Although only now brought into notice, the species was many years since discovered by
Dr. Von Martius, who found it near Taruma on the banks of the Rio Negro, in woods at the Barra
de Rio Negro, and in forests near Pari.
It is readily distinguished from all previously described species by its three-lobed lip with acute
lateral segments, the middle lobe being flat, toothletted and emarginate, and by the cluster of
elevated veins at the junction of the epichilium and hypochilium.
The species of this beautiful genus have not been well defined. They are with difficulty preserved
as dried specimens ; they have been described at various times from- plants in different states,
and for a small genus there is probably as much to correct or amend in. the genus CattJeya as in any
in the whole order.. I therefore take this opportunity of making some observations upon this
subject.
In the first place it is necessary to remove from the genus Cattleya coccinea, which is Sophro-
nitis grandiflora; C. Grahami and maxima, which are Lselias; and C. domingensis, which is
possibly a species of Barkeria.
Of the genuine species then left there are two sections, the first of which has an undivided lip ;
and the other a lip with three deep distinct lobes.
The first section consists of C. crispa, labiata, bicolor, pumila, and Mossise, with the unpublished
C. Skinneri of Mr. Bateman, which is nearly related to the last.
Of the second section C. elatior has to be expunged, having been founded upon a bad tall
specimen of C. guttata ; C. Perrinii is readily known by the narrow middle lobe of its lip, and its
cuniculate ovary; C. citrina has yellow flowers, and is otherwise well marked; C. superba has
already been spoken of; the remainder consist of C. Forbesii, intermedia, Loddigesii, ovata,
Harrisonii, and maritima. Of these C. Forbesii has the back sepal and the petals very narrow, the
middle, lobe of the lip rounded and not emarginate, and two elevated lines along the middle of the
axis; C. maritima has small roundish ovate leaves, but its flowers have not been sufficiently
examined; and C. intermedia, ovata, and Harrisonii are probably varieties of C. Loddigesiij at
least I am unable to point out any positive marks of distinction between them.