193 
LiELIA CINNABARINA. 
(cinnabar-coloured L^LIA.) 
CLASS. ouniai. 
GYNANDRTA. MONANDRIA. 
NATURAL ORDKR. 
ORCHIDACE^. 
Generic Character — Vide Vol. iv. p. 73. 
Specific Character. — Plant an epiphyte. Pseudo-bulbs peculiai'ly long, largest near the bottom, 
beconaing attenuated towards the top, encased in numerous whitish brown scales. Leaves usually in 
twos on the summit of the pseudo-bulb, oblong, acute, coriaceous, purple, and pliable when in a young 
state; but green, rigid, and wrinkled transversely on the upper surface when matured. Flowers borne 
in a terminal erect stitf spike, enclosed in a sheath, like those of many Cattleyas, prior to the full 
development of the peduncle. Petals and sepals almost equal, expansive, oblong, of a brilliant 
cinnabar hue. Labellum with its two lateral segments covering the column, and projecting over the 
middle one in two conspicuous points ; central lobe long, much recurved, finely curled at the margin, 
the same colour as the petals, with a slight tinge of orange. 
The lovely Lcelia which supplied a subject for the embellishment displayed on 
the opposite page was, on account of the uncommon structure of its pseudo-bulbs, 
for some time after its introduction considered a species of Cattleya ; so nearly do 
these genera assimilate to each other in all but a few botanical points, now that 
L. cinnaharina has become known. We saw it primarily in the Epsom nursery, 
where Messrs. Young had the pleasure of first flowering it ; and even after the 
blossoms had been developed, and were shown to professed botanists, but not 
thoroughly examined by them, the impression was still retained that it belonged to 
Cattleya^ till J. Batemen, Esq., upon a closer examination of some flowers unfolded 
at Knypersley, upon a plant purchased from the above firm, discovered its proper 
affinity with Lselia. 
Allusion being thus made to the original importation of this species intp 
Britain, we are brought at once to a more detailed statement of its history. It 
was received by Messrs. Young in the spring of 1837 with several other orchi- 
dacea3 from Hio Janeiro, and the flowers mentioned as being first expanded in their 
nursery were observed by us in June of the same year. Only two or three flowers 
were then opened, neither of which exposed its interior simultaneously with the rest. 
VOL. Vir. NO. LXXXI c c 
