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SOBRALIA XANTHOLEUCA AVM /
<11- Scpiilis l.ilioribiis, tòpalis multo latioribus crispís, Inbcllo circa columiiam volulo ore cxpanst
b^C MSS, miss, a.^ominos Vcitcli Juiio iSSc. DcscriiHio forsan iiumquam n<l Gard, Clímn. raissa. "Soliralia
x.imliolciica Hort." Williams Manual,Cd. 6, p. 5761 ; Warner, Williams, Moore, Orch, Alb., vol. vi., piale 25a ; "Tilo Gahlen, xxii,, S08, tab. 36Û," fid. Williams.
Caulis, vapiioe ac folia parce ac multum distanlcr Icjiidola, Caiilis calamum corvinum crassus. Folia cunc.-ito oblonga aciiinlniita, scplcmncrvia,
marginata Braelca; sessilcs linear! ncuminat-i: ovariis subbrcviorcs. Flos carnoso mcmbr.inaccus, Scpala basi in lubum coalita, ligulahs .-icuta. Tcjialn bene
lallnra plus minus iiiidulata. Ijibcllum cunéalo oblongo nabcllatum bilobum valdc undulalum. Lamellie aspcrula: in basi gemina;. Columna trigona,
iitrintjuB sub fovea obscure angulala, ajiice ücntihus falcHlis.
Sobralia niacrantha Lindl, comparand», cujus ilorcni album in Mexico sponte lectum l.-u^itus est cxc, Kicnast-Zölly Turicensis. Tolus flos mihi' longe vidutur
abhorrere ab ilio Sobralia: macrantha:. Organa latiora, magis crispn. Color lamen in planta noíilra varius. I'lores, (juos i|ise liabui ac illi in Orchid Alburn
dcpicli ixillidiores, quam illi, quos tabula nostia offert Vidi 1^0 llore.« .-übidos, sepalis sulphurco lavaiis, labello iiitensius fl.ivi>, strioli
falci bus columna; fl.ivi-i
Columna a latere. Eadem amice. Carina cx bbclli basi +
R.Î>RIÎIA' has an Orchid of great beauty and value come into cultivation so quietly as ha.s this yellow Sobralia.
It was an inhabitant of an English orchid house before many were aware of its existence, and its discovery and
introduction appear to have been quite accidentai. Among cultivated Orchids there are so few with large yellow
flowers that this Sobralia with flowers as lanje as those of a Cattleya is quite a treasure. Until last year the
original plant was thought to be ahnost if not quite unique in cultivation, small portions from it realising enormous
prices. At length, hoM'ever, having obtained a clue to its native habitat in Central America we despatched a collector in
search of it, and last year we made a good importation of healthy plants, so that no>v, though still valuable., it is more
frequently seen in collections.
This yellow Sobralia possesses all the points that make S. macrantha so beautiful. It has the same elegant reed-like
growth and large, handsomely shaped flowers, while the softness of the yellow of the ample lip harmonises well with the
pale sulj)hur or ahnost white of the sej)als, pro<lucing a most charining effect. The flowers are always deflexed as in S.
macrantha, but last much longer than those of that species, and are quickly succeeded by othei s fi-om the same .sheath, so
that the flowering season, which occui-s about midsummer, extends over a considerable period. The tall slender stems are
clothed with broad plaited foliage of a deep green which emphasises the delicacy of the fiower tints. In fully developed
plants the stems rise four and even five feet in height, giving the plant a handsome appearance even when out of bloom.
Like S. macrantha this yellow species is a true terrestrial Orchid, a strong and free grower, and one that requires
liberal treatment for its full development- A Cattleya house suits it admirably. It should be potted in a compost of
fibry loam, with sufficient broken charcoal and coarse sand to keep the compost porous, and as an abundance of water is
necessary for its well doing during growth, ample provision should be made in the potting for free drainage. A
moist atmosphere is especially needful during warm weather othen\ ise insect pe.sts v\ill give trouble, these, however,
can be kept down by frequent syringings. The plant must have a light and airy ]30sition, and \TOuld even benefit by
being placed out of doors in a sheltered position in the summer. The winter temperature should ningc between 55 deg.
and 60, deg, P., and of course a less amount of water will be required until spring.
Drawn b)' pcnnis-sion of Ihe Comte de Germiny, from a planl in the collection al the Château de Gouville, Cailiy (Seine Inférieure), France.