nearly white, suffused by the faintest hue of creamy colouring and buff or nankeen-coloured 

 flakes, while the labellum is of the richest purple-maroon, with golden reticulations. We mention this variety as it is 

 the greatest variation from the original that has yet flowered. Among the most splendid forms are the Due de Massa's 

 var., Hamar Bass's var., Reginald Young's var., Lord Rothschild's var., the vars. of Mr. R. H. Measures, of Streatham, 

 and that of Mr. Thomas Statter. 



We may also mention that the variety Oweniana was gathered many hundreds of miles from the habitat of 

 the original by one of our old collectors while on an expedition into the Indian country. The Cattleya aurea of this 

 district have the sepals and petals more or less white, as in C. Imschootiana, whereas in the C. aurea districts, some 

 ten years previously explored, the sepals and petals are often of the richest old gold, colour — hence we can easily account 

 for the extraordinary range of form and colour observable in the dozen or more varieties in cultivation ; and, again, this is 

 easily accounted for by the fact that these hybrids must have produced seed and seedlings, and of these, again, not two 

 would be alike. 



The culture of this glorious Cattleya is more easy than that of aurea, from the influence of the free-growing 

 Warscewiczii, which is one of its parents. We find it is not more difficult to grow than C. Mendelii, Mossiae, or Trianae. 



Our plate was taken from a plant in the collection of G. Hardy, Esq., Pickering Lodge, Timperley, Cheshire. 



