[43] 



PHAL^NOPSIS INTERMEDIA Undi. 



VAR. PORTEI RM. /. 



" Petalis lato-rhombeis acutis, labelli lobis lateralibus cuneatis obtusangulis intermedio ovato apice bicirrhoso." Lindl. Paxton Flower Gard., III., p. 

 163 c. xylogr. (1853). 



Foliis lato-oblongis obtusissimis subbilobis, laete viridibus, panicula polyclada, multiflora a tertia parte inferiore apicem usque florifero, bracteis minu- 

 tissimis ; sepalis oblongis obtusis petalis rhombeis duplo latioribus brevi-unguiculatis obtusis, subrhombeis ; labelli lobis lateralibus spathulatis irregulariter 

 orbicularibus, lobo intermedio ovato antice bidentato v. bicruri, callo disci in partes 2 ovato-oblongas diviso. 



Phal^enopsis INTERMEDIA, Lindl. 1. c. cf. Walp. Annales VI., p. 860. Var. Brymeriana, Rchb. f., Gard. Chron., V. (1876), p. 366 ; Flor. Magaz., 

 n. ser., tab. 263 ; Veitch Manual, Phalaenopsis, p. 45, with xylogr. 



" Flowers white and deep rose. Natural mule between Ph. amabilis, Bl. (more correct Ph. Aphrodite, Rchb. f.) and Ph. rosea, Lindl. Agrees with Ph. 

 Sanderiana in foliage and the tendrils of the lip ; with the latter in colour in the acuteness of its petals and in the peculiar form of the middle lobe of the lip." 



" The short description will enable it to be easily recognised. Axis of the inflorescence deep brown-purple, bearing flowers half way in the size between 

 Ph. (Aphrodite) amabilis and rosea. Sepals pure white, concave, oblong acute. Petals much larger, oval-shaped, acute, pure white, with a few minute speckles 

 at the base. Lip three-lobed, lateral divisions erect, wedge-shaped with rounded angles, violet, with a few crimson spots and dots. The middle division 

 ovate, deep crimson, with the point separated into two short tendrils. Crest at the junction of the lobes of the lip nearly square, depressed in the middle, deep 

 yellow with crimson dots." 



As we do not intend to " carry coals to Newcastle," we have nothing to add to this masterpiece of J. Lindley's description. Ph. intermedia first 

 appeared in 1852 as a solitary plant among a consignment of Ph. Aphrodite. The variety " Portei " was introduced nine years later by Mr. Porte, a French 

 collector. K Kranzlin. 



Phal^enopsis intermedia is a supposed natural hybrid which is assigned by Reichenbach to the cross fertilization 

 of P. Aphrodite and P. rosea. The variety now figured was detected by M. Marius Porte, then resident in the Philip- 

 pine Islands, which he considered possessed several important differences from the typical intermedia, as undoubtedly it 

 does, being much larger and differing also in the more brilliant contrast between the lip and other portions of the flower. 

 The original plant, we believe, came into the possession of Mr. R. Warner, of Chelmsford, but although extremely scarce, 

 several forms that may well be classed under this varietal name have from time to time appeared with importations of 

 amabilis (Aphrodite). Among the most notable variation is the one dedicated to W. E. Brymer, Esq. In this case the 

 sepals and petals are white, veined with purplish mauve, and with a flush of lilac at the base. The lip is flushed with 

 purplish-violet, fading into white. The base is dotted with purple ; the front lobe a clear crimson-purple. 



Our plate was taken from a plant in the Tring Park collection. 



