[9] 



CATTLEVA LABIATA MOSSI/E undi. 

 SUB.-VAR. REINECKIANA RM.f. 



Cattleya LABIATA, Lindl. Pseudobulbis fusiformibus clava 

 o expanso membranaceo, sepalis ligulatis acutis, petalis oboval 



is varie sulcatis monophyllis, spatha spathisve 

 >-oblongis obtusiusculis varie crispis, labello max 

 )ra antheram flexo. 

 1859 ; Hook. Exot. Fl., III., t. 157 ; Bot. Mag., 



Hook. Cent. Orch. 



n Gard. Chron., 1889, pt. 

 Will. Orchid Album, VI 



varie evolutis, pedunculo uni-trifloro, flore 

 laximo oblongo varie trilobo varie crispo, 

 columna clavata, androclinii apiculo mediano postico ligulato 



Cattleya labiata, Lindl. Coll. Bot, t. 33 ; id., Bo 

 Warn. & Will. Orchid Album, II., t. 88 ; etc. 



VAR. Mossi^e, Lindl., petalis oblongis subcrispis, labelli disco luteo sanguineo-purpureo venoso ai 



Var. MOSSI^E, Lindl. Bot. Reg., XXVI., t. 58 ; Veitch Man. Orch., pt. 2, p. 22, cum xyl.; Rolfe i 



Cattleya MosSIiE, Hook. Bot. Mag, LXV. (1839), t. 3669 ; id. Cent. Orch. PI, t. 29 ; Warn. & 



SUB-VAR. REINECKIANA, floribus albis labelli disco luteo sanguineo-purpureo venoso. 



Sub-var. REINECKIANA, Rchb. f. in Bonplandia, IV. (1856), p. 327 ; Wittm. Gart. Zeit, 1882, p. 159, cum ic. 



C. MOSSI^E REINECKIANA, O'Brien in Gard. Chron, XX, p. 372. 



C. REINECKIANA, Hort, Gard. Chron, 1884, pt. 2, pp. 172, 173, fig. 33. 



The handsome Cattleya here figured was originally described by Reichenbach, under the name it now bears, in Seemann's " Bonplandie 

 whence we learn that it was introduced from Caracas by Karsten, and flowered in the collection of Herr Decker, under the charge of his gardener, Reinecke, 

 after whom it was named. It was described as very beautiful, pure white, with the disc of the lip covered with radiating n 

 short, it is an albino of C. labiata Mossiae, in which the amethyst nerves are present on the yellow disc, while in the other whit 

 disc alone remains, the coloured nerves being quite obliterated. For a long time it remained exceedingly rare, but of late 

 in orchid collections. 



for 1856, 



5 of amethyst and yello 

 ub-variety, Wageneri, the yellow 

 ars it has become fairly common 

 R. A. Rolfe. 



Although this superb orchid has been long known to horticulturists, and thousands of the type have been sent home 

 bv collectors at different periods, only a few plants of the variety Reineckiana have been secured ; and it still remains one 

 of nature's rarities. 



The appearance of its noble and chaste flowers is always received with much pleasure, owing to its usefulness for 

 exhibition purposes ; and we find it, during the months of April and May, occupying a prominent position at our London 

 and provincial shows. The purity and size of its blossoms, together with the lovely violet-crimson lip, which affords such 

 a delightful contrast, makes it a plant eagerly sought after by orchidists. It moreover possesses a very pleasing and 

 delicate fragrance. Some elegant varieties of this have come under our notice from time to time, and the colouring which 

 usually predominates in the lip has varied from a few faint violet lines to a rich, broad, violet-crimson, such as is seen in 

 the rare Cattleya Reineckiana superbissima, which is undoubtedly the largest and finest existing form. Plants suspended 

 from the roof in the Cattleya house, in pans or baskets, will be found to thrive and blossom to perfection, grown in 

 the usual compost recommended for Cattleyas. 



Its free-flowering habit, and the type having been grown so successfully, indicates the longevity and popularity of 

 this truly charming plant. 



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



