Zygopetalum Gautieri, _Lemaire_, _Illustration Horticole_, t. 535; _Williams_, _Orchid Grower’s Manual_, 5 ed., 311.
This genus of Orchids does not comprise so many species as many others, but among those which are known and introduced, are some which make very useful autumn and winter flowering subjects, and which are well adapted for decorating our stoves and Orchid houses. Amongst them occur some of the oldest of cultivated Orchids, such as are generally to be met with in good old-fashioned places. We remember to have seen plants of _Zygopetalum Mackayi_ and _Z. crinitum_ some thirty years ago, also of _Z. maxillare_—grand specimens with from seventy to a hundred flowers upon them, and a magnificent sight they were, with their numerous spikes hanging around the foliage, as represented in the plate, and being similar in colour.
The species which we now desire to bring to the notice of our readers, is a very lovely one, which has been sometimes considered as a variety of _Zygopetalum maxillare_, but the flowers are larger, and it not only blooms much earlier, but continues in blossom for several weeks. In addition to this, it is a much freer grower than _Z. maxillare_. We have had different plants in flower for several months, and then they seemed as though they would continue blooming much longer; in fact this species seems to flower whenever it makes its young growth—a peculiar feature which renders it the most useful of its class.
Our plate was prepared from a plant which bloomed in the fine collection of Mons. D. Massange, of Marche, in Belgium, under the care of Mr. Wilcke, who is one of the most successful continental growers of Orchids. We had the pleasure of seeing specimens from M. Massange’s grand collection, exhibited at the great show held at Brussels in July, 1880.
_Zygopetalum Gautieri_ is a dwarf growing kind, attaining a height of about twelve inches, and is provided with distinct plaited green foliage. The flowers are large, and borne several together on the spikes; the sepals and petals are green, blotched with purplish brown, while the lip is of purplish blue, edged with a lighter tint of the same colour.
There are several varieties of this species, varying from very pale violet to a rich purplish blue, the variety here figured being one of the darkest-coloured forms we have yet met with. The flowers are particularly showy, and last a long time in perfection.