5 
CATTLEYA CRISPA 
(cURLKD-PETALLED CATTLEYA.) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
GYNANDRIA. MONANDRIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
ORCHIDACE^. 
Generic Character. — See vol. i. page 151. 
Specific Character. — An Epiphyte. Stems many, subcylindrical, slightly angular, from eight to nine 
inches long. Leaves dai'k green, solitary, oblong-lanceolate, notched at the end (emarginate). 
Spathe upwards of three inches long. Flower-spike arising from the crown of the stem at the 
axilla of the leaf, supporting three, or five, and occasionally seven, flowers, (see fig.) Sepals white, 
linear, lanceolate, acute, narrower than the petals, which are wavy (undulate) and curled at the mar- 
gins, white Labellum (lip.), undivided, acuminate, curled at the edges, of a beautiful rich purple 
colour. 
This superb specimen of Cattleya crispa was produced in the orchideee-house 
at Chatsworth last summer, in tlie manner here represented ; and from the unusual 
number of flowers produced, it may be regarded as a striking illustration of the 
high degree of perfection to which orchidaeous plants may, and will eventually, 
be brought, when their habits, and the treatment they require in cultivation, 
become understood among the admirers of this the most beautiful, and by far 
the most interesting family of plants known in the vegetable world. When seen 
with three and four flowers on a stem, the usual number produced, it is a splendid 
object : but when, as in this instance, with seven, it is much more so ; the fan-like 
arrangement of the flowers upon the stalk, the depth of richness in the velvety 
purple of the lip, and the snowy whiteness of the undulated petals and sepals, 
contrasted with the deep green of the leaves, produce a display of beauty rarely 
seen in the orchideae-house. 
How admirable is the beauty of these flowers ! how bountiful the Almighty Hand 
which formed them ! But 
what know we more 
Of Thee, what need to know, than Thou hast taught, 
And bidd'st us still repeat at morn and even ? 
