February 18, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
129 ' 
years ago this plant was in our possession, and we exhibited a fine 
specimen upon several occasions at the Exhibitions of the Royal 
Horticultural Society held at Chiswick, and at that of the Royal 
Botanic Society held in the Regent’s Park during the months of 
May and June, where it was deservedly much admired ; but at 
that time (nearly forty years ago) this species was rarely to be 
natives “ The Flor de Mayo,” or May Flower, and is dwarf in 
habit with roundish pseudo-bulbs, which bear leaves some 4 inches 
or more high, and of a light green hue. Peduncle about the same 
length as the leaf, usually bearing a single flower, which measures 
from 6 to 8 inches or more across. Sepals lanceolate, acute, rather 
narrow, of a uniform delicate lilac-rose ; petals twice the breadth 
Fig. 19.—L^LIA MAJALIS. 
seen in bloom in our collections. Few Laelias even of the present 
time can eclipse this species in the size of its blooms, or equal the 
lovely soft colour of its flowers. Of this species there are from 
time to time large importations, and upon these occasions strong 
masses are easily procurable; these with care will make showy 
specimens, which will well repay the pains bestowed upon them, 
and as they do not occupy much space, and can be procured at a 
cheap rate, they come within easy reach of all amateurs. 
Lselia majalis appears to have an extensive range over Southern 
Mexico, whilst in some of its native habitats the temperature is 
said at times to fall below freezing point. It is called by the 
of the sepals, oblong-ovate, but of the same colour ; lip large and 
three-lobed, the side lobes small, white inside with magenta-purple 
stripes, middle lobe large, rounded, emarginate, purplish lilac at the 
sides and white in the centre, marked with blotches, forming 
broken lines of magenta-purple. The blossoms are produced in 
May and June, and they remain in full beauty for nearly four 
weeks if the plant is kept in a warm house and the blooms preserved 
free from damp. 
This L^lia requires somewhat different treatment from the larger- 
growing members of the genus. Although the mode of culture 
necessary is very simple, it still requires careful treatment, a suit- 
