LÆLIA AMANDA.
[[Plate 135].]
Native of Brazil.
Epiphytal. Stems thin, fusiform, a foot to a foot and a half in height, diphyllous, invested by a sheathing mucronulate scale. Leaves cuneate ligulate, bluntly acute, six to nine inches long, coriaceous, of a light green. Peduncles two flowered issuing from a small narrow spathe. Flowers five to six inches across, delicately coloured; sepals ligulate-oblong acute, entire, of a flesh-colour or pinkish blush with purple veins, the dorsal one three inches long and three-fourths of an inch wide, the lateral ones somewhat longer and broader, slightly falcate-deflexed; petals linear-oblong blunt, three inches long, and an inch broad, of the same pinkish-blush or pale rosy-lilac as the sepals, but more distinctly veined; lip three inches long, rosy lilac, marked by longitudinal veins, with a cordiform base, three-lobed, the lateral lobes folded over the column and about twice its length, the front edge rounded and slightly wavy the middle lobe projecting an inch and a half, roundish-oblong, obtuse, apiculate, prettily veined with magenta, the few strongish central veins parallel, the rest divergent and variously netted, the tip paler, the veins continued through to the margin which is crispulate. Column decurved, semiterete, winged, magenta except about the stigmatic hollow which is white, the apex toothed.
Lælia amanda, Reichenbach fil., in Gardeners’ Chronicle, N.S., xviii., 776.
Cattleya Rothschildiana, of some gardens.
We are pleased to be able to figure and describe such a distinct species of Lælia as the subject of our present plate, which forms quite a new type in the genus. It produces very chaste looking flowers, and is decidedly novel in the style of marking of its lip. There have been many new varieties of the L. elegans and L. anceps type introduced of late, but few have proved so good as those obtained many years before: for example, of the forms of white anceps, none are so good as L. anceps Dawsoni; and of the elegans type, there are none to surpass L. elegans alba and the dark L. elegans Turneri, and other beautiful sorts which might be named. Our drawing shows quite a distinct and novel form as compared with these, and was taken from a plant in the fine collection of W. E. Brymer, Esq., M.P., Ilsington House, Dorchester. There are many fine Orchids included in Mr. Brymer’s collection.
Lælia amanda is an evergreen species, with pseudobulbs attaining about eighteen inches in height, and light green leaves. The flowers are produced in upright spikes, the sepals and petals being of a pale tint of rosy lilac, the lip bright rose with lilac, veined with brighter rosy-purple. It blooms during the autumn, and according to Mr. Powell, Mr. Brymer’s gardener, lasts for six weeks in beauty. It is a free growing species, but like the forms of L. elegans requires good cultivation.
We find this kind does well either in a pot or basket. It should have good drainage, and be grown in rough fibrous peat with lumps of charcoal intermixed to keep the soil open, thus allowing the roots to run over it and cling to the lumpy peat and charcoal. We find all this class of Lælias to thrive best elevated well above the pot or basket in which they are grown; the roots then come down more freely, and can go either into the compost or outside of it as they like, though in most cases it will be found that they prefer the outside; and to us it appears very delightful to see the fresh roots in this way enjoying the atmosphere of the house in which they are cultivated. They do the same in their native country, clinging to the trees, rocks, or any other firm substance on which they can lay hold. By growing them here as we have indicated, above the pot rim, the water passes off and most of the roots enjoy what is natural to them. They require a good amount of moisture when in vigorous growth, but should never be kept too wet, as this causes the soil to become soddened, and in this way are brought about the many failures that we hear of. Some cultivators imagine that because a plant is in vigorous health and growing freely nothing can hurt it, but this is a mistaken idea, as that really is the time during which they require more than ordinary care and attention. On the other hand, if the plants have become matured they will most probably suffer for it afterwards by the rotting of the young growth. When kept too wet the plants often become too sappy, and then after the growth is matured the cultivator may be startled to find the stems and foliage turning black and rotting away—a state of things which may frequently be attributed and often traced to over-watering. Before proceeding to water plants their requirements should be studied. Orchids require much forethought in reference to their treatment, especially as regards the temperature of the house compared with that of the atmosphere outside, the time of year making a considerable difference, as does the condition of the plants. All this has to be considered in reference to the treatment about to be bestowed upon them. There is no doubt that Orchids, when understood, are as easily cultivated as other plants, and some kinds more so, but on the other hand some require extra care and judicious management as regards light, air, potting material, and water; and unless a grower has some idea what his particular plants require he will most likely meet with failures. This is indeed sometimes the case with those who do know all the various requirements of particular subjects, but there is no doubt that where the treatment of a plant is well studied, a less amount of failure will be experienced. If a plant will not succeed in one part of a house, try it in another, and when a suitable spot is found let it remain them.
We find Lælias like to be as near the light as possible, and they will thrive well in pots or baskets suspended from the roof, so that their roots can throw themselves out where they please. They might indeed all be grown in baskets if preferred.
PL. 136. CYPRIPEDIUM CALURUM.