230 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GAEDENING. 



is very remarkable that the first species (C. labiata) 

 still ranks as one of the finest and rarest of the 

 genus, notwithstanding the immense quantities of 

 this family which have heen imported since that 

 time (1824). As a genus Cattleya is distinguished 

 by its sepals and j)etals being fleshy, the former 

 equal and spreading, the latter often the larger ; 

 labelliHn three-lobed, sessile, cucuUate, covering the 

 half-round column ; pollen masses, four. Cattleyas 

 all produce pseudo-bulbs ; in some instances these 

 are short and stout, bearing a single leaf, but in 

 others the pseudo-bulbs are slender and stem-like, 

 bearing two or more leaves. 



The plants comprising this genus are peculiar to 

 the Western Hemisphere, where they are found occu- 

 pying the forks and branches of the forest trees, 

 and also upon the face of rocks, from the Organ 

 Mountains in Brazil, right up thi'ough Central 

 America, to the heart of Mexico. Having such a 

 wide range, it is not to be wondered at that we find 

 such an infinite variation in their colours and times 

 of blooming. In the earlier days of our knowledge 

 of the genus we had no Cattleya-bloom after labiata 

 was over in the autumn, until the two-leaved section, 

 such as intermedia, opened in the spring ; but now 

 ther§ is no interval— Cattleya-blooms may be had 

 every day in the year. 



Cattleyas produce the largest and most gorgeous 

 flowers of the whole order, and, large as the genus is 

 naturally, the cultivators at home have considerably 

 increased it by cross-breeding, and have by this 

 means given us some of the grandest flowers in the 

 family. 



These plants have always found favour with 

 Orchidologists on account of their extreme beauty 

 and the comparative ease with which they are 

 managed; and, although not essentially cool-house 

 plants, they nevertheless thrive in a quite enjoyable 

 atmosphere. Thei'e is, however, one exception to 

 the rule ; it is the remarkable C. citrina, which 

 thrives admirably in the coolest house. It must, 

 however, be placed on a block of wood and hung 

 head downwards, for although it grows freely if 

 allowed to crawl down, nothing will induce it to 

 grow when placed upright ; this plant is a native of 

 Mexico, where it enjoys the euphonious name of 

 *' Corticoatezoate coxochitl." 



The majority of Cattleyas thrive best when grown 

 in pots, although some of the smaller kinds must be 

 placed upon blocks and suspended from the roof. 

 The pots to receive them must be well drained, and 

 thg soil should be good peat-fibre, some chopped 

 living Sphagnum, and a little sharp sand. The soil 

 should be elevated above the rim of the pot, and the 

 plants should sit upon it, in order that the water 

 may run quickly away from the eyes. During the 



growing season Cattleyas enjoy a fair supply of 

 water to then- roots ; the soil must not be kept in 

 a state of saturation, or the roots will be destroyed, 

 but the atmosphere should be kept well charged 

 with moisture. We do not approve of syringing for 

 Cattleyas in pots, because the large leafy sheaths 

 which envelop the young growths hold the water 

 and cause the immature growth to decay ; but 

 when these plants are grown upon blocks they may 

 be syringed, for then the water runs off as it does 

 in a state of nature. In fact, those plants which 

 are upon blocks may be syringed with advantage, 

 and, in addition, must be taken down and dipped 

 in tepid water two or three times a week. After 

 growth is complete, water must be gradually with- 

 held, both from their roots and in the atmosphere, 

 but they must not be subjected to such a drying as 

 to cause the pseudo-bulbs to shiivel, or the plants in 

 all probability will be seriously injured. Naturally 

 these plants do not grow fully exposed to the rays 

 of the sun, but in some instances, when found upon 

 the face of a rock, they have full exposure, and in 

 such places the growth is always short and stunted, 

 but they produce flowers in abimdance, which fully 

 proves the beneficial results derived from a thorough 

 rest. 



Cattleyas are subject to attacks of white scale, 

 from which they must be kept free by washing with 

 a sponge and clean water. Beetles will also eat 

 their roots unless these pests are kept out of the 

 houses as we have previously recommended. 



C. Aclandia. — A dwarf plant, seldom exceeding 

 six to eight inches in height ; pseudo-bulbs, slen- 

 der, stem-like, and furrowed ; leaves in pairs, ovate, 

 thick and leathery in texture, and dark green ; 

 scape terminal, erect, usually two-flowered : sepals 

 and petals about equal, broadly-lanceolate, chocolate- 

 brown, suffused with a purplish tinge, and trans- 

 versely banded with greenish-yellow ; lip large and 

 spreading, panduriform, lateral ; lobes small, leaving 

 the column exposed ; it varies in colour, rich rose to 

 deep purple, and sometimes pale purple, with deeper- 

 coloured veins; the disc ornamented with yellow. 

 Spring and summer months. Brazil. 



C. amethystoglossa. — This is a superb plant; it 

 attains a height of from two to three feet ; pseudo- 

 bulbs stem-like, thickening upwards, furrowed, and 

 bearing on the summit a pair of spreading leaves, 

 which are linear-oblong, thick and leathery in tex- 

 ture, and deep green ; scape stout, erect, springing 

 from between a sheath in the apex of the pseudo- 

 bulb : bearing numerous handsome flowers, which 

 are about five inches in diameter ; sepals and petals 

 white, suffused with rosy-lilac, and very beautifully 

 spotted with purple ; lip broad, of a uniform rich 

 deep violet-purple or amethyst. It blooms during 



