5b 



CATTLEYA LABIATA. 



(Crimson-lipped Cattleya.) 



NATURAL ORDER. 

 orchidacejE, § epidendrejE. — (Lindl. Nat. Syst. Bot.) 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Cattleya (Lindl. Coll. Bot. tab. 33). Sepala membranacea vel carnosa, patentia, aequalia. 

 Petala saepius majora. Labellum cucullatum, columnam involvens, trilobum vel indivisum. 

 Columna clavata, elongata, semiteres, marginata, cum labello articulata. Anthem carnosa, 

 4-locularis, septorum marginibus membranaceis. Pollinia 4, caudiculis totidem replicatis. — 

 Herbae epiphytce (Americanse) pseudobulbosse. Folia solitaria vel bina coriacea. Flores 

 terminales, speciosissimi, ssepe e spatha magna, erumpentes. — Lindl. 



Sepals membranaceous or fleshy, spreading, equal. Petals usually larger. Lip hooded, 

 infolding the column, 3-lobed or undivided. Column club-shaped, elongated, semi-terete, 

 margined, jointed with the lip. Anther fleshy, 4-celled, with the margins of the cells mem- 

 branaceous. Pollen-masses 4, with as many caudiculse folded back. — Epiphytic (American) 

 plants, with pseudo-bulbs. Leaves solitary or in pairs, leathery. Flowers terminal, very 

 handsome, often issuing from a large spathe. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



C. Labiata (Lindl.) ; sepalis linearibus, petalis membranaceis lato-lanceolatis acutis sub- 

 undulatis ; labello obovato undulato obtuso indiviso ; pseudobulbis oblongis angulatis ; spatha 

 maxima foliacea. — Lindl. 



Descr. — Sepals linear ; petals membranaceous, broadly-lanceolate, acute, somewhat waved ; 

 lip obovate, waved, obtuse, undivided ; pseudo-bulbs oblong, angled ; spathe very large, leafy. 



Cattleya labiata. — Lindl. Coll. Bot. tab. 33. Bot. Reg. fol. 1859. Hooker^ Exot. Fl. 157. 



This is unquestionably the queen of orchidaceous plants ; at least we have not 

 as yet seen anything in this interesting natural order that can compete with it 

 for the prize of beauty. The lovely colour and transparent texture of the sepals 

 and petals ; the rich and elegant markings at the base of the lip, with the splendid 

 and matchless colour of its disc ; and finally, the graceful arrangement of its 

 large and spreading flowers, must strike with admiration every beholder" who is 

 not actually insensible of the charms of nature. But who can be insensible of 

 such transcendent beauty? Who can behold with indifference this "herb, of 

 glorious hue V 



LINN E AN SYSTEM. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 



