PHAL^NOPSIS. 269 



four or five feet in height, producing its long upright 

 spikes of flowers in March, April, and May, and continuing 

 to flower for six weeks. The blossoms are orange yellow in 

 colour, or bufi" tinged with purple. It makes a noble plant 

 for winter blooming, and also for exhibition purposes, if 

 retarded as directed for P. grandifoliiis. For further notice 

 of these plants, see chapter on Preparing Orchids for Tra- 

 velhng to Exhibitions. 



Phaljenopsis. 



A genus containing comparatively few species, and these of 

 not very large growth, but some of them producing magnificent 

 flowers, which last long in beauty. Within the last few years 

 has been added to it one of the finest of all Orchids — viz., 

 P. Schillenana, which has really beautifully variegated foliage, 

 as well as wonderfully distinct and fine flowers. The known 

 species are all compact handsome plants, requiring very little 

 room, and are worth a place in every collection. They produce 

 thick fleshy leaves, from the axils of which the spikes of 

 charming flowers ascend. The flowers themselves are very 

 freely produced, and last a long time ; indeed, they may be 

 bad in bloom all the year round. I have seen P. grandifiora 

 blooming for six months, and have exhibited the same plant 

 for seven years at six exhibitions during each year, sometimes 

 with as many as from seventy to eighty flowers expanded on 

 it at one time. 



Some of the species of Phalanopsis now in cultivation 

 comprise some of the finest Orchids yet introduced to this 

 country, and no collection, however small, should be without 

 adequate representatives of these lovely plants, which are 

 compact in habit and growth, have beautiful flowers and 

 handsome evergreen foliage ; free-flowering, and, as I have 

 just pointed out, continue a long time in perfection — qualities 



