The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening

Every genus a Victorian gardener could grow — Abelia to Zygopetalum across four volumes, with each plant's history, species, and culture, by the Curator of Kew.

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Cattleya (Species of this genus are all)

The species of this genus are all natives of the warmer parts of America, from Brazil to Mexico. The following corrections of, and additions to, the information given on pp. 280-4, Vol. I., are based upon the monograph of the genus recently published by Messrs. James Veitch and Sons, in Part II. of their "Manual of Orchidaceous Plants."

C. alba (white). A form of C. Luddemanmana.

C. amabilis (lovely). A synonym of C. intermedia.

C. Amesiana (Ames'). A synonym of Laelia Amesiana.

C. aurea (golden). A variety of C. Dowiana.

C. autumnalis (autumnal). A garden synonym of C. Bowringiana. C. bicolor Wrigleyiana (Wrigley's). fl., sepals and petals greyish-green; lip dark purple. 1885.

C. Bluntii (Blunt's). fl. resembling those of C. Mendelii in shape; sepals and petals white; lip white, stained yellow in the throat. Summer. l. (and general habit) as in C. Mendelii. Colombia.

C. Boissieri (Boissier's). fl., sepals and petals soft rosy-lilac; lip broad, with a beautiful, curving, yellow blotch extending half way down and nearly across it. l. oblong, short and broad. New Grenada.

C. Bowringiana (Bowring's). fl. rich rosy-purple, about 2 1/2in.in diameter, the front of the lip deep purple, with a transverse, maroon band, behind which the tube is whitish; raceme corymbose, five to ten-flowered. Autumn. Central America, 1886. A charming species, allied to C. Skinneri. SYN. C. autumnalis (of gardens).

C. Brabantiae (Duchess of Brabant's). fl. rather large; sepals and petals rose, blotched blackish-purple; lateral lobes of the lip white, curved over the broad, rose-coloured column, the front lobe magenta-purple, obtusely reniform. l ligulate-oblong. Stems terete. A hybrid between C. Aclandiae and C. Loddigesii. (F. M. 360.) C. brilliantissima (most brilliant). A garden synonym of C. Luddemanniana brilliantissima.

C. Brymeriana (W. E. Brymer's). fl., sepals and petals rosy purple; lip unusually broad, the side laciniae blunt-angled, the middle one projecting, obcordate, the mid-area orange, the margins of the laciniae purplish-mauve, the parts between the edges and the orange lines rosy, fading to white; column white. 1883. A supposed natural hybrid between C. superba and C. Eldorado. C. Brysiana (Brys'). A synonym of Laelia purpurata Brysiana. C. bulbosa (bulbous). A synonym of C. Walkeriana.

C. Bullieri (Bullier's). A trifling form of C. Trianae. (R. H. 1886, p. 444.) C. calummata (hooded). fl. resembling those of C. Aclandiae in form; sepals and petals whitish, tinted rose and spotted violet; lip having the large side-lobes white, and the wedge-shaped centre, as well as the column, of a rich, velvety violet-red or magenta-rose. l. oblong, emarginate, deep green, sometimes spotted with violet. Pseudo-bulbs 3in. to 4in. long. French gardens, 1884. A beautiful hybrid between C. intermedia and C. Aclandiae. (R. H. 1883, p. 564; W. O. A. iv. 166.) C. candida (white). fl., sepals and petals white, shaded pink; lip the same colour, with a dash of yellow in the centre; spike three or four-flowered. July to November. h. 1ft. Brazil. Allied to C. intermedia. C. Chamberlainiana (Rt. Hon. Jos. Chamberlain's). fl. 5in. in diameter; sepals brownish-purple; petals purple; lip rich purple-magenta; peduncles five to seven or more-flowered. A hybrid between C. guttata Leopoldii and C. Dowiana, the former of which it closely resembles.

