Plate XXI. 



AKUIDKS WILLIAMSII. 



^rtdng* M the bo* of the Up; the -..,.,1, „,,,, ,„,,,,, .,,,. oWong oblU8e . ,,„. , „,, ^ J 



AKBDMSS WlLUAMMl. //, II'. 





"" A * a " which wc now ,1 ~" r " » one which recommends itself to Ihc notice of cultivators by its 

 broad and massive foliage, no less than by the greal length of its denadyUoomed cylindrical flowcMpikea, 

 which, for their beauty and effectiveness, arc remarkable oven in ihc noble genu, to which ii belong*,- 

 a genua winch comprises withoul doubt some of the Bncst Orchids which arc know,,. 



The plant, which a a native of India, certainly produce, the finest flower-spikes yet -eon amongst the 

 species of brides, &m spikes being from two u. three feet in length, and bulky in proportion. Our 

 drawing was lake, from a plant in the collection of C. B. Warner, kg,, of Stratford Green, with whom it 

 lias flowered for several years, continning lo present the eamc remarkable features. We have known the 

 plant for the last ten year, or more. It was first lowered by Mr. Warner before his collection was 

 removed from Qoddesdon, and was shown both in the gardens of the Horticultural Society ul Chiswick, and 

 in those of the Boyal Botanic Society in the Regent's Park, during three exhibition seasons; and so distinct 

 was it considered, that on these occ - dcridea /•/,/,%•//. to which it is most nearly allied, was found to 

 lie admissible in the same group of plants. 



The plant was imported under the name of A. Fteldingii by M< sis. \ eitch, through their collecior 

 -Mr. Thomas Lobb, and from this source Mr. Warner obtained it. It was a single plant, selected fi i 

 amongst a large number, imported at the same time; and we hare not heard of another like it, but believe 

 it to be the only one in the country. The foliage, which is broad, long, and drooping, ami of a thick 

 texture, is distinct from thai of any Other deridet in cultivation, so much so indeed, that any one with a 

 knowledge of the plant might at once recognize it by the leaf alone. We suspect it may Ik- a seedling 

 produced in it- native country, from A. Fiddmgiii and we have no doubt that there are many fine wild 

 forma to be found which have not as yet reached our collections. It is seldom indeed that two plants of the 

 same Orchid, quite identical, are found, unless 1 hey have been taken from the same parent, and hence ii may 

 be inferred that in their native country, either through the agency of insects, or by their natural habits, they 

 yield seminal varieties. 



If this be so, wc may expect many more tine forms to be from time lo time added to our collections. 

 Collectors should, however, Contrive to SCO them when they arc in bloom, so as to be able to select llie best and 

 most distinct. We an 1 , indeed, inclined to doubt if there arc any Orchids that do not sport when obtained 

 from seed. According to our own experience, and wc have watched the importations of plants for many 

 years, there are none of the species of Aeridet which are not worth growing, which is more than can be 

 aiid of many other genera of Orchids, that are only interesting to the botanist ; still as the taste for these 

 line flowers increases, we hope that liner and liner species or varieties than we already possess will be im- 

 ported in order to sustain it, That the taste is increasing i> certain, for Orchid growers are more numerous 

 now than they were live or six years since: and now thai so many of our finest Orchid* have been proved 





