45 



NOTES ON SOBRALIA. 



Tins terrestrial genus of Orchids, of which there are at present 

 many species in cuhivation, is one of the most distinct in habit, and 

 has a widely different aspect from the usual typical forms which are 

 characteristic of tliis superb family of the Vegetable Kingdom. They 

 are without pseudo-bulbs, having erect reed-like stems, varying from 

 one to six or seven feet high, with grassy plaited evergreen leaves, 

 some of them bearing the most exquisitely-beautiful flowers, of which 

 S. macrantha is one of the best ; it is a plant that no collection should 

 be without (where hothouse plants are cultivated), as it is a free grow- 

 ing kind, producing flowers from May until October. There are two 

 varieties of it cultivated : one has slender green stems five or six feet 

 long, and flowers about four or five inches across ; the other has stems 

 about three feet long, of a darkish hue, deep green leaves, and flowers 

 six to eight inches across. This latter is marked in catalogues as 

 " IMacrantha splendens." ■ INIost of the others have small flowers com- 

 pared with this ; but where there is room they may be grown, as they 

 are interesting, and help to make variety. The geographical range of 

 all the known kinds is tropical America. In cultivation, they require 

 to be kept in what is termed a Mexican house, or in any ordinary 

 plant-stove, where there is not an excessive degree of heat, they will 

 grow and flower if kept on logs of wood ; but it is far preferable to treat 

 them as. pot plants, for which they seem naturally adapted, potting 

 them in a rough mixture of fibry peat, turfy loam, half decayed leaves, 

 and gritty sand, with sufficient broken potsherds to ensure porosity. 

 They are moist loving plants, and should be freely supplied with water 

 while growing ; syringing over head is indispensable once or twice a day 

 when the thermometer exceeds 55°, as it will be found the best method 

 of keeping down the thrips, which are troublesome to these plants, 

 especially if kept too hot and dry. The flowers are produced in spathas, 

 one at a time, on the apices of the stems, remaining m perfection two, 

 or at most three, days. They are developed in succession, six or seven 

 being produced from each spatha. Wlien the flowering season is past, 

 cut all the stems down that have flowered ; it will strengthen the plant, 

 and impart vigour to those that are progressing, as those of S. macrantha 

 only flower one season. If the plants require potting, let that be per- 

 formed before they make much growth, observing to under-pot rather 

 than over-pot them, as they will be found to flower better when the 

 roots are a little confined. They are easily propagated by division of 

 the plant, taking pieces of not less than two or three stems each, or they 

 will be many years in forming a good specimen. The following are the 

 named species in cultivation, with their native habitats ; but th6re are_ 

 several others, recently introduced, that are to be found in collections : — 

 S. macrantha, Guatemala; S. liliastrum, Demerara and Brazil ; S. frag- 

 rans, New Grenada; S. sessilis, British Guiana; S. decora, Guatemala; 

 S. violacea. New Grenada ; S. chlorantha, Brazil ; S. carravata, Guate- 

 mala ; S. dichotoma, Mexico ; S. Galleottianum, Mexico. 



J. HOULSTON. 



