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CATTLEYA REX O'Brien. 



Pseudobulbis fusiformi-clavatis subcompressis monophyllis, foliis lineari-oblongis coriaceis, spatha lineari-oblonga, pedunculis 3— 6-floris, floribus 

 speciosis, sepalis lineari-oblongis subacutis, petalis rhomboideis subobtusis undulatis, labello integro oblongo valde undulato, lateralibus convolutis, disco lsvi, 

 columna clavata. 



CATTLEYA Rex, O'Brien in Gard. Chron., 1890, II., p. 684; Lindenia, VI., p. 53, t. 265 ; Gard. Chron., 1891, I., pp. 272, 273, fig. 61 ; id., 1892, II., p. 

 138 ; Revue Hort. Beige, 1892, pp. 243 — 247, fig. 24, 25. 



This handsome Cattleya is a member of the labiata group, though very distinct from every other at present known. Notwithstanding its great differ- 

 ence in colour, it appears to be more allied to C. maxima, Lindl., than to any other in the sum total of its characters. It was originally described in December, 

 1890, by Mr. J. O'Brien, on the occasion of its flowering for the first time in Europe, in the establishment of Messrs. Linden, L'Horticulture Internationale, 

 Brussels, who introduced it. It has flowered in several collections, and on July 26th, 1892, it received a First-class Certificate from the Royal Horticultural 

 Society. The old imported pseudobulbs are rather longer than in the majority of the species of the labiata group, and the flowers are usually rather smaller 

 and more numerous, ranging from three to six on a raceme. The sepals and petals are white, and the front lobe of the lip a pleasing shade of light carmine, 

 with a paler, very undulate margin. On the disc of the lip occur a number of radiating paler lines, and the sides of the throat are light yellow.—/?. A. Rolfe. 



This fine species, which has been called the " King of Cattleyas," is a discovery of Mr. Bungeroth, a German 

 gentleman, who travelled for the Limited Liability Co., l'Horticulture Internationale of Brussels, Belgium. Mr. 

 Bungeroth, who received his training under the guidance of Mr. John Cowan, of Liverpool, found the plant on the 

 western slopes of the Peruvian Andes. There is a suggestion of Cattleya maxima about the wonderfully netted or 

 veined labellum, which is intensely beautiful, in form perfect, and exquisitely frilled ; fully open and broad, the stripes, 

 radiations, and markings in the labellum are crimson ; near the throat are two large bright yellow blotches ; the sepals 

 and petals are creamy white. 



Mr. James O'Brien saw a batch of plants in the nursery above-mentioned in the autumn of 1890, and receiving a 

 drawing and fresh flowers, he originally described the plant in the Gardeners Chronicle, December 13th, 1890, p. 684, as 

 one of " the handsomest" of all the labiate Cattleyas — a verdict in which all who have seen its exquisite flowers will most 

 cordially agree. As many as six flowers have been borne on one spike ; indeed, we received recently an importation, the 

 old flower spikes of which in many instances showed nine and ten flower seats. 



Mr. O'Brien's original description is as follows : — " The sepals are 3^ inches long, and y± of an inch in width ; 

 white, tinged with primrose yellow. Petals ovate, y/ 2 inches in length and 2% inches in width, creamy white, their 

 edges wavy, and slightly notched. The lip, which is obscurely three-lobed, is a wonderful piece of colouring. The con- 

 volute side lobes forming the tube, which folds over the pure white column, are creamy white on the edges, and yellow 

 streaked with red beneath. The interior of the tube and the upper part of the front lobe are of the richest crimson, 

 veined in a beautiful manner with golden yellow. The front lobe of the labellum, which is finely expanded and edged 

 with a pure white fringe, is crimson of various shades, from the rosy hue to the purple tint, all worked in to form a richly 

 coloured marbling." Mr. O'Brien further observes that it resembles C. Imschootiana, but that it is even superior in 

 beauty of form and colouring to that variety. 



Our illustration of this Cattleya will convince our readers of its grace and aurea var. colour far better than mere 

 words can do, since we have always tried to make our plates the most exact and beautiful of all descriptions — that is 

 to say, a faithful portrait of the flower itself. 



Its culture is most easy; indeed, we have never come across a Cattleya which lends itself so willingly to the 

 grower's skill as C. Rex. Baskets suit it best. Hung up near the glass in a light position in the Cattleya house, it will 

 grow and flower freely. 



Our plate was taken from a plant in the collection of Thomas Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Whitefield, Manchester. 



