29 
PL. CCLXXVI. 
CATTLEYA x PARTHENIA a. bleu. 
MAIDEN CATTLEYA. 
CATTLEYA. Vide Lindenia, p. 5. 
Cattleya X parthenia. Hybrida inter C. X fimbriatam $ (C. amethystina $ X C. Acklandiae a*) et C. Mossiae a* 
producta. Pseudobulbis 20 cm. longis fusiformibus, elongatis depressis, nunc monophyllis saepius diphyllis, ad instar 
Laeliae Schillerianae parvulae ; foliis 16-18 cm. longis, 4 cm. latis, lanceolato-ellpiticis ; sepalis rigidis carnosis crassis, 
7 cm. longis, 1,5 cm. latis, niveis ; petalis aequilongis, 3 cm. latis, eburneis, ovatis, undulatis, limbo roseolo tinctis; 
labello fimbriato extus lacteo, intus basin versus sulphureo medio 4 lineis carmineis distincto. 
mong the varied products created by the skill of the hybridisers of 
Orchids, the présent one ought to excite particular interest, both on 
account of its enchanting beauty, the relative rarity of Cattleya hybrids, 
and the exceptional circumstances under which it was obtained. It is, in reality, 
a secondary hybrid, raised from the celebrated C. fimbriata which M. Bleu 
himself produced, and which has become the progenitor of a numerous and very 
curious race. 
We cannot do better than give to our readers the information which 
the honourable general Secretary of the “ Société nationale d’Horticulture de 
France ” has obligingly given us, and which is of a nature to interest deeply 
ail those who, whether far or near, are occupied in the work of hybridisation. 
“ This new Cattleya ”, writes M. Bleu, “ is a secondary hybrid which, for 
“ the stability of its characters, which we meet with in different individuals, may 
u be considered as a well defined type, much more easily recognised than the 
“ majority of the species of the labiata group. It is sufficient, indeed, to see 
“ one of these plants in order to distinguish it, without the least hésitation, from 
“ ail its congeners ; which is not the case with the hybrids of the first operation. 
“ Three individuals of this latter were successfully reared; the one acquired, 
“ in ail its parts, the characters of the mother, while the two others borrowed 
“ those of the father ; and the différence between them is so great, that it is 
“ indispensable to hâve the key of the enigma in order to recognise their 
“ consanguinity. 
“ This first cross was effected in 1870, between C. amethystina, as the 
“ seed parent, and C. Aclandiae. It is from the plant which resembles 
“ C. amethystina, crossed in 1878, the time of its first flowering, with C. Mossiae, 
“ that C. X parthenia was produced. 
“ One particular respecting this novelty which is worthy of mention, is, 
“ that the time of flowering is far from being constant for different individuals. 
