m
I T 1
C A T T L E \ ' A SUPERI5A LMi S P LE:NDENS /-„„.
dio trífido, li
n. et Sp., pi. ¡.,
rulis antrorsis, lacinia ii
A, Lindl. Sort 22 !
!i. Synopsis, I., 3:
. ) ; LI, nook. 1101. Mag, Ixx., 40SI3 ! ; l-in'i¡-
(.Mag. liol., ix., iCs.c. Ul>!; llcok. I!cH. ^
b imijiiL- brev! tliliilntn I
Itc, I'lorc Som^, ix., 936!;
.f., Xcnia, II., 32!
b. r, Wnlp. .Ann., vi. 31SI
ípcns psciidobulljis approximatis clarati^ sulc.-itís vulf?) diphyilis. Folia nbloiign <
ac quinqucilorus. I'los niajusculus illi Caltley.-c Acklandia: rcqualií, pulchrc nin
, nunc ni acuì is (Iavís dista ntibii.5 gcminls, arcis cxtcmis al bis. Sc.-paln oblunga acn
am : lacinia; laterales triangula: acuKc obl^uc antrorea.-, lacinia media cunéalo O'
Spatha oblnngn anccps- l'cdu
a'uUi falcata. Labclluin iiiL bi
Cicc nunc cmargin:itn biloba, Iei
tliy-stino purpurei
S, Lem., 111. Hort., 605!;
obscurius iLlropurpureo.
Crescit in sylvis Orinoccnsibus pmpo cala
in arboribus rivi Oriroco, " ngre et kstiquina," I
ai-boribus. Oponopodoli Carib. '
abundant. Jan.—J»l. Spruce,
:r, Williams, Moorc, Ordì. Album, I., 33 1 ; lloribus majoribus, coloribus inlensiciribus, l.ibdlo
Aturcnsium et San Fernando de Atabapo floren» Majo, llunibnklt et Hunpland ! l'arasi ilea fr
kit in slicda I Ullinia verba non inlelligo. Esscqu!lx>, ad C.iyuniiii meridiem versus, Ru|iui
irama, Uio Negro, i'aia v. Martius ! Jlarra de Rio Negro, or
//. 0.
; analyli
Anou-i- fifty years ago Cattleya siiperba first no\v-erecl in tlic famous Locldiges' nursery, at Hackney, wliere inimbcrless
other cliikU-cn of the tropics first opened their flowers umler an English sun. The living plants were first sent to Messrs.
Lotlcliges by Sir Robert Schombiirgk, who gathered this Orchid in 1837 in British Guiana, but it had been found many
years previous by Martius near Taruna, on the banks of the Rio Negro. Professor Reichenbach found out, as early as
1846, that the Cymbidiuni violaceum, gathered by Humboldt and Bonpland on the Orinoco, was the same species.
There are, therefore, two distinct localities for this Cattleya, and the plants from each represent distinct forms. The most
northerly -habitat extends from Demerara, where it is found plentifully on the banks of ihc Essequibo river, to
Venezuela, \>'here it grows on the bsnks of the Orinoco and its tributaries. The northern form is distinguished from the
southern by its flowers being paler in colour. The southern or Brazilian form, growing in the vicinity of the i-iio Negro
and Amazon rivers, is identical witli that known as the splendens variety, which is represented in our plate. This
Brazilian variety is no doubt that which Martius first discovered, while Schoniburgk's plant is identical with that
generally regarded as the type, and which is much more commonly seen in gardens. Schomburgk had the opinion
that the home of C. superba was limited to the regions comprised within the third and fourth degrees of latitude north
of the E(iuator, but the discovery of the variety splendens disproves this. The fii-st living plants of the Brazilian form
were sent to Europe about twenty years ago by Custav AVallis, and since then it has been imported in quantity.
There are very few Cattleyas that rival even the tyjiical C. superba in point of colour and fragrance, and this
splendens variety is far more beautiful and rare. C. superba, as well as the variety, flower during early summer, usually
about June ; their fragrance is delicious, particularly in early morning and late evening. The splendens variety can always
be distinguished from the ty])e as, besides having larger flowers, longer sepals and petals, and richer colour, it has
more white on the labelhim, accompanied by golden markings.
This Cattleya may be grown either in hanging baskets or on blocks of wood, basket culture being preferable. It
requires a warmer treatment than most Cattleyas, therefore should be placed during the season of active growth in the
coolcr end of an East Indian house or a warm moist stove. The growing season extends from early .spring till the end of
summer, diuing which period the iilants must be grown in a tem|:erature ranging from about 65 deg. to 80 deg. F., and
must be well watered and syringed daily. The flowci- spikes are produced from the new bulbs when alx>ut three parts
developed, therefore, after flowering, the plants must be kept growing until the bulbs are fully developed. They should
then be removed to a coolei- house and kept there till the middle of February, when they should again be started into
growth. Imported plants should be bought from importations in the spring, taking care to select strong plants with
sound buds or " eyes." They should be started in an East Indian house in charcoal and potsherds,
should be placed in baskets in the usual compost.
Our piMc repre-ients a plant in the possession of I', 0. Tauti, F.sq., Sludley House, Goldliawk Road, London.
ind when well rooted