Tab. 6913. 



HEDYCHIUM Gardnkrianttm. 



Native of the Himalaya. 



Nat. Ord. Scitamine.^. — Tribe Zingybebe.e. 

 Genus Hedychium, Kaenig ; {Benth. et Hook.f. Gen. PL vol. iii. p. 642.) 



Hedychium Gardneriannm ; elatum, robu8tum, glabrum, caulibus fastigiatis, 

 foliis ellipticis v. elliptico-oblongis acuminatis subtus furfuraceo-glauris 

 bracteis convolutis 1-2-floris, floribus aureis, labello suborbiculato v. sub- 

 quadrato integro v. 2-lobo, filamento robusto longissirne porrecto, fructibus 

 aurantiaco-coccineis. 



H. Gardneriannm, Roscoe Monandr. PL t. 62 ; Pot. Reg. t. 774 j Reichb. Ic. Exot. 



t. 183; Wall, in Honk. Kew Journ. vol. v. (1853), p. 369 ; Masters in Gard . 



Chron. vol. iii. (1875), p. 461, figs. 92, 93. 

 H. speciosum, Wall, in Roxb. Fl. Ind. Ed. Carey and Wall. vol. i. p. 13, and 



Plant. As. Rar. vol. iii. p. 51, t. 285 ; Walt Cat. Herb. No. 6550. 



H. aurantiacum, Wall. Cat. Herb. No. 6551. 



This very striking plant was introduced about the year 

 1823 from India, where it was discovered by Wallich in Nepal, 

 in the Valley of Katmandoo. It has subsequently been 

 gathered in the Sikkim Himalaya by myself at elevations 

 of 4000 to 7000 feet, and in the Khasia Mountains at about 

 the same altitude. Dr. Wallich, in a valuable monograph 

 of the genus quoted above, justly commends it to cultivators 

 in the following terms : — " This is the queen of the genus, 

 if not of the whole order, both as regards the general 

 aspect, the stature and the foliage, and the exquisite 

 elegance as well as fragrance of the ample inflorescence. 

 While I write this, several large patches of the typical form 

 are in full bloom at the Horticultural Society's Garden at 

 Chiswick, thriving luxuriantly in a temperate glass-hodse, 

 without any extraordinary supply of water ; and last year 

 I saw it in equal perfection. What can be the reason 

 that a plant so charming and desirable as this is not more 

 frequently seen in the stoves of the great and wealthy ? 

 Surely there exists not an Orchidea which exceeds it in 

 any respect, especially in facility of cultivation." It com- 

 memorates in its specific name one of Dr. Wallich's most 



jan. 1st, 1887. 



