Platb XIV. 



SACCOLABIUM VIOLACEUM. 



A uoblo epiphyte, with creel leaf) stem* furnished with numerous distichous rtmp^liaped drooping lcaTCs,whh li are 

 channelled and ribbed, and obliqndj out awny at the end so ^ thcrr t<> form two unequal rounded lobe* Tlio 

 flowers grow in long pcnduloiu raceme*, which imic from the leaf axils: tiny are rcry numerous and form n 

 closely-crowded spike. The sepals are bluntly ovate oblong, spreading and somewhat incurred; the petals 

 are gomewhut smaller, hut of nearly the same form, hmh bchii* white blotched conspicuously with wsy-violet. 

 The lip is oblong-ajriculate, entirely of a violet-rose, the sides a litth* infWiitl, and tin- surface marked with 

 five thick derated vein* The spur i> pubescent in the inside. 



SArcoLARTUM viola* it w, fJud/ty Jf£ 



Vanim noLACBA, Botanical firytWtf, 1841, Afiw, 32; 1847, t, 30. 



This magnificent plant is a native of the Philippine Islands, and was introduced from Manilla by Jin 

 Cuming to tlic nursery of Messrs. Loddigca upwards of twenty years since. In 18W, the editor of the 

 Botanical Setter published a drawing token from a plant " which Dowered in great perfection with Messrs, 

 Loddigcs" That drawing represents a spike with fifteen flowers. How much it hits improved under good 

 cultivation, our own figure, which is no exaggerated picture, will show- It stands indeed in the first rank 

 amongst Orchids. 



The genus Saccolabium includes some of the finest epiphyte? in cultivation ; and the species now figured 

 not only takes a high nmk on the ground of its beauty, but will be found additionally valuable on account of 

 iis property of producing its charming flower-spikes in the dull winter months the more so as there arc no 

 other tfood Saccolabium which flower at that period. 



Our drawing was executed from a well-grown plan! in the line collection of E. Wright, Esq., Gravelly 

 Hill. Birmingham, which plant has this year produced two noble flowering-spikes, under the judicious 

 management of Mr. 3IodgC3, the gardener, who is a capital Orcliid-growcr. Wo arc extremely glad of the 

 opportunity of figuring the plant from w> perfect a specimen, for many growers of Orchids have imagined it to 

 be a species not worth cultivating, on account of the supposed shortness of its flower-spikes. Our present illus- 

 tration will, wc trust* dispel this illusion. AVc have indeed little doubt that as the plant becomes stronger, it 

 will blossom even liner still. Since the accompanying figure has been prepared, wc have received other speci- 



s, equally well-grown, from the collection of J- A. Turner, Esq., of Pendclburv, near Manchester; and 



mens. 



we hare ourselves this season flowered several fine plants, which were imported by us only eighteen months 

 ago, and some of them have produced as many as fifty flowers on the spike. 



This species had continued very rare in gardens until the importation just adverted to was secured. The 

 plants then received were obtained under the name of Vanda viotacea, fay which it had been generally known, 

 hut Dr. Lindley— the greatest living authority on Orchids— has determined that U belongs to SaccohWum, 

 and calls it & violacmm, a name which we have much pleasure in circulating amongst Orchid-growera. The 

 plant ifl quite distinct from all the oilier species which we have seen. Its leaves aic broader and of a stouter 

 substance, more erect, and marked with several prominent veins, features which afford well-marked dtatinc- 

 lire character*. Another difference is, that the flowers arc larger than in the other kind* 



Satcotabitm wlacetim. then, is a compact evergreen epiphyte, the stems of which are clothed with leaves 

 a fool or more in length, and two inches in breadth. The largest plant we have seen is a foot in height. 



