ON THE GENUS HEDYCHIUM. 21 



labello ovali subsessili integro vel bidentato, nunc subor- 

 biculato, stamine longissime porrecto. 



H. Gardneriauum, Wall. Ic. Bot. Reg. ix. n. 774 A et B. 

 Piosc. Monand. PL n. Q'2. 



H. speciosum, Wall, in Pioxh. Ltd. i. p. 13. PI. Asiat. Ear. 

 iii. p. 51. tab. 285. 



/3. labello suborbiculato unguiculato integro vel bilobo. — 

 Wall, et Cathcart, Ic. pict. 



y. labello subquadrato bilobo unguiculato. 



H. Roscoei, Wallich. 



H. aurantiacum, Wall. Cat. Herb. 6551. 



Wild on mountains, Sikkim, at 6000 feet elevation, Dr. 

 Hooker; and Kasia, Mrs. Mack and Mr. Griffith. Var. /3 in 

 Sikkim ; var. y in Nipal. 



This is the queen of the genus, if not of the whole order, both 

 as regards the general aspect, the stature and foliage, and the 

 exquisite elegance as well as fragrance of the ample inflorescence. 

 While I write this, several large patches of the typical form are 

 in full bloom at the Horticultural Society's Garden at Chiswick, 

 thriving luxuriantly in the open border of the iron conservatory, 

 without any extraordinary supply of water, and last year I saw 

 them in equal perfection. The Hon. W. F. Strang ways also 

 states that the species has lived out of doors in Dorsetshire for 

 three years, and flowers. What can be the reason that a plant 

 so charming and desirable as this, is not more frequently seen in 

 the stoves of the great and wealtliy ? Surely there exists not an 

 Orchidea which exceeds it in any respect, especially in facility of 

 cultivation. I regret to say the figure in my " Plantae Asiaticae 

 Rariores " does by no means justice to the plant, the original 

 drawing having been taken from the first specimen sent down to 

 me by post, from the Kasia range, by the late Mr. M. R. Smith, 

 nearly forty years ago. The magnificent series of specimens, 

 even as to colour, preserved by Drs. Hooker and Thomson, with 

 the fine drawings of the former and the excellent figure in Roscoe's 

 work, prove that my H. speciosum and my H. Gardnerianum are 

 identically one and the same species. I retain the latter name, 

 being that of a very valued and honoured friend, who, himself 

 ardently attached to flowers and gardening, has done a great deal 

 of service to the cause of botany in its most extended sense. 

 During a number of years in which the Hon. Edward Gardner 

 (son of the late distinguished Admiral Lord Gardner) lived in 

 Nipal, as the Hon. East India Company's resident at the Court 



