CAMAROTIS — CATTLEYAS. 



43 



CAMAEOTIS. 



Camarotis purpurea. — A beautiful upright- growing Or- 

 chid, with leaves three inches long throughout the whole 

 length of the stem. It produces its flower- spikes, which 

 are about eight inches long, from the side of the stem ; the 

 blossoms are rose coloured, and appear from March to 

 May, lasting two or three weeks in beauty. This plant 

 requires care to grow it well ; it may be planted either in 

 a pot or basket with moss, and requires a good supply of 

 heat and moisture over the roots and leaves during the 

 period of growth, but needs very little rest, and should 

 never be allowed to shrivel. The East India house is the 

 most suitable place for it. A fine specimen of this species 

 was shown at the Chiswick and Regent's Park exhibitions 

 in 1850. This single plant, on which there were more 

 than 100 spikes of flowers, was grown by Mr. Basset, gar- 

 dener to R. S. Holford, Esq., Tetbury, in Gloucestershire. 



CATTLEYAS 



rank among our finest Orchids ; they are general fa- 

 vourites, and there can be little doubt that, as the simple 

 mode of treatment which they require, and the ease with 

 which they may be brought to a high state of perfection 

 becomes better understood, they will be extensively culti- 

 vated. Many of the bulbs are singular and agreeable in 

 form ; and the dark evergreen foliage of the plants when 

 in a healthy condition, together with their compact habit 

 of growth, render them peculiarly attractive. Some of 

 the sorts have only a single leaf at the top of each bulb ; 

 others, as C. Skinnerii and C. intermedia, have two, and 

 (7. granulosa and C. Leopoldiana have three : the flowers 

 are large, elegant in form, and scarcely surpassed in their 



