Epiphytal. Stems (pseudobulbs) club-shaped, furrowed in age, about eight to ten inches in height, monophyllous. Leaves oblong-ligulate acute, leathery and rigid in texture, dark green, growing to about ten inches in length. Scape emerging from an oblong pale green compressed bluntish bract or spathe, about four-flowered, the racemes erect. Flowers rather large, measuring upwards of four inches in each direction without being spread out; sepals lanceolate, reflexed and much twisted, of a pleasing nankin or fawn colour; petals somewhat broader than the sepals, also convex and curled, finely toothed at the edge, of the same colour as the sepals; lip three-lobed, the lateral lobes rolled over the column at the base, spreading in front, where they are beautifully veined with magenta-rose, the middle lobe rounded with an apiculus, prettily crispate-undulate, creamy white pencilled over but more sparingly than the side lobes with delicate magenta lines; thus the whole surface of the lip is radiately venose with magenta-rose. Column club-shaped, concealed by the infolding of the lateral lobes of the lip.
Lælia grandis, Lindley, in Paxton’s Flower Garden, i., 60, fig. 38; Id., Gardeners’ Chronicle, 1864, 1202; Flore de Serres, vii., 238, woodcut; Id., xxiii., 297, t. 2473; Hooker fil., Botanical Magazine, t. 5553; Regel, Gartenflora, t. 698; Williams, Orchid Grower’s Manual, ed. 5, 205.
Bletia grandis, Reichenbach fil., in Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ, vi., 424.
We have now the satisfaction of submitting to our readers an illustration of a very distinct plant, one that is little known, and which is extremely rare. The flowers are most remarkable in the singular colour of the sepals and petals, and in the chaste and prettily marked lip or labellum. Lælia xanthina is often sold for this plant, which it much resembles in growth, but the flowers are totally different, as may be seen by a comparison of our present plate with the figure of the true L. xanthina, published in the first volume of the Orchid Album ([Plate 23]). This comparison will show that the two species are quite distinct in the form of their flowers, as well as in the colour and markings of the lip. We are indebted for the opportunity of figuring it to Baron Schröder, of The Dell, Staines, in whose fine collection it bloomed in June last, and was very much admired by those who saw it.
Lælia grandis is an evergreen plant, with the stems or pseudobulbs about eight inches in height, and supporting a dark green leaf about ten inches in length. The flowers are produced several together from a sheath at the apex of the stems; the sepals and petals are nankin-yellow, the lip cream-coloured distinctly veined over the interior surface with rose colour. The plant blooms in May and June, and the flowers last in beauty for two or three weeks.
This species is best grown in a pot with rough fibrous peat and sphagnum moss, and should have good drainage, which is very essential for securing the healthy condition of the roots of the plant; indeed, unless a plant makes good roots, and they are kept in a healthy condition, there is not much chance of its doing well for any length of time. When Orchids are making their roots, it is important that all insects, and other destructive pests, should be kept away from them, so that their root-points may not be eaten away, but kept in a growing state. We have often seen the roots of Orchids eaten off by cockroaches and wood-lice, both of which are most destructive to the roots of the plants.
This Lælia will also do well in baskets or pans suspended from the roof, or will even succeed on a block of wood; but if grown in this way the plants will require more attention as regards moisture at the roots. It requires the same general treatment as L. purpurata, and should be grown in similar materials.
Cymbidium affine.—At the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, November 13th, there was exhibited by A. Wyatt, Esq., of Cheltenham, a grand specimen of this rarity, bearing two spikes, one with thirteen, the other with six flowers; it is altogether distinct from the other species of Cymbidium, and seems intermediate between C. Parishii and C. Mastersii. The flowers are produced on upright spikes; the sepals and petals are white, and the lip white, having a few rosy purple blotches and stains in the throat and on its anterior part. The style of growth resembles that of C. Parishii, and it has broad foliage as in that species. It was deservedly awarded a First Class Certificate. Our artist has taken a sketch of the plant, and we hope soon to be enabled to present a representation of it to our subscribers.—H. W.
PL. 124. VANDA SANDERIANA.