C. chocoensis. This is now regarded as a variety of C. Trianae. C. citrino-intermedia (hybrid). fl., sepals and petals dull creamy-white, inclining to flesh-white, the petals a little broader than the sepals; side lobes of the lip flesh-coloured, becoming pale purple at apex, large, rounded, obtuse, the front lobe rosy purple, nearly truncate, minutely apiculate, with crisped margins; column flesh-white, yellow in front at base; peduncle 2 1/2in. long, l. three, 7in. long, 1 3/8in. broad.

C. crispa. This is now classed under Laelia.

C. crocata (saffron-yellow). A form of C. Eldorado.

C. Dawsonii (Dawson's). A synonym of C. Luddemanniana. C. dolosa. This is now regarded as a variety of C. Walkeriana. C. Dowiana. This is now regarded as a variety of C. labiata. C. D. aurea (golden). fl. very large; sepals and petals pale yellow; lip rich, deep purple, veined with yellow. Columbia, 1883. A gorgeous variety. (W. O. A. 84.) SYN. C. aurea (I. H. 493).

C. Dukeana (Dr. Duke's). fl., sepals light ochre outside, the middle one washed with dull mauve-purple inside, the lateral ones mauve-purple and brownish inside; petals mauve-purple on the disk, smaller; side laciniae of the lip white and light purple, dolabriform, not quite covering the column, the mid-lacinia light purple, with a narrow, white border; column white, lined purple. 1887. probably a natural hybrid.

C. Edithiana (Edith's). fl. 6in. to 7in. in diameter; sepals and petals light mauve; lip white, striped mauve, the disk buff. l. dark green. h. 1ft. Brazil. Habit like C. Mossiae.

C. Eldorado. This is now regarded as a variety of C. labiata. C. E. Crocata (saffron-coloured). fl. broad, white, with a broad, deep orange line running from the base of the lip on the anterior disk, where it expands into a pentagonal blotch, with teeth in front, 1885. SYN. C. crocata. C. E. ornata (adorned). A fine variety, having dark purple tips to the petals. 1884.

C. E. virginalis (virgin-white). fl. sweet-scented; sepals and petals snow-white, the former lanceolate, acute, the latter broad, elliptic, obtuse; lip white, with a yellow disk and tube, entire, with a frilled front lobe. August and September. Amazon Country. SYN. C. virginalis (I. H. ser. iii. 257). The form rosea has a distinct, rosy-purple blotch on the front of the anterior portion of the lip.

C. E. Wallisii (Wallis'). fl., segments white, the orange-yellow disk of the lip reduced in size.

C. exoniensis (Exeter). This is now classed under Laelia. C. fausta (lucky). fl., sepals and petals rosy-lilac; lip white, with a large, yellow disk extending the whole length of the throat, tipped crimson. November. A hybrid between C. Loddigesii and Laelia exoniensis. (F.M. n. s. 189; G. C. 1873, p. 289.) In the form radians, numerous dark purple streaks or bars radiate from the centre of the lip over the anterior part. C. felix (fruitful). A synonym of Laelia felix.

C. Forbesi (Forbes'). fl. 3in. to 4in. in diameter; sepals and petals pale yellowish-green, sub-equal; lip three-lobed, the two lateral lobes yellow, sometimes streaked red, convolute over the column, the middle lobe pale yellow, with a broad, bright yellow, central band; column yellow, spotted and stained red; peduncles erect, two to five-flowered. l. ovate-oblong, coriaceous. Stems about 1ft. high, two-leaved. Rio de Janeiro, 1823. (B. M. 3265; B. R. 953.) C. Gaskelliana (Gaskell's). A variety of C. labiata. C. gigas. This is now regarded as a variety of C. labiata. C. g. albo-striata (white-striated). fl. smaller than in the type; sepals and petals marked with a distinct, white, central bar or stripe on a blush ground. 1882.

C. g. burfordiensis (Burford). fl. more richly coloured and larger than in the type; sepals and petals rose-purple; lip of an intense amethyst, lighter towards the crisped edges, 3in. across. 1882.

