23 



SCHOMBURGKIA crispa. 



Crisp-Jiowered Schomburgkia. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDBIA. 

 Nat, ord. Orchidace^. § Epidendre.e. 



SCHOMBURGKIA, Lindl. Sertum Orchidaceum, t. x. Sepala et 

 petala conformia, patentia, omnino libera, basi seqnalia. Labellum difForme, 

 membranaceum, trilobum, semicucuUatum, basi cum margine columnEe con- 

 natum, supra basin tumidum (intrusum) : venis lamellatis. Columna alata. 



Pollinia octo. Rhizoma repens, nudum, anmdatum, pseudohulhigerum. 



Pseudobulbi magni, elongati, 2-^-phylli. Folia coriacea. Scapi terminales 

 vaginati. Bractese magnce, sicccB, spathacece. Flores speciosi, 7-acemosi, con- 

 gesti. 



S. crispa, Lindl. in Serf. Orchid, t. 10. 



This fine genus is remarkable for the large size of its 

 pseudo-bulbs, which are occasionally as much as two feet long. 

 It differs from Epidendrum and its allies in having eight 

 pollen-masses, and evidently constitutes an extremely well 

 marked group. But its species have been little examined 

 except in a dried state, for which their fleshiness renders them 

 ill-suited, and hence a difl[iculty in determining their true 

 limits. It is hoped that the enumeration, at the end of this 

 article, will render their distinctions clearer. 



For the opportunity of figuring this we are indebted to 

 Mrs. Marryat, who received it from Mr. Schomburgk himself. 

 Its yellow-brown flowers distinguish it from all the others. 



In cultivation it demands the same treatment as many of 

 the genus Cattleya. It may either be potted in turfy peat in 

 the usual way, or it may be tied to a block of wood (with a 

 little sphagnum to retain moisture) and suspended to a rafter 

 in a stove. In any case, care should be taken not to water 

 over head when the plant is in a growing state, otherwise the 

 glutinous substance on the scales which surround the young 

 shoots will retain the water and cause them to damp off. In 

 summer the plant should be slightly shaded, and the house 

 kept as moist as possible at a temperature of 80° by day, and 

 about 68° at night. In winter, when little water is required, 

 the temperature need not be raised above 56° by artificial 

 means. 



Fig. 1. represents the lip ; 2. the column seen in profile. 



