_Lælia purpurata_ when well cultivated is a good looking plant, and even when not in bloom it is an object of attraction, on account of its stately evergreen foliage. It is a native of Brazil, and is found growing on the branches of trees on the outskirts of the forests where the plants get light, and are yet shaded from the burning sun. They are best grown in the Cattleya-house, and will thrive either in pots or baskets, but we find the pot system the best, as they are strong growing plants, and require ample space to bring them to perfection. They are the better for being moved about, especially if they are required for exhibition. There are no more showy Orchids for exhibition purposes, and this is especially true of such varieties as that now before us.
We find that they thrive best in good fibrous peat, and some live sphagnum moss on a part of the surface; when in a growing state the moss keeps them moist without too much water being given whilst they are making their growth. In watering them be careful not to wet the young shoots. The pots should be three parts filled with drainage, which must be formed of broken pots and lumps of charcoal intermixed. The plants must be elevated about two inches above the rim of the pot. The best time to pot them is after they have done blooming just as they begin to make new growths, and before the roots start, when they will soon commence to work into the clean sweet peat. If the plant is in a sufficiently large pot, and the soil about it is sweet and clean, it will not require re-potting, but it will benefit the plants greatly to give them some fresh fibrous peat just before they begin to root, as the old soil is apt to become hard and inert through constant watering. They require to be kept moist during the growing season, but must not even then be soddened with water. In winter only just sufficient must be given them to keep them moist, and to prevent their stems and leaves from shriveling.
[Illustration: PL. 11. PHALÆNOPSIS AMABILIS DAYANA.]
PHALÆNOPSIS AMABILIS DAYANA. [Plate 11.] Native of the Eastern Archipelago.
Epiphytal. _Stem_ none, or consisting of a short crown furnished with rigid fleshy leaves, and emitting succulent roots, which latter are flattened, and cling to any congenial object with which they come in contact. _Leaves_ large, thick and coriaceous, distichous, oblong, obliquely retuse, dark green above, purple beneath. _Scape_ long, drooping, issuing from the base of the plant, or the leaf axils, and bearing the large moth-like flowers in a two-ranked raceme. _Flowers_ large, pure opaque white, spreading, the lip beautifully coloured; _sepals_ oblong-obtuse, white, the lower ones prettily dotted with carmine; _petals_ larger and broader, sub-rhomboid, narrowed towards the base, pure white; _lip_ furnished with a callus at the base, smaller than the petals, three-lobed, the lateral lobes ovate obtuse, ascending or incurved, yellowish along the antical margin and dotted with carmine-crimson near the base, the central lobe trowel-shaped, carmine-crimson across the base and at the edge, and marked with a central crimson stripe; the lip is concave, bearing at the narrowed apex two incurved twisted white cirrhi. _Column_ semi-terete, recumbent on the ovary.