i
[ 4 3 J
L ^ - L I O - C A T T L E Y A EI.F.GANS ROI/C.
V A R . B LENHEIMENSI S w...
A supposed natural hybrid bcnv
Cattlcya gullatn and Lwliii purpurala, and nearly inlt
parent preponderale, the iip sometimes being nearly
unequal, as in all hybrids between Ihe l^vo genera.
o leaves on die pseudo-bulb. 'I'he flowers v.-iry according 1
as In L. purpuinta, though generally strongly 3-Iobed as ii
L.ULIO-CATTLEVA ELLOAKS, Kolfe ill Gartl. Chron., July so, 1S89 p 7S
CATTLIiVA ELEGANS, Mori', in Ann, dc Gand, IV. ('.848), p.'93, t 185 ; I'escatorea, L 23 ; Bot. M,
I.ÌELIA ELECAN.S Uchb. f. in Olto & Dietr. Allg. Gartenr., XXIII, (1855), j). 24:: ; Puydt Orch., I.
L/ELIA URYSIANA, Lem. in III. Hort, IV, (1857), "34-
L. r.iCANTEA, Warn., cx Proe. Roy. I lort. Soc., J I. (1S62), p. 2.17 ; Warn
L. TuRKERI, Warn. Sci Orch., ser. i, t. 12
VAR. BLENHEtNtEXSIs, Sander, sepalis pallidis margine roseo-purpurei
ìateralibus roaeo-purpureis, disco pallide luteo,
Sel. Orch., se
s, pelalis int
Lu:lio.Cattleya elegaiis, or, as it is better known in gardens, I.a.-Iia clegans, is n.
and La;Iiii parpnr.ita anil should, Iherefore, be placed in lhal group ofbigencrie hybrid:
tlie more reason for this course, as thi» VAmr-ni-lfiHi-,. r ' n r * . n 1 ti .
C. gultal.i. The pollinia ai
o label 11 alropurpurels, bbis
le N'oraenclature
generic name formed by combining the names of ihc p
refer them lo cither of the parent genera only involves u
made its appearance in Europe, vvlicn it i-eeeived the nac
imported in considerable numbers, and like other hybrids
Ihc Koyal Mori ¡cultural
ra-a course long «go pr. .
Linncan Society In 1887 (Joum. Linn,
11 Kinds of inconsistencies, and ma>
Caltlcya clegans, its hybrid origin
:nUEliapurpurat,i and Cattleya intermedia. Lele^nsv
•r them ; they should be referred to I.o;Uu-Cattleya Seh
dropped f<
termedia. From the numbers in which our hybrid has been imported a
•o parent species are growing together. Doubts hsve been expressed
ide except on stronger grounds than these. Will
i,5chillcriana,.ind
which it is found
it lo be a nntural hybrid between Cattlcya guttata
• Lailio-Canley.-t has been proposed. There sccini
cently recommended thnl bigencrs shaii reecivo a
Ma.sler5 for a hybrid raised between >'hilcsia and
Soc, X X! v., pp. 156—170,1.4), 'Ilie attempt to
kindoned. As lung ago as 1848 this hybrid first
suspected till aftenvards. Since then it has been
1 hybrid, however, h,is beet, confused with it, vii.,
belong hcic, bul the name "clcgans" should be
ybrids between L<rlia purpúrala and Catlleya
It is prelly evident that il may occur wherever the
grounds, but the evidence is loo strong to be set
R.A.Kolfc.
THIS grand variety was introduced by us anri fir«
lias been named in commemoration of the
: in tlie collection of liis Grace the Duke of Marlborough, and
'X. iiiKi r:^i,ue of Blenheim, Few kinds of llii.s varied plant
are equal in beauty to the magnificent form here figured, the flowers of which are unusually large and of great substance.
The sepals and petals are spreading, broad, fleshy, and of a rich deep ro.se colour. The lip is distinguished by a breadth
not frequently met with in r,a:lia elcgans, and is beautifully fringed round the edge of the middle lobe, the colour of
which is deep crimson-purple.
A great sensation was created when the Duke's plant first fiowcred in this country. It was then an entire
specimen just as it had been taken from the precipitous sea-bound rocks of Brazil; but its silvery-sheathed, newflowcring
pseudo-bulbs, and large dark glossy evergreen, thick, leathery leaves and glorious inflorescences! were
developed in his Grace's orchid houses at Blenheim, When all the blossoms of this gorgeous plant were first unfolded
it presented a dazzling bla/e of colour which cannot be imagined by looking at the portrait of a single .spike. From the
probable hybrid origin of L.-elia elegans, and the verj- small area in which it is found growing in a wild slate, combined
with the diligent search by collectors to obtain it, there is a probable danger of this glorious orchid becoming extinct in
its native habitat. From the time of its first discovery in 1847, by Devos, a Belgian traveller, many consignments have
reached Europe, and many collectors have risked their lives in being let down by ropes to gather plants from the
almost inaccessiblc rocks. Such exceptional kinds as I., elegans Measuresiana, I., e, Tautziana, and L. e. Blenheimensis
have been obtitined in this manner by our travellers. A sight of such floral gems in full blossom has abundant
fascination to prompt an ardent collector to risk his life—probably the danger is often thought little of; yet these
specimens, perched away on lofty ledges and boulders, are generally left untouched when plants are to be had more
easily. Hence the very great difficulty of now getting large plants of the true old dark-fJowercd, long-bulbed varieties.
La;lia elegans is best grown in baskets in a rather sunny, moist position of the Caitleya house, suspended near the
glass, in a temperature of 65 to 70 deg. R in winter; in the summer the temperature may rise much higher. The plants
are unlike Cattleyas, and should never be allowed to become thoroughly dry. 1^1 ia elegans makes two growths during
the year, and is extremely variable in its time of flowering. After the blooming season is over, the plant may be kept
slightly drier for about a month.