CATTLEYA LODDKiESII u„m.
VAR. O'BRIENIANA K,iflavato
clongatis sulcatis <liphylHs ; faliis oblongis v. ovato-oblongU ¡
racemo i—6-iloto ; sopalis paccnlibus lanccolalo-oblongis subobtusis, latcr.nti' ' ' '
rolundalis, lobo medio dilatato obtuso crispo latcribus rcflcxls, disco sub!a:vc
Cattleya LODDICESII, Lindi. CollccS. Bot. (iSji), sub. t. ; id., t
vars. st syn. C. ovata) ; Rolfc in Gard. Cliroii., 1889, pi. 1, p. 718 (excl- syn. 1
• • • Bot. Cab., IV. (1819), t. 337.
in Otto & Diotr. Allg. Garten^. >
f. in Walp. Ana, VI., p. 31" '
» pallidi ribus, ia
16 (excl. 5;
. Gaid. Chrnn., 1889, pt. 2, p.
Catlleya Loeldigesii, according to Hooker's F-iotU Hi
Mr. Woodfordc, inisio- It flo.vercd in t
tion, wlicn an cxcollont figure was given,
established his genus Caltlej'a he added this plant as a s
allied specics, which confusion, though partially rectified,
first described by Lindicyas distinct spccics, and tiicn icdi
clearly prove. Tile fact is, Lindlcy
incorrectly named—that is, they arc
but can be dislinguisiicd by its nam
by its more slender pscudobuibs, an
Janeiro, but the Uruguayan iiabitat
St. Albans, and was exhibited by th
the following year under the provisii
side lobes of the lip arc sh
o ; id., 1890, pt. 2, p. 702.
Í, « as originally introduced to Great 13
Garden in the following year, at
3d of St Paul's, in il, by
ts that 1 do not
. . following yci
by Messrs, Loddigcs, in 1819, as Epidendruin violaceum, and u-hcn Lindlcy
nd species, under the name C. Loddigc-sii. After a time it became confused with other closely
scarcely been thoroughly cleared up to the |)rcset>t day. Catlleya ovatii and C. marítima were
I as 5)'nonyms of C- Loddigesii; but both are forms of C, intermedia, as Lindley's type specimens
fully grasped the differences between some of the species of this group, and several specimens in his Herbarium arc
n accord witli his own typo specimens, C. Harrisoniana, Batcman, is undoubtedly the nearest ally of C. Loddigciii,
egments, less ample side-lobcs to tlic lip, the corrugated plates on tlic disc, its thinner substance generally, as well as
different aspect of its rtowcrs in a living state. C. Loddigesii is a native of the provinces of Sao Haulo and llio du
I in the books belongs to C. intermedia. The variety here illustrated was introduced by Messrs, F, Sander & Co., of
a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on December I tth, 1889, and again on the gth of the same month in
lamc of Cattleya O'Brieniana. On the latter occasion it received an Award of Merit. Its flowers arc paie rosy-lilac,
• altogether smaller than in typical C. Loddigesii, to which, however, it bcara so close 4 rcscmblance in other
This is a charming and very distinct variety of Cattleya Ixiddigesii; its habit of growth when first seen led us to
suppose that we had at last received an importation of Lielia Jongliiana, but when its flower-buds appeared we were
inclined to think it Cattleya Harrisonia:. However, when fully developed, it proved undoubtedly distinct, and although
we are confirmed in our decision by Mr. Rolfe in calling it a variety of C. Loddigesii, it mu.st not for a moment be
supposed that there are not many quite distinct features in the plants, and from an amateur's point of view it varies
totally. It is a plant of low, short habit, and its satin-rose flowers are simply superb in colour and shape; it is one of
the most beautiful of the so-called dolosa section.
The satiny gloss adds greatly to the attractiveness of the flowers. The petals stand erect; the side lobes of the
lip are much reflexed, and more than half the column is thus exposed—much in the same way as C. Walkeriana,
It does not require great heat, and we find that it docs best in baskets, hanging near the glass. We are, indeed,
pleased to have been able to introduce such a superb new Cattleya fi-om the Brazils, and have named it in honour of Mr.
James O'Brien, of Harrow-on-the-Hill, who has been for so many years connected with the horticultural press, and whose
writings on orchids have enabled so many uninitiated growers to succeed in the culture of orchids.