CATTLEYA BULBOSA. 
(Bulbous Cattleya.) 
Class. Order. 
GYNANDRIA. MONANDRIA. 
Natural Order. 
ORCHIDACEiE. 
(Orchids, Veg.King.) 
Generic Character.— Sepals membranous or fleshy, 
spreading, equal. Petals frequently larger. Labellum 
cucullate, enwrapping the column, three-lobed or undi- 
vided. Column club-shaped, lengthened, semi-terete, 
margined, articulated with the labellum. Anthers 
fleshy, four- celled, with the margins of the septas 
membranous. Pollen-masses four, caudiculse bent 
back, even. 
Specific Character. — Plant an epiphyte. Stem con- 
sisting of oval, short pseudo-bulbs. Leaves oval, short, 
leathery, solitary. Peduncles one-flowered. Sepals 
linear-lanceolate, obtuse. Petals twice the breadth of 
the sepals, waved at the edges, oval, membranous. 
Lip flat, shovel-shaped, obscurely three-lobed ; lateral 
lobes short, rounded, and undulated ; middle one large, 
wedge-shaped, slightly-reflexed, two-lobed and undu- 
lated. Column about half an inch long. 
Although C. bulbosa is of slender growth, forms a plant in every respect of 
small size, and is certainly inferior, in point of grandeur, to some of the other species 
which have been figured in our " Magazine of Botany," yet it cannot by any means 
be considered an inferior member of this beautiful genus. The flowers, although 
not more than one-fourth of the size, possess much of the brilliancy, colour, and 
delicacy of C. labiata, Vol. iv., t. 121. 
It is supposed to be a native of Brazil ; but by whom, and at what period intro- 
duced, is uncertain. It flowered in the splendid collection of Mr. Rucker, who is 
undoubtedly the best grower of Orchids in this country, during June 1847, when 
our drawing was kindly permitted to be made. 
This species, like all other Cattleyas, is easily cultivated, provided it be not 
subjected, during the growing season, to too much heat and moisture, and over- 
watering during the period of torpidity. Indeed it requires very little water, even 
during its most vigorous growth, and always suffers if exposed to syringing. 
It is increased more readily after the plant has commenced its growth, instead 
of, as in most other Orchids, whilst in a state of rest. It should be potted, after the 
VOL. XV. NO. CLXXI. H 
