222 

 210 -TRINIDAD ORCHIDS- 



" GONGORAS. " 



Grisebach's Flora of the "West Indies records Gongora atropur- 

 ptirea, Hoolc, as indigenous to Trinidad. Hooker's Exotic Flora 

 relates that a plant Avas sent in 1825 to the Liverpool Botanic Garden 

 from Trinidad by Baron de Schach. The Kew List (1896) gives it as 

 a native of British Guiana. Dr. H. H. Rusby's late expedition to 

 the delta of the Orinoco found it fairly plentiful there, so that it will 

 probably be found in the greater part of the tropical regions of 

 South America on the Atlantic slope. It is a plant that flowers 

 freely every year at the gardens, growing iipon blocks of wood or bark 

 Avithout covering of any kind at the root. Gongoras, like several 

 other orchids, have when in good health two classes of roots. First 

 the main or clinging roots and secondly the upright or vertical. 

 These upright or vertical roots are found in Gongora, Coryanthes, 

 Catasetum and Epidendrum, and always commence growth during the 

 moist season, having the green and growing point exactly vertical. 

 On this point is to be seen in damp weather radiant globules of mois- 

 ture. In dry weather the green and growing point entirely disappears 

 by gradually tapering aAvay into a needle-shaped point when it becomes 

 covered Avith the Avhite covering common to the clinging roots and 

 becomes practically non-absorbent. 



These roots are similar to those exhibited by mangrove and other 

 SAvamp plants. If the surroundings to lagoon plants are examined 

 closely it will be found that, proceeding from the roots Avhich are beloAV 

 the surface of the mud or water, there are countless thousands of tips 

 Avhich are exactly perpendicular. That these roots perform some 

 function, important both to orchids and to mangroves, &c., is clearly 

 apparent, as where they are most abundant the plant and the tree 

 is most vigorous and in the most robust health. But what that func- 

 tion is exactly, is not yet clear to us, but the feature is such a notable 

 one that it is fully deserving of further close enquiry. 



Beside Gongora atrojnirpurea we have Gongora maciilata, Lindhj, 

 Avhich is given by some as a synonym of Gongora qiiinqiienervis, 

 Ruiz and Pavon. This is a much prettier orchid from a florist's point 

 of vieAv than the first mentioned, and flowers more freely. 



Besides these, Ave have another Gongora Avhich gives a straAV- 

 Avhite floAver, and is distinguished by lighter coloured pseudo-bulbs 

 but for the present Ave place this Avith the last named as a variety. 

 Whether the tAvo latter are deserving of specific distinction is a matter 



