129 



VANDAS. 



(Plate 113.) 



The subjects of our present illustration belong to a genus of well- 

 known (Jrcliids. Vanda suavis, tricolor, teres, casrulea, &c., have 

 long ranked amongst the most beautiful of that family, and there 

 is little doubt that the two varieties now figured will be e(;[ually 

 prized as they become known. It is to the Messrs. Ivollisson 

 and Sons, of Tooting, that we are indebted for the opportunity of 

 figuring these two varieties of V. tricolor, which appear to be 

 distinct from any we have hitherto possessed. Unfortunately the 

 size of our page does not allow us to do justice to these noble 

 plants, as we can only give a few tlowers on each spike of bloom ; 

 we hope, however, our readers will remember that an ordina*-y 

 "spike" of bloom consists of from 10 to 15 flowers, and that 

 strong plants will frequently produce three and four such spikes ; 

 in that state they are truly grand objects. They are, moreover, 

 so highly scented as to render them worthy of cultivation for that 

 property alone. 



The two beautiful varieties of this genus now under notice 

 were sent to Messrs. W. llollisson & Sons by their collector, 

 Mr. J. Henshall, during his researches in the western parts of 

 Java. Mr. Henshall, in his notes, states that the section to 

 which V. suavis, tricolor, and insignis belong is seldom found 

 growing on any other trees except the old and neglected Coffee 

 trees of the northern valleys in the districts of Tugu, Blaboer, 

 Tapost, and Chiseroa, at an elevation seldom below 2600 feet 

 above the level of the sea, with a temperature ranging from 55° 

 to 76° Fahr. These valleys are formed by the central range of 

 mountains which run through Java and almost parallel with the 

 equator. It is remarkable that the southern valleys produce but 

 few Vandas, Dendrobiums, Coelogynes, or Saccolabiums ; while 

 Phalaenopsis granditlora grows in profusion. On the other hand, 

 the northern valleys produce almost every species of Orchid that 

 is indigenous to Java, excepting Phalaenopsis grandiflora, which 

 is rare to meet with. 



Many of the Orchids are thought difficult to cultivate ; such is 

 not, however, the case with the Vandas. Under favourable cir- 

 cumstances they are fast and strong-growing plants. The Vanda, 

 like most of the East Indian Orchids, delights in a moist shady 

 temperature of from 70° to 85° during its season of growth, 

 which for ordinary purposes should commence in May (by 

 varying this season, however, they may be had in bloom at the 

 will of the cultivator) ; in four months they will have made suf- 

 ficient growth for one season, the object should then be to get it 

 well matured, for unless attention is paid to this particular point, 



NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXV. K, 



