EPIDENDRUM. 185 



small- growing and small- flowered kinds are, however, sweet- 

 scented. Growers of Orchids have been more deceived in 

 buying Ejndendrums than any other group of these plants. 

 The bulbs of many kinds are so nearly alike that it is very 

 difficult to tell what they really are until they flower, and 

 they often require to be kept several years before this occurs ; 

 and then, instead of something good, they produce frequently 

 only dingy green flowers about the same colour as the leaves. 

 Some of these insignificantflowers are nevertheless very fragrant, 

 and will perfume the whole house in which they are grown. 

 There are, however, some beautiful species among them, the 

 flowers of which are very distinct in colour. The following 

 comprise all the best sorts that I know. They are all ever- 

 green, and compact in their habit, except E. cinnabarinum, 

 E. crassifoUuni, E. rkizopliorum, and a few others, which 

 are tall-growing, with long slender stems, clothed with small 

 leaves from top to bottom. The other sorts have short round 

 pseudobulbs, with long narrow leaves, except E. aurantiacum, 

 E. hicornutum, and E. Stamfordianuyn, which grow more in 

 the way of the Cattleyas, with upright bulbs, having two or 

 three short leaves on the top. They all produce their flowers 

 from the top of the stem or bulb, except E. Stamfordianum ^ 

 in which they rise from the base. 



These plants will all do in the Mexican house, and may be 

 grown on blocks of wood ; but pot culture is the best for the 

 majority of the species ; the drainage must be perfect, and 

 sphagnum moss and peat should be used in about equal 

 parts. They require a season of rest, with the same treatment 

 as the Cattleyas, excepting that they need less heat. They 

 are propagated by dividing the plants, as described in the 

 remarks on Propagation. 



E. alatuni majus. — A pretty species from Mexico. Its 

 flowers are produced on spikes in June or July, and are pale 



