C A Ì T L R Y A LABIATA undi. VAR. M K N D K L I I AVM /
SUB-VAR. MEASURESIANA Ho,;.
CAT- ic sulcatis m
máximo exparso membranaceo, sepalis ligulatis aculis, pMalis obovato-olilongis obtusiusculis wiric crispís, ial
columna einvau, an<lrciclinii apiculu mediano postico ligululo reluso siipra-antherara Hcico.
C.\TT!,KVA I.ABIATA, Lindi. Coli. Hot., t. 33 ; id., Bot. Rcg, t. I8S<) ; Hook. Exot. FI., 111., I, 15; ; Hot. Mag., t. 3998 ; Hook. Cent. Orch. PI
Wara. & Will. Orchiil Album, li., t. 88 ; etc.
VAK. MENDELII, Uchb, C.. pseudobuibis abbrcvialis latissimis, foliis latís obiongis abbrcviatis, sepalis bene lati.?, pelali» laliísimís, labello tra
lato lobulato ctispulo deiiticuiato, slriolis hiscriatis per discuui mcdi.-mum siipreiniim ae medium, area amica profunde purpurea, slrioli» maeulisquc ul
purpuréis in liac arca circuinspersis, zona (lavcola aiiraiitiacavc utrinquc, columna valida.
VAB. MENDELII, Rchb. r. in Reichcnbadiia, ser. 1, voi. i. p. 35, t. 15 ; Lindenia, !l„ p. 17,1. 55.
Idi..'.
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C. MENDELII, Hort., FI, Mag., n. s., 1872, u 3: ; T
SuavAR. MKASURESIANA, Horl., Card. Chron., 1887, pi. 2, p.
The (irsi account of this beautiful Caitleya whieli a]>pearcd «••
khoiise & Son, of York, wliose collcelor oblaincd it about 200 or 3
> Mendel, Esq., of Manlcy Hall, Manchester, after wl.oui it waa n;
1<1 gron ing on exp(>se<i precipices and bar<
to bave become rather scarce in a wild sta
he ilisc, !15 in tbe variety Blunlii, up to llic
1 the collection of U. H. Mea-sures, Esq., of
p. 332, U 304.
It is exceedingly variable in llie 1
forms vhicli llave Üic front lobe o
'10 Woodlands, Strealhiim. About
t is slated to have been imported by Mwsrs.
e previously. Il pasued into the colleclion of
lavc been its first time of llowcring in this country, but il
imported by Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., of Clapton. lu
" >lona and Bucaramaiij^a, »-Iiere it i^ often
lip, which ranges from nearly pure ivliite', »ith a little yellow
jMrple-crimson, as in tlio superb form here figured, which is
/i. /I-
:t lying
nalytic-u. Colui
SINCE the late John Day first flowered this fine labiate Cattleya no variety has appeared superior to the var, Mcasiiresiana,
Wc do not include in our comparison tlie albino, or Bhintii variety, for the subjcct of our plate, as our readers may judge
for themselves by Mr. Moon's superb plate, is a variety with a coloured label I urn, the richness in hue of which is
indescribable. Owing to the exceeding great beauty of this variety, the Reichenbachia is adorned by one of the finest
paintings of an orchid that ever left the pencil of a painter in any age. Cattleya Mendelii becomes every year more and
more sought for owing to its easy culture, its abundant flowering in the late spring and early summer months, and for
the lasting beauty and great variety of its blossoms. For exhibilion purposes it takes foremost rank, and amateurs arc
always ready to secure varieties that are new and distinct in character. Owing to the many importations of late years
to Europe and America, this grand Cattleya has become comparatively scarce in Bucaramanga, and fine varieties are
sought for by the rich native residents, from whom it is most difficult to obtain them, we having recently paid ;^'2oo
sterling for a single huge specimen of a fine variety that was seen by our collector in a Hacienda, growing on a tree.
Tliis species is often found on the large rocks and boulders by the side of water-courses, fully exposed and
in almost inaccessible places, although its home is the verge of the forest, where it nestles in the branches of the greatest
trees. C, Mendelii is becoming scarce in Columbia. We remember some fifteen years ago having—in one importation
collected by Fa 1 ken berg—some 200 cases home ; such a haul is impossible now. Under cultivation it is one of the
easiest plants to grow. It was named in compliment to the late Sam Mendel, of Manley Hall, Manchester, who in his
day bore the pseudonym of the " Cotton God," and ^vas a great patron and lover of horticulture, especially of orchids.
a plant in tli •s, Esq., Streathom, near London.
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