January. 1908 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



283 



Variety Luddemanniana, often called speciossisima in The variety Trianaei Schroederae is the Easter cattleya. 

 catalogues. Valued as flowering in late summer flowering from March to May. Very pale 



lighter in color and, as a rule, larger. The 

 name Gigas was given in 1873. 



There is no possibility of ever confusing 

 these two types, because they flower at totally 

 different seasons, Mendelli opening from April 

 to May, while Warscewiczii is a midsummer 

 cattleya, producing its gorgeous show of blos- 

 soms in June, July and August. For long 

 this was regarded as one of the difficult 

 cattleyas to grow and even to-day many 

 people are not really successful with it. 

 The trouble appears to be that its season 

 of active growth alternates with that of 

 most of the other members of the group; 

 consequently, if the majority are grown 

 successfully, the gorgeous Gigas sickens, 

 fails and succumbs. In his gardens at 

 Hackensack, N. J ., Mr. Clement Moore was 

 for many years the most successful cultivator 

 of these plants in the neighborhood of New 

 York, and the extraordinary effect of hun- 

 dreds of plants, all massed together and 

 laden with bloom at one time, is but very 

 poorly portrayed in the illustration which 



More slender and lighter in color than the others 

 is var. Gaskeltiana, flowering from May to July. Cattleyas 

 last cut for weeks. An old flower, withered. 



appeared in The Garden Magazine for 

 February, 1906, page 42. 



This giant cattleya has larger and broader 

 petals and sepals than the other varieties, 

 but its best distinguishing characteristic 

 is its pair of yellow spots — eyes as they 

 have been called — that seem to glare out 

 of the brilliant crimson-purple of the lip. 

 These are located behind the median lobe. 

 The cultivation of this variety cannot be 

 advised in a mixed collection; it needs 

 special conditions, but if these are given, 

 it usually is one of the most satisfying plants 

 to the worshiper of superb color. 



Its companion, Mendelli, has the darkest 

 lip of all the varieties; it is also beautifully 

 waved, the color is more nearly magenta 

 than is that of Warscewiczii. The broad 

 petals are sometimes so large that the flower 

 presents an unbroken front to the eye. 

 Apart from its lip, the variety Mendelli 

 varies greatly in its coloring, some forms 

 being even tinged with yellow, On the 

 other hand, yet others present a peculiar, 

 pale-bluish overcast tint, and in some cases 

 the petals are marked with an intensification 

 of the color along the central vein. 



The only competitor with which the pre- 

 ceding can be confused is the variety Mossitz, 

 which comes into bloom with Mendelli 

 but ceases three or four weeks earlier. 

 C. labiata var. Mossitz has almost a more 

 intense magenta in its lip, but instead of 

 being self-colored and merely waved, it is 

 distinctly frilled and white along the edge. 

 The heavy frilling distinguishes it most 

 easily from other varieties. As a cut flower 

 it is one of the very best, the blooms lasting 

 several weeks in a cool room. It is one of 

 the easiest to flower, and (to the confusion 

 of the student) is one of the most variable. 

 There are several named sub-varieties. 

 In different individuals the degree of frilling, 

 the intensity of the color on the lip, and the 

 depth and quantity of the yellowish tinge 

 which is found in its throat vary just as 



The deeply fringed, usually white-edged lip is char- 

 acteristic of var. cMossiae. Season April and May 



greatly as do the tints of pink, crimson, and 

 rosy purple, or even white, to be found in 

 the petals and sepals. As a cut flower it is 

 much valued because of the graceful outline 

 and droop of its frilled lip, and the colorings 

 are so varied that it is usually found suita- 

 ble to almost any tonal scheme of decoration. 



flowers for winter 



Covering the season from November to 

 March, there are two fairly distinct forms, 

 both of which may be had in perfection 

 for Christmas time. The variety Perct- 

 valiana, which is appropriately called 

 the " Christmas orchid, '' might aptly be 



The gorgeous yellow eyes on the dark ample 

 lip identify var. Warscftoiczii (Gigas). The summer 

 cattleya, flowering June to August. One parent of 

 Mantini and Hardyana 



