CATTLEYA DOWIANA b.„„. AUREA «'„
CATTLEVA DOU-IANA. B,-ilm.: pscudobulbis fusiformi clavalis v.iric siilcalis monophyllii", folio ciincalo oblongo ligulalo acuto. spalha una obtusa,
[KcUmculo 1—4 floro, flore máximo expanse meinbranacoa, scpalis ligulalis acutis, tcpalis oblongls obiusiusculis bene crlspulis, hibello máximo oliloiiRo vario
iriiubo, varic crispo, columna recta ckvata, androcllnii apieulo postico Ugul.ito supra anlheram flexo, scpalis tcpalisquc aumntiacís, l.ibcllo purpureo-violacco
lutoo radiallm venoso, columna liitca.
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HouUc Flore dcs Scrres, xvi., 1709, IJ
CATTLIÍVA LAWRBNCKAMA, Warscw. I
CATTI.UVA DOWIANA, Halm. Card. Chron., 1866, 922, Nr, 3371 trook. Bot. Mug., xclli. 1867. 561SI V
Lcmaire 111. HorL, xiv., 525 ! Morr, Belg. Hon., 1869, 193! Warner Selcct. Orch. i'l. II., 27 ; fid. WilUams, Man.,
Found by Warsce«'ic2 in Costa Rica, who praised it as liis best discovery. Hence he dcclicatc<l it as testimony
the motlior of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., P.K.H.S. Numerous dried specimens arc at hand from Messrs, Dr. F.
/>. AUREA ; scpalis tcpalisquo .sulphureis, labello vulgo multo magis flavo reticulato.
CATTLIÍVA AUKEA, Linden, III. Hort, 1881, 80I
CATTLEYA DOWIANA AUREA, Warner, Williams, Moore, Orchid Album, 11., tab. 84!
Discovered near Frontino by the late Gustav Wallis when travelling for M- I.inden.
THERE arose a great dispute about the dignity of this plant as a species. It is, indeed, very near Cattleya Dowiana. A
few days before his premature death the late Mr. Percival sent inc a flower, that by its copiier-yellowisii tinge verged nearer
to Cattleya Dowiana than any I had seen, and than the added ñowcr of common Cattleya aurca. It is, however, much in
the interest of the orchidist to know which of the two he btiy.s, as it is well known, the variety represented is less capricious
ill growing than the typical plant. //. G. RcJib. f .
Among the numerous Cattleyas that inhabit the forests of tropical America, there arc two that differ from all the
rest in respect of colour. One of these is the subjcct of our present plate, the other is C. Dowiana. So far as can be
ascertained up to the present time, the homes of these two Cattleyas are separated by at least a thousand miles, but notwithstanding
this they cannot but be regarded as geographical forms of one species, and as C, Dowiana was discovered
first it must be considered as the type. No other Cattleyas are so gorgeously coloured as these, and in the flowers of no
other Orchid is there found such peculiar harmony of hues, so that they are justly regarded as representing the highest types
of Orchid beauty. C. Dowiana was first discovered In Costa Kica by the traveller Warscewicz about the year 1850, but
his few plants never flowered. His descriptions of this superb Cattleya were doubted at the time, but ten years
later it was the good fortune of Mr. Arce, a nattiralist collecting birds for Messrs. Skinner and Salvin, to re-discover
this Orchid in the forests of Costa Rica. Live plants were successfully imported to this country, and in 1865 the first
flowers of it expanded, revealing a more splendid Orchid than had ever been seen in Europe, It was named C, Dowiana
by Mr, Bateman in compliment to Captain Dow, who acted as a friend to all naturalists travelling on his steamboat.
About the year 1868 Gustav Wallis, a well-known botanical collector, discovered a similar Cattleya when travelling
in the province of Antioquia, near the town of Frontino. This plant after it flowered In Europe was named C, aurea on
account of its golden-tinted sepals and yellow pencilled lip. A few years later, Butler, collecting for Messrs. Backhouse,
of York, and our collectors Schmidtchen and Hennis, found the same Cattleya growing in company with C. Warscewiczii
gigas on the Cordillera to the west of the Upper Magdalena in Nciv Grenada. The accounts agree in its being
but sparingly met with, and C. Dowiana also is said to be a rare plant in its native haunts. The chief difference between
the two plants lies in the colour of the flowers; but they also vary in growth, C. Dowiana having a shorter and darker bulb
than aurea, the latter being, moreover, a freer growing plant. The flowers of C. Dowiana often have the sepals stained
with crimson streaks and splashes, whereas in aurea they are entirely yellow. The lip also of aurea is yellow while in
Dowiana the ground colour is crimson, pencilled only with coppery-yellow. The size of the flowers of both is much the
same, but aurea Is considered to be more floriferous than Dowiana. The pseudo-bulbs arc about a foot In height, terminated
by broad thick leaves. The flower spikes bear from two to four flowers, produced during summer and autumn.
The culture of both C. Dowiana and aurea is per])lexing to most Orchid growers. Both have the reputation of being
difficult to grow and flower well. Where, however, C. Warscewiczii gigas is grown well, these will succeed under similar
conditions. They thrive best in suspended wood baskets, which should be half filled with drainage material. The soil
should consist of fibrous peat and sphagnum mixed with charcoal and potsherds. The baskets should be hung in an airy
part of the house and in the light, but shaded from strong direct sunlight. The greatest care is required in watering, for in
the due observance of this lies the secret of growing these Cattleyas successfully. Water must be given sparingly while the
plants arc at rest, which is from about August to January or February, They then begin to form new growths and require
a few more degrees of heat, and a moistcr atmosphere. Throughout February, March and April the night temperature
should range from 60 deg. to 65 deg, F., and when the sun carries the thermometer higher during the day a moist
atmosphere must be maintained, and there should be a good circulation of air. After April the new growths will be maturing,
and during the three months following thin shading will be needed over the plants on bright days. \Vatcr should
then be gradually withheld, and none given during the resting period. The best time to pot or basket is January, and care
should be taken so as not to injure the old roots during the operation.
In its native country C. aurea Is peculiarly liable to be attacked by a beetle which destroys the roots, hence greatly
impairing the growth of the ¡)Iants, and this may be the reason why large specimens of this Cattleya are not imported, as
of other Cattleyas. It is singular that C. Warscewlc^ii gigas, which grows with aurea, is e.\empt from the attacks of
this beetle. Cultivated plants of aurea are often preyed upon by the beetles, imported with the plants, but they may
be destroyed by immersing the plants in a strong infusion of tobacco.
Drawn by permission of Baron Ferdinand dc Rothschild, M.l'., from a plant in the W.iddes.
a