M .
L / E L I A HARl'{)l>II\ I . l . A A-M,/.
Habitus Arpopliylloruiu. Can:
porrecto scu dcflexo pauci—|>lunRoro, bi
•oximalis Icrcliiisiijlis, luxe vaginatis monopliyllis, foliis ligulatis acuminai
tepalisquc laiictis acutis, labcllo trifiilo, laciniis latemlibiis seraioblongis pt
8 bcni; imduliito crispuin, can'nis gcmiiiis per ilitcum prnpc obsolclis, c<
abellum viilgo ijcr clisciim medium ocl .ipici
irea ochracca nutlulis paucis vjolaceis.
io tiybridiuitis Inter L.Tliam clnnalwrinara i
ttenhumciiscm, orcliidnphiiuni expcrtissimui
•Varner, Williams,
. Ovaria sui>eme
Scquciitcs figura; ai Colli mn a a
Till", charming colour of this Brazilian Orchid combined with its extremely graceful growth has made it a universal
favourite. Its colour is unique among Orchids, for no other possesses such a glowing tint of orange-scar!tt. liven
those that most nearly approach it in colour, such, for instance, as L. cinnabarina, are dull in comparison. When it was
first exhibited by Sir Trevor I.awreiice at South Kensington some ten years ago it caused quite a sensation among
orchidists, and since then it has been considered an indispensable plant in even the choicest collections of Orchids.
Like many other fine Orchids it was at one time among the rarest in cultivation, now it is among the most plentiful.
A few years ago it was one of the priceless treasures in Mr. Day's famous collection at Tottenham ; at the present lime it
is one of the cheapest Orchids. After many fniilless journeys in search of it our collectors finally discovered the
native home of the plant in 1882, and we were then able to import large quantities of it, and although thousands of
plants have found their way to the Orchid collections of Europe there is always a demand for imported plants of it.
Happily it is not difficult to import, as the collected plants generally arrive in excellent condition, notwithstanding that
its native habitat is most inaccessible, nece.ssitating frequent transhipment before the plants reach Hurope. It is singular
that an Orchid with such slender pseudo-bulbs should tra^•el so weil and be so easily established afterwards.
It comes from the high mountain ranges in Brazil, where it grows sparingly on the thinner branches of the great
forest trees. It (lowers there in December and Januaiy, but in Europe its flowering season is later, extending from
Pebruarj- till the end of March. The number of flowers produced from each sheath is variable, nine flowers being the
largest number we have seen on one spike. They last a long time in perfection if the plant is kept in a rather dry
house. It is an invaluable decorative Orchid as the flowers last so long when cut and the individual blooms are-admirably
appropriate for coat or dress bouquets.
Being a free grower it is an easily managed plant, succeeding best in an intermediate temperature, such as that
of a Cattleya house, choosing for it the coolest and shadiest part. It may be grown in pots or pans in the usual conijTOSt
of fibrous peat, sphagnum moss and potsherds. The plants commence active growth in March after flowering, and then
require good attention as regards watering, for the pseudo-bulbs being so slender are liable to shrivel if the plant is
allowed to become dry, Tlie moderately warm, aiiy and moist atmosphere of the Cattleya house suits the plants througher,
but when the incipient flower spikes arc seen in the sheaths the plants should be kept a few degrees
to induce large size of bloom and richness of colour, Although the plants should be kept drier during late
/inter at no period should they be allowed to become absolutely dry.
Drawn from a plant in im, Cre, ies, llford, K: