NEW, RARE, AND BEAUTIFUL ORCHIDS OF COSTA RICA. 5 
B. Maculata, Ldl.—Is a rather stouter form of B. C. Dcwiana, Batem.—There is certainly no exag- 
Lewisii; or, as it was discovered half a cen- 
tury before B. Lewisii, and being also more 
common, we more correctly may term Lewisii 
a diminutive variety of Maculata. Being a 
native of the mountains, it needs the inter- 
mediate treatment, and a pronounced rest in 
winter. 
B. species and hybrids.—There occur from time 
to time rare intermediate forms suggestive of 
hybrids if the parent types were growing to- 
gether. This fact belongs to the many other 
enigmas of the physiology and geographical 
distribution of Orchids. 
Burlingtonia. 
On the Atlantic coast at Siquirres there exists a 
nice citron-yellow Burlingtonia, which I dis- 
covered some years ago, and since found no 
more. I mention it for its geographical inter- 
eSt. 
Catasetum. 
This genus belongs to a section which is highly 
interesting for its morphology. I am so much 
the more sorry that I could not give to this 
section due attention, owing to the fact that 
most of its species are growing in the hot re- 
gion; and after the first year of cultivation 
they refuse to flower here in the cooler region 
of San José. For the same reason I was not 
yet able to send over enough herbarium mate- 
rial to identify the numerous forms of that 
very complicated section. This section, to 
which belong also Mormodes, Cycnoches, Gon- 
gora, etc., is but little sought after by horti- 
culturists. 
; Cattleya. 
C. Bowringiana, Veitch.—Geographically it may 
be interesting to know that this species ex- 
tends from British Honduras to Talamanca 
in Costa Rica. It is, however, extremely rare 
here, and I should be absolutely unable to of- 
fer it at its actual very low market price, it 
pawns been exported in large quantities from 
elize. 
geration if we call this splendid unique kind 
the ‘“‘ Queen of Orchids.” Its large size, most 
elegant form, richness of color, and the mar- 
velous combination and contrast of the golden 
yellow and purple designs unintentionally 
bring to our mind the suggestion of “royal 
splendor.” 
C. Dowiana at all times has been rare; but in 
these latter years it has been brought down 
nearly to extermination. In fact, sometimes 
they are almost not to be had, and plants in 
flower se]l in the streets of San José de Costa 
Rica at double and sometimes triple the price 
I offer them here. C. Dowiana requires a 
somewhat different treatment from that 
of the rest of the lLabiata section, to 
which this kind belongs. It grows on the 
lower part of the slope of the Cordillera, fac- 
ing the Carribean Sea, where the rainfall is 
distributed more or less over the whole year. 
Dowiana, therefore, doesn’t need such a pro- 
nounced season of rest as Mossi, Trianz, 
ete. It grows either on smaller trees in thin 
woods, or if, in the denser forest, then always 
on top of the trees. Indeed, the greatest 
amount of light possible is a most indispensa- 
ble condition in getting flowers from that 
species. Another very pronounced peculiarity 
of the ‘‘ Queen of Orchids” is, that the plant, 
although delighting in sound moisture, is 
nevertheless more apt, than most of the bulb- 
ous Orchids, to rot. It requires, therefore, a 
perfect drainage and a constant ventilation. 
As it grows near the hot coast, it also wants 
more heat than Mossie, Triane, Gigas, etc. 
C. Dowiana, Rosita. — An interesting supposed 
natural hybrid between Dowiana and Bow- 
ringiana or Skinneri autumnalis. The bulbs 
are mostly one-leaved, the flowers of size and 
form of Dowiana, the influence of the other 
parent being evident inthe more or less pro- 
nounced pink, instead of yellow, of the sepals. 
There is, indeed, some variation in the indi- 
viduals, owing. probably, to back-crossings of 
the original hybrid. 
