A 



Plate VIII. 



DENDROBIUM BIGIBBUM. 



An ere* throwing, and wry distinct epiphyte, producing long narrow stems, which are fusiform or tapering to (he 

 bate* and bear towards the top about five or six oblong lanceolate leaves. The racemes are erect* produced from 

 the upjMT node* of tin- stem, and support about six or eight rich rosy-purple flowers, of which the sepal* Ate 

 oblong and actlte, the lateral CHIC* produced into n spnr; the petals ;iiv roundish, and more than t wire the 

 breadth of tho sepals; and the lip i* moveable, threedotad. with rounded lobe*, the centra) one being darkest, 

 rthile, towards the base which U gibbon*, are three roiflcd notched line* or CTC$U. The >pur of tin* sepaRand 

 the gibbous base of the lip, together prodnrr a kind of double chin to the flower, 



0*isi>nomuM mOIBBUH, IJmV'f* l'*tjhf,\\* Fl&axr ftmfrjt, iii. 25, fig. 245 \ Wrilptr* Annnhj* Itotmuces Sj&tmatfcfr 

 fl\ 30*. 



This charming plant was described in 1 852 by ])r. Umlley, from weak specimens which (lowered with the 

 Messrs. Loddhrra. It is a native of the north-west, or tropical coast of New Holland; and though somewhat 

 ire in it* habit, i* very distinct in appearance, and rather attractive, not only on account of the charm- 

 ing colour of ita flower?, but also from their form; the breadth of the petals and their spreading direction, 

 produce indeed a considerable resemblance in outline to those of a Ph'il&nopti** Br. Lindley points out 

 that llie *|>ccics is botanically nearly allied to Z>. Kiw/imtttm and />. e!ongatum f hut, he adds, it is much 

 handsomer. 



Our plate of this Australasian species was taken from a plant in the line collection of S, Itucker, Esq., 

 of Wandsworth, in which it has been cultivated for a number of years, l>eing noted as one of the rarest 

 Orchids it include?. There arc two or three varieties in this collection, the one now figured being (he 

 best of them. 



Dendrohhtms decidedly rank amongst the mosl beautiful members of the Orchid family, being free- 

 flowering as well us showy, and affording much variety of colour. They an*, many of them, large-growing as 

 well as graceful iu habit, and at! the more valuable as, by having u good collection of them, the Orcbid- 

 liousc may be kept gay all the year round. They are, moreover, very accommodating, for, after they have 

 completed their growth, their (lowering can be retarded by putting them into a cooler house, and keeping 

 thetu there until they are required for blooming, when, of course, they should be returned to a warmer 

 position. 



Bcttdrobitwi bigibbttm \$ an upright-growing evergreen plant of dwarfish habit, with light-green foliage. 

 It generally (towers from the side of the stem, but sometimes from the top; and on the old bulbs the spike? 

 are often nine inches in length- It sometimes produces (lower-spikes from the same bulbs for several years 

 in succession, a circumstance which docs not frequently occur in this class of plants, though several specie* 

 will tlower from two- and lhree-year-ohl bulbs. 



This plant will thrive either in n basket or in a pot. Mr. Pilchcr, who has charge of Mr. Rocker's 

 plants, has cultivated it successfully for several year*, and has found that it succeeds well in the same house 

 in which lie grows Gtltieytt* and LaUas, though it will thrive even in a cooler house than then. He pots 

 his planta in fibrous peat and sphagnum inos*, giving jrood drainage, and allowing a plentiful supply of 

 water during the growing season. In order to keep the plants in a healthy condition, it is found requi- 

 re to syringe the foliage either in the morning or afternoon; if it is allowed to get into a shrivelled state 

 it will be a long time recovering, 

 SECOND SEUIES. 