C. g. grandiflora (large-flowered). fl. remarkably large; sepals and petals rose-pink; lip highly coloured, the upper part white edged with magenta. 1882. C. granulosa asperata (rough). fl., sepals and petals brownish, spotted dark purple; lip yellowish at base, light vivid purple with a broad white border in front, rough. 1886.

C. g. Russelliana (Russell's). fl. larger than in the type, with broader segments; inner side of the lateral lobes of the lip and the claw of the middle lobe orange-yellow, the blade white, spotted with crimson-purple. (B.R. 1845, 59; B.M. 5048, under name of C. granulosa.) C. g. Schofieldiana (Schofield's). fl., sepals and petals greenish-yellow, spotted with crimson, the petals narrow at the base, very broad and obtuse at the apex; lip rich purple, with whitish side lobes, the middle lobe covered with lamellae and papillae. l. broad, two to a pseudo-bulb. Pseudo-bulbs 1 1/4ft. high. SYN. C. Schofieldiana (W.O.A. ii.93).

C. guttata immaculata (unspotted). fl., sepals and petals mauve-brown, without spots; lip white, the front lobe purple. 1886.

C. g. Keteleeri (Keteleer's). A synonym of C. g. lilacina. C. g. leopardina (leopard-spotted). fl. numerous and handsome; sepals and petals thickly spotted with dark brown; side lobes of the lip white, the broad, bilobed front lobe rich purplish-red; racemes large. Pseudo-bulbs elongated. 1886.

C. g. lilacina (lilac). fl., sepals and petals blush-white, spotted magenta; lip bright magenta-crimson, large and well-fringed. June. Brazil. SYN. C. g. Keteleeri.

C. g. phoenicoptera (purple-winged). fl., sepals and petals deep purple; lip whitish. 1883.

C. g. Prinzii (Prinz'). A synonym of C. amethystoglossa. C. g. punctulata (slightly spotted). fl., sepals and petals pale yellowish-green, with but few spots; lip as in Leopoldii.

C. g. Williamsiana (Williams'). A variety having purplish, unspotted sepals and petals, and a white lip with a dark purple front lobe. 1884. (W. O. A. v. 212.) C. Hardyana (Hardy's). fl. 6in. to 8in. in expanse; sepals and petals rich rosy-mauve, the former lanceolate, the latter elliptic and wavy; lip deep crimson-magenta, veined on the disk with yellow, and having a large, yellow spot on each side, very large, deeply bilobed and frilled. Columbia, 1885. A magnificent plant, supposed to be a natural hybrid. (W. O. A. v. 231.) C. Harrisii (Dr. Harris'). fl., sepals and petals amethyst-blue, with numerous purple spots; side lobes of the lip paler than the sepals and petals, with a large, amethyst blotch at the acute apex, the middle lobe amethyst-purple, with a jagged, undulated margin and apical cleft. l. 7in. long, 1in. to 2 1/2in. broad. Pseudo-bulbs rather flat, 1in. to 6in. long. 1887. A hybrid between C. guttata Leopoldii and C. Mendelii.

C. Harrisoniae (Mrs. Harrison's). This is now regarded as a variety of C. Loddigessi.

C. Holfordi (Holford's). A garden synonym of C. luteola. C. hybrida picta (painted hybrid). fl. six or seven on each peduncle; sepals pale olive-green, sparingly spotted purple; petals similarly coloured, with the addition of a broad margin of pale rosy-mauve; lateral lobes of the lip white externally, the middle lobe purple, with a paler margin and yellowish disk. A garden hybrid between C. guttata and C. intermedia. (F. M. 1881, 473.) C. intricata (intricate). fl., sepals and petals light whitish-rose, narrow; lip like that of Laelia elegans picta. only the sharp-angled, long, side laciniae are white, and the free blade of the mid-lacinia has an abrupt stalk, and is of the deepest, warm purple; column light rose. 1884. Hybrid. C. iricolor (rainbow-coloured). fl. milk-white, with a few purple marks on the lip, 3in. to 4in. across; petals narrower than the sepals; lip obscurely three-lobed, the two lateral lobes convolute over the column; peduncles two or three-flowered. l. 1ft. long, strap-like, complicate at base, emarginate at apex. Stems 4in. to 5in. long, one-leaved. Native country unknown. C. Kimballiana (Kimball's). fl. large; sepals and petals of a delicate rosy-white, the former lanceolate, acute, the latter very broad, elliptic, wavy; tube of the lip white outside, with some yellow near the front margins, the inside yellow with some orange lines, the wavy front lobe rich purple on the front part. Venezuela, 1881. A fine species.

