April 10, 189% 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
803 
buff shade, brighter and more lovely than “ buff ” tints are usually, 
but totally distinct from the peculiarly rich orange red of Lielia 
cinnabarina. The flowers of the hybrid have a graceful outline, 
the narrow sepals and petals spreading equally ; they are nearly 
f) inches in diameter from tip to tip of the sepals, the latter being 
half an inch in diameter and of equal width throughout. The petals 
are just over 1 inch across at the widest part, tapering slightly both 
to the base and the point, and this difference between the sepals 
and petals furnishes a ready mark of distinction between the 
present hybrid and Loelia flimmea, derived from L. cinnabarina 
and Lajlia Pilcheriana, in which the divisions are of equal 
size. The lip has a partially closed appearance, like L. cinnabarina, 
that the resemblance is chiefly in the shape of the lip. The sepals 
and petals are very distinctly spotted with violet purple on a 
yellowish giound colour, and the heavy purple parallel veins in the 
lip are a marked feature.—L. Ca.stle. 
HIPPEASTRUMS AT CHELSEA. 
Though still familiarly known as Amaryllises in many gardens, the 
plants denoted by the title Ilippeastrum are gradually becoming iden¬ 
tified with their correct designation, notwithstanding the fact that this 
is decidedly less euphonious than the superseded name. Still the differ¬ 
ences between the two genera are so clearly marked, that the distinction 
Fig. 33.—L.ELIO-CATTLEYA HIPPOLYTA. 
and it has a slight suffusion of crimson at the tip and in the 
throat. 
Dendrobium atro-violaceum. 
As described in the report on page 304 this Dendrobium is one 
of the most distinct yet introduced, and though it cannot be regarded 
as one of the most beautiful it yet possesses some claims to atten¬ 
tion for its peculiarity of colouring. The plant submitted to the 
Orchid Committee on Tuesday was not in good condition—indeed, 
the impression seemed to be that it was an imported plant with 
just sufficient strength to produce its flowers, and that its life was 
nearly exhausted ; at least there was no sign of growth, and the 
pseudo-bulbs had no leaves, and it was owing to this probably that 
the first-class certificate proposed for the plant was lost by a small 
majority. The flowers remind us at first glance of D. Veitchianum, 
the true D. macrophyllum ; but on closer examination it is seen 
should be observed, even in popular horticultural nomenclature. In 
Mr. J. G. Baker’s excellent monograph of the Amaryllidem, the genera 
named are placed in different sections of the order, and while thirty- 
eight species of Hippeastrum are described, the genus Amaryllis is 
reduced to one species, the garden favourite A. belladonna, which ranks 
next to the Crinums, and is distinguished botanically from the Hippe- 
astrums by characters derived from the capsule and seeds. Under the 
Hippeastrums are ranked the comparatively few species that have been 
concerned in the production of the present beautiful race of hybrids, 
which, in stately and imposing form, brilliant colours, and decorative 
value, are probably unsurpassed. The history of the gradual develop¬ 
ment of these handsome plants has been previously related in this 
Journal, and it is not necessary to repeat it, but it is worthy of remark 
that only about a dozen species have been employed, the first to be so 
utilised being H. reginae and H. vittatum, which Mr. Baker tells us were 
first crossed in 17U9 by a watchmaker at Prescot named Johnson, and 
from these, with other species, numbers of hybrids were raised, and no 
