35 



ERIA ferruginea. 

 Rusty Eiia. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 



Nat. ord. Orchidace^, § MalaXide^;. 

 ERIA. Botanical Register, vol. W.fol. 904. 



^. ferruginea \ caulibus teretlbus articulatis vaginatis, foliis oblongis obtusis, 

 racemo erecto laterall multifloro basi squamato, bracteis ovatis acutis ovario 

 villosissimo brevioribus, labelli lobis lateralibus erectls truncatis intermedio 

 ovato serrato subplicato : disci cristis 4 dentatis intermediis carnosis incurvis. 



This very distinct species was imported from Calcutta 

 by Messrs. Loddiges, and flowered at Hackney in March, 

 1838. I have no information as to the part of India which 

 it inhabits. 



It is not handsome, but it is very distinct, has a particu- 

 larly deep green foliage, and the smooth delicate pink petals 

 form a striking contrast with the coarse green shaggy sepals. 

 The lip {fig. 1.) is most singularly crested, and looks more 

 like the edge of some cowrie shell than the petal of a flower. 



It is propagated like all other orchidaceous plants, 

 namely, by divisions of the rhizoma. The soil used in its 

 cultivation is turfy peat, well mixed with broken bricks ; 

 and the pot should have plenty of drainage. Its treatment 

 generally is similar to that which has been frequently re- 

 commended for plants of this description. The house in 

 which it is grown must be well shaded from bright sun- 

 shine in summer. 