C. labiata. The following are now included here as varieties: Dowiana, Eldorado, gigas, Luddemanniana, Mendelii, Mossioe, Percivaliana, Trianoe, Warneri, and Warscewiczii.

C. 1. Gaskelliana (Gaskell's). fl. 7in. across, resembling those of C. Mossiae, but paler; lobes of the lip confluent, crisped, yellow within. Autumn. Brazil. A magnificent plant. (I. H. 1886, 613, under name of C. Gaskelliana.) C. 1. leucophaea (dusky-white). fl., sepals and petals blush-white; lip lilac, margined white; throat yellow. Brazil.

C. 1. regina (queen). fl., sepals, petals, ovary, and column purple; lip dark mauve-purple, with the usual two lateral, yellow spots. Venezuela. SYN. C. speciosissima reginoe.

C. 1. Schroederiana (Baron von Schroeder's). fl. white, large; lip marked with broken, mauve-purple lines, and having an orange median line. 1886. A fine variety.

C. 1. Wilsoniana (Wilson's). fl. of a fine amethyst colour; sepals rather broad and blunt, the petals very much so; lip with a strong fold on each side in front of the centre, the anterior part crenulate and emarginate, marked dark purple. 1887.

C. Lawrenceana (Sir Trevor Lawrence's). fl. purplish-lilac, as large as those of a good C. Trianae; sepals uncommonly broad; petals broader than the sepals, usually blunt; lip pandurate, emarginate, rather broader in front than at the base, the anterior part of the darkest, warmest purple, the side wings purple, the centre light yellow. British Guiana, 1885. A fine species. (G. C. n. s., xxiii., pp. 374-5.) C. L. concolor (one-coloured). fl. wholly of a light purple. 1886. C. L. rosea-superba (superb rosy). fl. delicate rosy-purple, striated white, large; sepals paler than the petals and lip; disk of the lip white. The form oculata has the central area of the lip buff-yellow, and without a purple band.

C. Lemoniana. This is now regarded as synonymous with C. labiata. C. Lindleyana. This is now classed under Loelia.

C. lobata. This is now classed under Loelia.

C. Loddigesii candida (white). fl. white, with a yellow disk to the lip. C. L. Harrisoniae (Mrs. Harrison's). The correct name of the plant described on p. 282, Vol. I., as C. Harrisoniae.

C. L. maculata (spotted). fl., having minute, purple spots extending over the whole surface. Brazil.

C. L. violacea (violet). fl. more deeply coloured than in the type. C. Lucieniana (Lucien's). fl., sepals and petals brown, with a wash of purple; lip rich purple, trifid, with pale yellow side lobes, and red veins and keels. 1885. A beautiful hybrid.

C. Luddemanniana (Luddemann's). fl., sepals and petals delicate purplish-rose, suffused white, the petals nearly three times as broad as the sepals, and gently undulated, chiefly in the distal half; convolute lobes of the lip of the same colour externally as the sepals and petals, the anterior lobe fine amethyst-purple, crisped, emarginate, with two pale yellow or white blotches at the entrance of the tube, between which are lines of amethyst-purple gently diverging from the base of the lip. September and October. This is a variety of C. labiata. SYNS. C. Dawsonii (W. S. O. i. 16), C. speciosissima Buchananiana (W. O. A. vi. 261.) C. L. alba (white). fl. large, pure white, with a pale yellow stain on the disk of the lip.

