Plate III. 



VANDA ENSIGN IS. 



An epiphyte, with on creel stem, throwing out stout fleshy roots and bearing two rank?; of rigid channeled strap* 

 diaped leaves, which nn* unequally cut awny nt the ti|»s t The flowery which have ^ dighl but agreeable 

 fragrance, are borne nbout <<i*;M <>r ten together in axillui-y mctfuics, winch are about equal t» ib. haw^ 

 in length; tiny are two ami a linlf inches in diameter. Tin* ^i«iK and \»*u\U are oblong <>1>«*vac<^ (hill yellow, 

 blotched with brawn. The lip is white and marked with rich crimson ^miks at the base, but of a pale rosj 

 vioht in front, its lateral lobes small ascendant and blmtfuh, it* middle lobo dilated roundish and deeply 

 juried in front, the base depressed into nn obconical *pur, 



Vaota iNSKiNis, Blttme; Zfaftfy, fn Paxtcn's Flov+r Oard^t 42, with moodent* 



Tliis beautiful plants which is a native of Java, ami was imported to this country, some years ago, 

 by Messrs. Itollisson, of Tooting, and Messrs. Vcitcb mid Son, of Exeter, was firsl flowered, about ten yews 

 since, hy J. Knowles, Esq., of Manchester, from whom ilic plant wag purchased by "\\\ Turner, Esq., of 

 the same place- It is from this plant, the name of which has been certified by Dr. Lindley, the highest 

 authority on the subject, that our figure has been derived There are several varieties of llic species which 

 have been flowered hy different cultivators pince that which wc now figure first produced its flowers with 

 Mr. Knowlcs, but none are so fine as this, the original form. Moreover, many plants grown for Vmufa 

 imit/nh have turned out to be Vanda tricolor, and hence, as the true kind is not very familiar to culti- 

 vator?, the figure has been prcjiarcd, in order that so fine and beautiful a plant may not remain longer un- 

 known amongst us for want of an accessible illustration. 



Vanda insignia is a free-flowering plant, frequently producing two or three spikes of flowers al a time, 

 opening several blossoms together, and often blooming three times in a year; in fact; when the phtnU are 

 strong, they are seldom out of bloom. The Dowers will continue in perfection for six weeks or more, if 

 lliey arc put in a cool house, and kept dry. The plant i* of handsome growth, and possesses every good 

 quality that such a plant can have, namely, A graceful habit, rich evergreen regularly -curved foliage, and 

 showy sweet-scented flowers; besides which, it is of remarkably free growth, and not expensive. It attains 

 from two to five feet in height, and is clothed with leaves which grow out on opposite sides all up the stem, 

 and measure about eighteen inches in length. The fine drooping spikes arc produced from the axils of the 

 leaves, and each bear from eight to a dozen (lowers. The sepals and petals are pale yellow, ^rolled with 

 reddish brown, and the lip is pale rosy purple. As already stated, it blossoms at different periods of 

 the year. 



On account of its free-flowering handsome style of growth, and its long duration, it makes a fine 

 exhibition plant, and it is, moreover, a capital plant to travel when the Bowers are properly packed* This 

 should bo done by placing a stick to each spike, the slick being covered with wadding interposed between 

 il and the flowers, but so placed as not to adhere to the front of the blossoms. The smooth side of the 

 wadding, moreover, is to be placed next the flowcis ; and the blossoms should always be made to hang do* a- 

 wards instead of standing upwards, as they travel much better in this position ; indeed, if they are tied in an 

 upright position, the labcllum or lip of the flower is very apt to become broken. 



In res|>cct to treatment* Vanda intigm requires the heal of the " East-India House," the plant being 

 a native of Java, where the temperature is very high. Ft is fonnd growing on the branches of trees in 

 moist shady places, and, in order to grow it to anything like perfection! the natural climate ought to be 



