282 ORCHID- geower's manual. 



R. coccinea. — This is a somewhat scandent straggling 

 plant, often twelve feet or more in height, with long stems 

 furnished with leaves on either side ; the latter are about five 

 inches long. The flowers are produced from the axils of the 

 leaves, on long branching panicles ; flowers are two inches in 

 diameter, dorsal, sepal, and petals narrow ; ground colour deep 

 red, mottled with pale orange ; lower sepals broad, spathulate, 

 and deep scarlet ; lip small, the front and side lobes being deep 

 crimson ; throat white. This plant requires to be so placed as 

 to be well exposed to sunlight, which is the only sure way of 

 inducing it to bloom ; it is indeed a shy bloomer, which 

 doubtless accounts for it not being much cultivated. By 

 letting it grow up the roof, where it gets plenty of light and 

 sun, it will, however, most likely flower when sufficiently 

 strong for that purpose. I have seen it do well on a large 

 block suspended from the roof, and thus gi'own have known 

 it to produce as many as five spikes at one time. When well 

 bloomed it is well worth all the care that is bestowed upon 

 it, for it is really a superb and showy plant. During the 

 summer it should be treated to a liberal supply of heat and 

 moisture, as from March to October is the time it is in 

 vigorous gi'owth. While resting in winter, let it have but 

 little water — -just enough to keep it from shrivelling. The 

 most suitable material to pot it in is sphagnum moss, which, 

 as before remarked, should be kept moist during the growing 

 season. I have several times seen it blooming very freely 

 with Mr. Speed, gardener to his Grace the Duke of Devon- 

 shire, at Chatsworth, where it is grown in the large Palm 

 House. Native of Cochin China. 



B. Lowii. — This most remarkable and exceedingly rare 

 Orchid is a native of Borneo, where it grows on high trees, 

 in vei*y humid forests. It is very distinct in growth from 

 any other species, and is easily distinguished by its broad, 



