Laelia Acuminata

This is an old-established favourite in our gardens, having been introduced thirty years ago from Mexico. It generally flowers during December or January, and lasts a fortnight or three weeks in perfection. The flowers are borne several together on a spike 12 to 18 inches long. Sepals and petals of the purest crystalline white. Lip white, with a rounded purple blotch in the throat. The inhabitants of Guatemala and Mexico call this the Flower of Jesus (Flor de Jesu), on account of its delicate purity.

Laelia Acuminata Violacea

This is a distinct variety of the above, having flowers of a rosy violet colour. It occasionally occurs among imported plants of Laelia acuminata, but is not common in collections.

Laelia Albida

Another old inhabitant of our gardens, introduced from Guatemala in 1838. In habit this plant approaches Laelia autumnalis. Flowers three to seven on a spike 15 to 18 inches long, produced in great profusion on well-established plants. Sepals and petals of a semi-translucent white colour. The lip has a bright lemon-yellow centre, and is dotted with bright crimson near its base. It flowers during the dullest winter months, and lasts three to four weeks in perfection. Its flowers open rather greenish, but eventually change to white, and are very useful for bouquets, or other floral ornaments.

Laelia Autumnalis

This is one of the finest of winter-flowering Orchids, bearing three to five flowers lightly poised on the apices of slender spikes or scapes, which vary from 2 to 3 feet in length. Sepals and petals of a glistening or crystalline appearance, and of a rosy violet colour, darkest towards the margin. Lip white, with a crimson-purple apex, having a tri-lamellate crest. This plant flowers freely during December and January, lasting three to four weeks in beauty. A fine specimen-plant of this species exists in the collection at Manley Hall, near Manchester. This plant has been grown all the summer in a lean-to vinery, and has thrown up twenty-three flower-spikes, some of them being very strong. It is growing on a large block, and is a good example of what may be done with winter-flowering Loelias when they are well grown.

Laelia Purpwracea

This is another fine old species, introduced from Mexico about 1838. It is often confounded by cultivators with the last-mentioned species, but is very distinct. It bears one or two flowers only on the apex of a scape 10 to 12 inches high. The petals are very much broader than the sepals, and the flower in general conformation reminds one of a Phalsenopsis, or of the rosy-flowered Dendro-bium bigibbum. The flowers are not so delicately perfumed as those of Laelia autumnalis. It flowers in December, and lasts a fortnight or three weeks. It is by no means a free-flowering species, but one worth adding to any collection.