[Plate 59.] 



THE PALLID CATTLEYA. 



(CATTLEYA PALLIDA.) 



A Fine Stove Epiphyte, from the West of Mexico, belonging to the Natural Order of Orchids. 



Specific Character, 



THE PALLID CATTLEYA. Pseudobulbs long, furrowed, one-leaved. Leaves wavy, oblong, blunt, emarginate. 

 Flowers solitary, growing out of a very large spathe. Sepals lanceolate, petaloid. Petals oblong, wavy, four times 

 as broad. Lip oblong, emarginate, rather wavy, hooded at the base for a little way. 



THIS is the Cattleya mentioned in Hartweg's Journal {Journal of the Horticultural 

 Society, vol. L, 183) as having been found near Tepic, beyond which that document 

 gives no information. It is nearly related to the Moss Cattleya, from which it differs 

 in having very long furrowed pseudobulbs and flowers, without any indication of coloured 

 veins. The flowers are larger, too, than usual, the lip much less wavy, and the leaves 

 weak and undulating instead of stiff and firm. 



It is not so handsome as the generality of the species of this favourite genus ; but it is 

 nevertheless a fine ornament to the Orchid house. 



Since this Cattleya was first introduced there has been a marked change in public 

 taste in the matter of colour in flowers. Time was when comparatively few -people could 

 appreciate the chaste beauty of soft, delicate colours. We see this change forcibly illus- 

 trated in bouquets and other arrangements of cut flowers, as well as in the out-door 

 flower garden, where the use of subdued shades is usually more prevalent than in times 

 past. And it is equally desirable that we should have a sufficient number of soft 



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