C. L. brilliantissima (most brilliant). fl., sepals and petals bright rose, the latter with an amethyst-purple, feathered blotch near the apex; anterior lobe of the lip maroon-purple, with two pale yellow blotches beneath. SYN. C. brilliantissima (of gardens).

C. L. regina (queenly). fl., sepals and petals rosy-purple; lip deep purple, with two yellow blotches as in the type.

C. luteola (yellowish). fl. yellow, 2in. across; sepals narrow-oval, blunt; lip white, with a yellow disk, cucullate, rounded and crenulate, velvety inside. Pseudo-bulbs oval, ancipitous, one-leaved. Brazil. (B. M. 5032; R. X. O. i. 83.) SYN. C. Holfordi (of gardens). The variety fastuosa has a large, purple blotch on the lip; in the form lepida the lip is veined purple. C. Manglesii (Mangles'). fl. brighter and larger than those of C. Loddigesii; lip white, with a yellow line on the disk and two small, pale purple blotches, waved and toothed on the light purple margin. A hybrid between C. Luddemanniana and C. Loddigesii.

C. Mardelli (Mardell's). fl., sepals and petals magenta; lip three-lobed, opening out on both sides of the column, the side lobes pale magenta, the front magenta-purple, with a broad, bright yellow stripe down the centre of the throat. June. Stems about 4 1/2. long, two-leaved. A hybrid between C. Luddemanniana and Laelia elegans. (F. M. ser. ii. 437.) C. marginata. This is now regarded as synonymous with Laelia pumila. C. Marstersoniae (Marsterson's). fl. amethyst-coloured, intermediate in character between C. Loddigesii and C. labiata; lateral lobes of the lip yellowish-white, with an amethyst border, the middle lobe intense purple. Stems about 8in. long, two-leaved. Garden hybrid.

C. maxima alba (white). fl. white, having the usual yellow and purple markings on the lip.

C. m. aphlebia (veinless). In this variety the purple, reticulated veins are absent from the lip, which has a yellow disk surrounded by light purple. 1884. C. m. Backhousei (Backhouse's). fl. richer in colour than those of the type. l. stiff, upright. Pseudo-bulbs short and plump. Colombia. C. m. doctoris (teacher). A variety with pale rose-coloured flowers. 1883. C. m. Hrubyana (Hruby's). fl. tinted pale rose; lip handsomely veined with red and marked with a central, yellow stripe. 1885. A beautiful variety. C. Measuresii (Measures'). fl., sepals and petals reddish-brown, ligulate, acute, the petals slightly undulated; lip whitish-rose, the side laciniae forming a blunt angle, bearing a small point in the middle, involved at the upper part, the isthmus almost wanting, the anterior part cordate; column purple at top, rose at base. Pseudo-bulbs usually two-leaved. 1886. A hybrid between C. Aclandiae and C. Walkeriana.

C. Mendelii. This is now regarded as a variety of C. labiata. C. M. bella (beautiful). A charming variety, having whitish-mauve-lilac petals, and a darker mauve-lilac front part to the lip. 1882. (W. O. A. 225.) C. M. grandiflora (large-flowered). fl. 8in. across; sepals and petals white, very broad; lip magenta-rose, white and frilled at the edge, fringed, broad, the throat lemon-yellow, lined pale magenta-rose. May and June. Colombia. (W. O. A. i. 3.) C. M. Jamesiana (James'). fl. about 5in. across; sepals and petals rosy, tipped purple, broad; lip rich, velvety purplish-rose in the front half, the disk golden-yellow, the throat whitish, pencilled crimson. 1882. (W. O. A. iv. 178.) C. M. Morganiae (Mrs. Morgan's). fl., sepals and petals snowwhite, freely produced; lip white, beautifully fringed, with a distinct, bright magenta blotch towards the apex, the throat orange, with darker stripes. May and June.

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