L y E L I A KUSPATHA R,u./.
His Lreli® purpurata: I.indl, fio
hinc crcniilalis, labelli Irilobi lobis Utenilibii! obtusatis,
sinuato exciso.
L/ELtA F.USPATHA Uchb.^f. il! Otto l liimb. Garten
Scpala ac tcpala dilute roseola. Labellum margino pulchr«
albitlLS scu dilutissinic (liivcoliis.
izcitiinB, xvi. i860, p. 4201
analylie. nt partes spcciminis primarll typici.
1. Discus rc'liquuK
T h k r e are modern phytograpliic writers who propose to make six dilTereiit classes of species according to tlicir excellence.
It would be hard to decide between two botanists as to whether a certain species should belong to the fifth or sixth class.
We must admit, in any case, that the array of subjecU we are callcd upon to tei-m species, vary much in value, and so long
as our knowledge is not strengthened by growing the plants from seeds and by cross fertilising them, the situation is very
often helpless. Our decision in these circumstances, must in great measure depend upon the value of the plant. Just so with
varieties. We should feel a greater necessity of giving a name to a fine spotted Odontoglo.ssum Pcscatorei, or a lovely white
Lrclia anceps than to an indifferent weed. I gladly confess this is not of great consequence, but it is evidence of all those
forces which obtrude on the botanist who vrorks keenly in that difficult and wearing arena of garden botany.
There are some types of very subtile character, and yet very distinct appearance, which bear the names 1-xlia euspatha,
Rchb.f.; Lsl i a Schilleriana Dayana, Rchb, f.; and Lfclia Stelzneriana, Rchb. f. The latter is well figured in Van Koutte's
Flore des Scrres, xiv. 1861, p. 267, tab. 1494. 14951 It ¡s immediately recognised by the short midlobe of its lip. To the
horticultural world these plants are distinct, and to take them as varieties of well established species would not appear wise,
since there is great probability that they are mules, [jerhaps some of them descendants of the cross fertilisation between
mules and mules, or mules and species. I fully appreciated this difficulty ^vhcn describing La:lia euspatha in i860 in the
following terms ; " I have no doubt that this Laslia is likewise a mule. The pollinia are unequal, as is the ease in Lxha
elegans, and 1 found but four, and these cohering to both sides with tlie caudiculas. The limits of the connate pollinia
may very often be seen by sinews on the border of them. The plant gives the impression of being a mule .between Lxlia
Boothiana or purpurata with some Cattleya, as, for instance, C. intermedia. There appear occasionally very inconvenient
things botinically, ^vhich one may neither regard as varieties nor ^vell defined species." La:lia euspatha is easily known by
its fine rose sepals and petals and by the dark purple anterior lip, the inner parts of which arc ^vh.te or l.ght yellow. It
first appeared at Berlin with the late Herr Gehcimer Medicinalrath Dr. Casper, and at Paris ^vith the late M. Lciddemann.
H. G. Rchb. f .
Every- addition tliat is nladc to tliat beautiful group of Brazilian Lffiiias represented by L. purpurata and L. elegans
is welcomed by orchidists, and L. euspatha has affinity, apparently, with both of these. From the plate it may be seen that
in m w t h the plant resembles L. purpurata, but the form of the flower is more like that of L, elegans, while ,n colour ,t
differs from both. It is a lovely Orchid but unfortunately will remain a rarity, as it seldom occurs m its native habitat.
It W.1S found by one of our collectors, E. Rimann, when travelling in Brazil, but he succeeded m bnngmg home about
half-i-clozen living plants only These we have been succssful i„ establishing, attd some of them Howercti in the early part
of the present year The laiE« bold dowers, with broad richly coloured hps and dehcatciy Unshed sepals, are extremely
beautiful, qualifying them to rank with the splendid varieties of L. ,>urpurata and the fairest among the several variet.es
AfrTgards its enlture, we find that it succeeds under the .same conditions as L. purpurata. Pot ctdture suits it best,
and in order to ensure good drainage, the plant must be potted high, the pot being nearly filled with crocks and charcoal.
Like other Brazilian Liolias, it needs most water when in growth, but should never be allowed to become dty at any time.
It likes plenty of light and an intermediate temperature which should not fall below 60 deg, F. for any lengthened period.
The „1.1. ,..•» f®" . I * « 1» I"—""