‘The scape rises from between the two leaves, and is a foot long, 
bearing a lax slender graceful panicle of from 12-14 flowers. 
Sepals and petals spreading horizontally, purple-brown, yellowish 
at the apex, very acute. Zp with its base united to the lower 
part and decurrent with the long column, the sides embracing 
and including the latter, three-lobed, yellowish-white, delicately 
lined and veined with purple ; side lobes oblong, acute, reflexed ; 
middle lobe large, rotundate, waved at the margin. Column 
yellow, with blood-red spots, biaurite in front near the summit. 
Anther-case white, with crimson spots. WV. J. H. 
Cur. Epidendrum was the common name originally applied 
to the plants now called Epiphytal Orchids, of which twenty-five 
species are recorded to have been introduced into the gardens 
of this country previous to the beginning of the present century. 
A few were known in Millar’s time, for under the word Zpiden- 
drum, in his Dictionary, he states that these plants come from 
the West Indies, and that several kinds of soil had been tried 
for cultivating them, but without success; and he therefore 
considered it unnecessary to say more about them. There can 
be no doubt that the want of success in growing Orchids at that 
time was not entirely owing to improper soil, but rather to their 
not being placed in a suitable atmosphere. Even in our time, 
we remember seeing a very extensive collection of Brazilian 
Orchids potted in common soil, which in a short time all 
perished ; but when we also recollect that they were placed 
within a foot of a hot.brick flue, that the stunted appearance of 
the other plants in the house indicated a dry atmosphere, and 
that no shading from the sun was used, we cannot be surprised 
at the death of the “ pidendrums.” The name is now restricted 
to a genus which contains above 150 described species, the 
whole of which are natives of the West Indies and America, 
chiefly within or near the tropics. They vary much in size and 
aspect, some having showy flowers, while others are very incon- 
spicuous and only of interest to the botanist. The species 
figured grows and flowers freely in the tropical Orchid-house, 
attached to a block of wood suspended from the roof of the 
house ; it may also be grown in a shallow pot or pan, planted 
in turfy peat, which should be kept open with potsherds ; and, 
like other small Orchids, it should be placed near the glass, 
shading it during bright sunshine. J. S. 
Fig. 1. Column. 2. Labellum., 3. Pollen-masses :—magnified. 
