Plate 143 . 
MILTONIA MORELIANA ATRO-RUBENS. 
The above plant has been known in our plant stoves for several years, but on account 
of its scarcity it is seldom seen by any but orchid cultivators, and others whose love for such 
magnificently-coloured plants as the one here illustrated, leads them to the hidden corners 
where such floral beauties are sedulously cared for. No person ever looks on the flower of 
this — the finest of all the Spectalile section of Miltonia — for the first time without being 
charmed by its novel colour, and attracted by the large size and handsome form of its inflo- 
rescence. The foliage of the plant which bears these very attractive flowers is in striking 
contrast with the blooms, being of humble aspect, and of a size and form which would never 
attract any but a botanist’s attention. From the base of the bulb to the point of the leaves 
it seldom exceeds eight inches in height. It extends itself by means of creeping rhizomes, 
which emit rootlets in great numbers ; something in the manner one is accustomed to 
observe on ivy shoots when creeping on a wall. Mr. William Denning, to whom we are 
indebted for these particulars, informs us that Miltonias in general, and especially the subject 
of our illustration, appear to succeed better in the neighbourhood of Manchester than any- 
where else. There they are usually grown in peat of very good fibrous quality, which is 
firmly pressed, and the plant is pegged down to the surface, on which they soon take root, 
and grow vigorously. They require an intermediate temperature and a shady moist atmo- 
sphere, and will bear to be syringed freely. Our figure was recently sketched from a fine 
plant in Lord Londesborough’s collection at Norbiton. 
Plate 144 . 
CATTLEYA GIGAS. 
Cat Hey as in a wild state are found in Brazil and Central America, where they are met 
with on the bark of trees and on rocks. The fine species of which we are now able to give 
an illustration, and the accompanying description from the pen of Mr. William Denning, is 
one of the very finest of the genus. In point of grandeur and beauty there are only two 
which can equal it, as far as at present known — namely, C. labiata autumnalis and C. Dowiana. 
The subject of our illustration has been introduced to Europe about two years and a half ; 
as yet only about four or five plants have flowered, and those only in a comparatively weak 
state. According to its first introducer, Mr. Linden, of Ghent, it carries in its native 
country seven to nine flowers on a single stalk or bulb, each flower seven to eight inches in 
breadth, and nine to ten inches in length. Its most conspicuous characteristic rests in the 
two large pale yellow “ eye”-like spots at the mouth of the throat, together with a mottled 
lip of very bright magenta on a deep rose-pink ground. The petals stand forward, after the 
manner of C. Dowiana, and are, together with the sepals, of a beautiful rosy-pink colour. 
This species, like C. Dowiana, is delicate in its root action, consequently must never 
have a mass of material about it, unless very great care is used in watering. The atmo- 
sphere, on the other hand, should be bright, as moist as possible. 
Our illustration was taken, on October 24th last, from a magnificent plant in the collec- 
tion of Lord Londesborough, at Norbiton ; and in the Gardeners’ Chronicle for November 
14th last, may be seen an illustration of the entire plant, showing its general habit, with its 
pseudo-bulbs bearing single, fleshy leaves, and an axillary group of four grand flowers. 
