236 



The Dictionary of Gardening. 



CalancTrinia — vonUnued. 

 a li'rhfc sandy soil. C. umhp.llnin may bo sown in a pan, 

 placed in a cold fmno, in May <tr Jnno ; and when tlic 

 plants are larg-e enoujjfh to hanille, they shouhl be potted 

 off, or placed out in colonics where they are to bloom. 



C discolor (two-cohmred). fl, brisht rose, with a yellow tuft 

 of stamens in tlie centre, Uin. across: raceme Ions. July, 

 August. /. Heshy, obovate, a'tteniiated at the base, pale STecii 

 above, purple beneath. A. 1ft. to lU t. .Chili, 1834. (B. M. 3357.) 



C. grandxfiora (laVse-flowereil).* jl. rosy, about 2in. across; 

 calyx spotted ; raceme simple, loose. Summer. I. fleshy, rhom- 

 bniil, acute, petiolate. Stem suffruticose. h. 1ft. Chili, 1826. 

 {II. K. 1194.) 



C. Menziesii (Menzies').* fl. deep purple-crimson, from h\n. to 

 lin. across, terminal and axillary, solitary. June to September. 

 I. elongated, spathulate, nnich attenuated at the base. Stems 

 much brancheil. prostrate. California, 1831. SVN. C. speciosa. 

 See Fig. 315. (li. K. 1598.) 



C. nitida (shining). Jl. rose-coloured. al)Out 2in. across ; raceme 

 leafy, many-Howered. Summer. I. oblong-spathulate, sub-acute, 

 glabrous, attenuated at the base, lin. -to 2in. in length. A. 6in. 

 Chili, 1837. A very pretty hardy annual, forming a tuft from 4in. 

 to bin. across. 



C. speciosa (shuwy). A synonvm of C. Afenzieaii. 



Fn;. 316. CALANniiiNiA umbellata, sho>ving Flower and Habit. 



C. umbellata (umbellate).* Jl. of a dazzling magenta-crimson, 

 about ;us large as a sixpence ; corymb cymose, terminal, many- 

 flowered. Summer. L radiciU, linear, acute, pilose, h. bin. 

 Peru, 1826. A very charming half-hardy biennial. See Mg. 316. 

 (P. M. B. 12, 271.) 

 Other species occasionally met with are : compressa, micranttui, 



and procuiiihens; they are, however, inferior to those described 



above. 



CAXiANTHI! (from hdus, beautiful, and anthoSj a 

 flowerj, Okd. Orchidea\ Sec. Vand^. A very handsome 

 genus of stove terrestrial orchids. They may be cha- 

 racterised as robust-growing plants, producing- large, 

 broad, many-ribbed, or plaited leaves, which are, with one 

 or two exceptions, evergreen, and long spikes, bearing 

 many flowers, distinguished by their calcarate lip, which is 

 attached to the column, and by the eight thick, waxy pollen 

 masses adhering to a separate gland. Calanthes should 

 be special favourites with amateurs, as, in the first place, 

 they produce an abundance of showy flowers, which last a 

 long time in perfection ; and, secondly, because they are 

 so easily managed. In potting these plants, it will be 

 necessary to depart from the usual style of potting orchids, 

 and, instead of elevating them above the rim of the pot 

 upon a cone of peat and sphagnum, they must be kept 

 below the rim, as in potting ordinary plants. In place 

 of the usual soil and moss, these plants should have a 

 mixture of loam, leaf nioidd, and peat, broken up rough, 

 to w'hich may be added some silver sand and dried cow 

 manure. During the growing season, they require abundant 

 supply of water, and in winter even this element mxist be 

 administered freely to the evergreen kinds; whilst the 

 deciduous ones, on the contrary, enjoy a thorough rest after 



Calantlie — continued. 

 bliMiming. Good drainage is essential to all. Little more 

 need be said upon the cultivation of Calanthes <lnring 

 the summer months. When growing, they enjoy strong 

 heat and plenty of moisture ; but, wdien growtli is complete, 

 a cooler situation is most beneficial. They are subject to 

 the attacks of various insects, which must be continually 

 sear(died for, and, when found, destroyed ; for, if neglected 

 in tliis particular, the bold and handsome leaves will be 

 much disfigured, and rendered far from ornamental. Pro- 

 pagated by suckers and divisions. About forty species are 

 known, of which the following are a selection : 



C. curcullgoides (Curculigo-like). Ji. beautiful orange-yellow, 

 disposed in an erect spike. Summer and autumn. L large, ever- 

 green, plaited, h. 2ft. Malacca, 1844. (B. R. 33, 8.) 



C. DomlJiyi (Dominy's).* _^., sepals and pet;ds lilac; lip deep 

 purple. This fine hybrid is a cross between C. Masuca and C. 

 vcratrlfolia. (B. M. 5042.) 



C. furcata (forked). Jl. creamy white, very freely produced ; 

 spikes erect, 3ft. long. June to August. Luzon Lsles, 1836. An 

 excellent exhibition plant. 



C. Masuca (Masnca).* Jl., sepals and petals deep violet colour, 

 with an intense viulet-purple lip ; numerously produced on spikes 

 2ft. huig. Juneto August. India, 1838. (B. M.4541). The variety 

 ,7rn;i(/iyiora differs from the type in its greater size both of spike 

 and individual flower ; the gigantic spikes are from 5ft. to 4ft. 

 high, and continue blooming for three months. 



C. Petri (Peter Veitch's).* Jl, whitish-yellow. Said to be very 

 like C. veratri/ulia, but bearing leaves a little narrower, and a 

 system of five curious sulcate yellowish calli on the base of the lip, 

 without the single lamella and teeth which are proper to that 

 species. Polynesia, 1880. 



C. plelochroma (many- coloured). /. whitish, purplish, ochre, 

 orange. Japan, 1871. 



C. Regnieri (Regnier's). Jl,, sepals and petals white ; lip rosy- 

 pink ; middle lobe short, wedge-shaped, and emarginate. Pseudo- 

 bulbs jointed. Cochin China. J'auata is a flue variety, with the 

 base of the lip and column a warm crimsiui. 



C, Sieboldil (Sielmld's).* ft. yellow, large ; spikes erect, l. broad, 

 dark green, plaited, /i. 1ft. Japan. 1837. An elegant evergreen 

 dwarf-gr(»wiiig species. (R. H. 1855, 20.) 



C. Textorl (Textor's). Jl. creani-wliite, washed with violet on 

 the petals and column, as well as on the base of lip, where the 

 calli art! biiok-red, changing later on to ochre-colour, exi-epting 

 the white-lilac base of sepals and petals and the column ; lip very 

 narrow. Japan. 1877. 



Fig. 317. Single Flower of Calanthe Veitchil 



CVeitchii (Veitch's).* Jl. rich bright rose, with a white throat; 

 spikes often attaining a height of 3ft., and bearing an immense 

 quantity of flowers. Winter. I. large, plaited, light green, 

 deciduous. Pseudo-bulbs flask-shaped. This very beautiful 

 hybrid is the result of a cross between C. vc^fita and C. roaea 

 (Syn. Li mutodi's rosea). See Fig. 317. (B. M. 5375.) 



C. veratrifolia (Veratrum-leaved).* jl. pure white, except the 

 green tips of the sepals ami the golden papilhe on the disk of the 

 lahellum ; spikes 2ft. to 3ft. higli, freely produced on well-grnwn 

 plants. Rlay to July. I. 2ft. or more long, dark green, broad, 

 inanv-ribl>ed, with wavy margins. India, 1819. See Kig. 318. 

 (B. M. 2615.) 



