Epiphytal. Stems (or pseudobulbs) club-shaped, about a foot and a half high, monophyllous, furrowed when mature. Leaves coriaceous, oblong, acute, broad to the base, light green. Scape three to four-flowered, issuing from a terminal oblong compressed bract, an inch wide and five inches long. Flowers large, subhorizontal, about seven inches across, delicately coloured, with a prettily veined lip; sepals lanceolate, reflexed, three-fourths of an inch wide, white; petals convex, ovate, narrowed to the base, somewhat crispy at the edge, pure white, scarcely as long as the lip; lip (labellum) membranaceous, three-lobed, the lateral lobes convolute around the column, yellow outside, striped with deeper yellow veins, the middle lobe ovate, obtuse, undulated, the anterior portion and margin white, the mouth veined with magenta-rose, the disk naked, and the tubulose basal portion deep yellow, veined with magenta. Column much shorter than the lateral lobes of the lip.
Lælia Schröderii, supra.
This plant belongs to that tribe of the Orchid family which is called Epidendreæ, and of which the genus Epidendrum is regarded as the type. This group is known by its waxy pollen-masses, which are attached to a distinct caudicle, but bear no separable stigmatic gland as occurs in the tribe Vandeæ. The genus is closely related to Cattleya, and contains some of the finest ornaments of our Orchid-houses.
The subject of our present illustration is a new and most beautiful Orchid, now figured and described for the first time. It is closely allied to Lælia grandis, but is distinct from that species, inasmuch as the sepals and petals are white, whereas those of L. grandis are of a nankeen yellow. It is named in honour of Baron Henry Schröder, an enthusiastic admirer of this handsome class of plants. The species flowered for the first time this year, in the Victoria and Paradise Nurseries.
The flowers are produced in May and June, three or four together, on spikes which are produced from the apex of the new bulbs; they have a delicate and pleasing appearance, the sepals and petals being pure white, while the lip is white, striped with rose, throat deep yellow, veined with magenta. It should be kept free from damp when in flower, as the blossoms being of a delicate nature, soon spot and go off; but kept in this way free from moisture they will last about four weeks in a fresh and perfect state.
In growth the plant somewhat resembles L. purpurata, the bulbs and foliage being about eighteen inches in height, and of a light green colour. It succeeds well grown in the Cattleya-house in pots filled with peat and a little sphagnum moss, over plenty of drainage. It should receive a moderate supply of water at the root during the growing season, and should never be allowed to get thoroughly dry. When it has made its growth it should be allowed to rest, and at that time should be kept rather dry, only giving it sufficient water to prevent it from shrivelling.
Lælias are subject to the attacks of white scale, but this can easily be got rid of by sponging with clean water. Thrips sometimes attack the young growths, and if allowed to increase, soon disfigure the leaves.
Cattleya gigas and C. Dowiana.—These Cattleyas have been considered to be shy-flowering species, and we have sometimes found them to be so in our own experience, but we are beginning to change our opinion on this subject. No doubt there are some plants that grow and flower more freely than others, but a great deal depends on the conditions in which they are placed and the treatment they receive. I recently had the pleasure of visiting the collection of W. Lee, Esq., of Leatherhead, which in time will be one of the finest to be seen in this country. The Estate is situated in an open part of the country, and the Orchid-houses are built on the side of a hill where they get the full light and sun, while they are sheltered from the driving winds; these houses are, indeed, all that can be desired, the requisitions of the various classes of plants having been well studied. Every accommodation is provided for those kinds, such as Cattleya gigas and C. Dowiana, that are difficult to bloom. These two were splendidly in flower, and are most lovely and distinct kinds; the flowers of C. gigas were nearly nine inches in diameter, the sepals and petals of the purest dark rosy colour, and the lip a fine rich dark crimson magenta. C. Dowiana was also very fine and attractive in colour, the sepals and petals being of a nankeen yellow, and the lip of a rich dark purple, elegantly pencilled and striped with lines of gold. We hope at some future time to give our readers a plate of the fine variety of C. gigas above referred to. Both these species are here grown as near the light as possible, and the treatment they receive is, first to induce a vigorous growth, and then to give them a good rest after the growth is completed, at the same time keeping them well exposed to the light, and giving them merely sufficient water to prevent them from shrivelling, a more ample supply of water being given as soon as they show signs of flowering. There was also in this collection another species that is generally considered difficult to grow, namely, Vanda teres, of which there were three plants which had been blooming very finely. When cultivated as these are, they well repay all the trouble taken with them. These are grown at one end of the house, without any shade.—B. S. W.
