[Plate 14.] 



VARIETIES OF THE RUBY-LIPPED CATTLEYA. 



(CATTLE YA LABI ATA.) 



Stove Epiphytes, Natives of the Caraccas, belonging to the Order of Orchids. 



Specific Character. 



THE RUBY-LIPPED CATTLEYA. — Stems between club-shaped and spindle-shaped, furrowed. Leaves solitary, 

 oblong. Spathe as long as the peduncle. Sepals linear -lanceolate, acute, coloured. Petals membranous, oblong 

 lanceolate, wavy, much broader. Lip obovate, crisp and wavy, emarginate, smooth on the disk. 



C. labiata, Lindley, Collectanea Botanica, t. 33; alias C. Mossiae, Hooker in Bot. Mag., t. 3669. 



THESE magnificent varieties of the Ruby-lipped Cattleya are still among the rarities 

 of horticulture. Eor the white one we are indebted to the noble collection at Syon ; 

 for the blotched sort to J. J. Blandy, Esq.,, of Reading. 



The Ruby-lipped Cattleya is that on which the genus was founded. It was first sent 

 to Europe by Mr. Swainson, who discovered it in Brazil., and used its stems as a kind of 

 " dunnage " to set fast certain chip boxes of lichens, &c, which he transmitted to Sir 

 William (then Mr.) Hooker. Where he gathered it we are not informed, but we learn 

 something precise on the subject from Mr. Gardner. This lamented botanist found it on 

 the edge of a precipice on the eastern side of the Pedro Bonita Mountain, about fifteen miles 

 from Rio Janeiro, where it grew along with Vellozias, the Mackay Zygopetalum and 

 Dipladen.es (Journ. of Hort. Soc, vol. i., p. 196) ; and also on the Gavea, or Topsail 

 Mountain, so called from its square shape, and well known to English sailors by the name 

 of Lord Hood's nose. Travels in Brazil, p. 28. This plant has a pale lilac tint with a 

 very broad rich stain of ruby-red overspreading all the front half of the lip except the very 

 edge. 



