" PL. CCCXX
SOBRALIA VIOLACEA LINDL.
THE VIOLET SOBRALIA
SOBRALIA. Sepala subaequalia, erecta, basi connata. Petala sepalis subsimilia v. latiora magisque colorata. Labellum a basi columnae erectum; lobi laterales columnam arcte amplectentes v. involventes, eique intedrum basi adnati ; lamina e sepalis breviter exserta, patens, concava, undulata v. fimbriata, indivisa v. biloba ; facie laevis v. bilamellata v. lamellato-cristata. Columna elongata, subincurva, semiteres, angulis acutiusculis v. anguste alatis, apoda ; stigma sub rostello brevi latum ; clinandrium breviter v. longiuscule trilobum. Anthera lobo postico affiixa, incumbens, discrete bilocularis ; pollinia saepius in quoque loculo 4, pulvereo-granulosa, appendicula copiosa laxe granulosa connexa, a rostello libera. Capsula oblonga v. elongata, rigida v. carnosa, erostris.
Herbae terrestres, elatae, foliosae, non tuberosae. Folia dissita, coriacea, plicato-venosa, in vagina sessilia. Flores magni, in racemis terminalibus axillaribusque pauci, interdum ad florem unicum reducti. Bractae appressae, saepe rigide paleaceae, interdum plures imbricatae.
Species ad 30, Andium
Americae tropicae a Peruvia usque ad Mexicum necnon Guianam incolae.
Sobralia RUIZ
et PAVON. Podr. Fl. Peruv. et Chil., p. 120,
t. 26. - BENTHAM et HOOK.
F. Gen. Plant., III, p. 590.
Sobralia violacea. Glabra,
foliorum vagina rugoso-scabra lamina ovali acuminata superiore flore
longiore, strobilo sessili plurifloro, labello maximo explanato laevi.
Sobralia violacea, LINDEN
ex LINDL. Orch. Linden. (1846), p. 26.
- LINDL., Fol. Orch., Sobral., p. 8.
Sobralia violacea was originally described by Dr. Lindley in his Orchidaceae Lindenianae, in 1846, from Mr. Linden's collections. It is said to be abundant in the high regions of the province of Merida, at the elevation of 6,000 to 8,000 feet, flowring in July. There are two numbers, 617, with pale violet flowers, and 615, flowers white with a yellow crest. Mr. Lindley remarks : "The two numbers are supposed by Mr. Linden himself to represent two varieties. The white kind has, however, narrower, leaves than the other ; but whether that difference is connected with others in the fructification, the impossibility of examining the dried flowers prevent my ascertaining." In his Folia Orchidacea LINDLEY added the locality "Santa Martha, Purdie," and remarked : "This resembles S. decora, but is much stronger, has larger flowers, with imbricated somewhat leafy bracts, and a convolute lip, not unlike that of a Cattleya." He also states that the white variety flowered with Mr. RUCKER in July, 1847, from a specimen collected by WAGENER at Merida, at 5,000 feet elevation. A note in his Herbarium states that Mr. RUCKER's plant was received from Mr. Linden in 1844. The speices was also collected by MORITZ, at Merida, who records the colours as "alba et violacea," by WEIR, on hills near Bucaramanga, at 7,000 feet elevation ; and by JERVISE, at Antioquia. Also what appears to be the same species was collected in Peru, by MATTHEWS, and at Banos, in Bolivia, at 6,000-7,000 feet elevation, by PEARCE. PURDIE, who met with it in the mountains of Maracaybo, state : "This beautiful and fragrant plant has numerous varities of colours on different plants, varying from pure white to crimson and even purple." Thus we have evidence that the species is both variable and widely diffused.
We have seen the white form was introduced and flowered in this country as long ago as 1847, and it may be added that what in all probability was the violet one flowered at Kew in 1864. Neither of them, however, ever appear to have been common in gardens.
The annexed plate was prepared from a plant which flowered with Messrs. LINDEN, L'HORTICULTURE INTERNATIONALE, Brussels, duiring last summer. So far as I can ascertain, it belongs to the same species, and is the first figure of the species which has appareared.
source de l'illustration : Lindenia
The Sobralias are the glory of tropical America, as various travellers have observed, though owing to the their fugitive flowers, and the large size of many of the species, they have not been so popular as many other genera. In their native homes, where they grow in masses like reeds, producing flowers which rival the Cattleyas in brilliancy of coulour, they must form a gorgeous spectacle, and even in our hothouses some of them are exceedingly ornamental and floriferous.
R. A. ROLFE"
numérisation de l'illustration et du texte d'accompagnement publié dans Lindenia : gracieuseté de Peter Fowler, Alton, UK / Thanks !
