THUNIA. 297 



8. Wardli. — A handsome plant, and one which produces a 

 great quantity of flowers on a spike ; the sepals and petals are 

 golden orange and yellow, and rich dark purple at the base of 

 the lip. Native of Guatemala. 



Thunia. 



A small genus of Asiatic Orchids, which are mostly in- 

 cluded with Phajus, from which genus they are, however, 

 readily distinguished by their growth, and by several other 

 differences of a botanical character. They are characterised 

 by their terete stems, which grow in fascicles, by their deci- 

 duous leaves, and by their terminal clusters of flowers. The 

 plants belonging to this genus should be grown in the East 

 Indian house, and treated liberally to water ; they will grow 

 upon blocks, but pot culture is best. In potting Thunias, the 

 drainage provided should be perfect, and the material should 

 be rough peat and sphagnum in about equal parts. After the 

 flowers are past and the leaves fallen, only just sufficient 

 water should be given to keep them from shrivelling, and they 

 should be removed to a lower temperature. Thunias may be 

 propagated by division, and also by cutting up the old pseudo- 

 bulbs into pieces about six inches long, and inserted in a pot in 

 the mme manner as ordinary cuttings. This latter operation 

 should be efi'ected just when the young growths are complete. 



T. alba. — The stems of this plant are round, and usually 

 about two feet high, clothed with leaves from the base 

 upwards ; leaves clasping the stem at the base, some six or 

 eight inches long and glaucous ; these fall during the resting 

 season, lea^dng the slender terete stems naked. The flowers 

 are produced on a short terminal raceme just as growth is 

 finished ; the sepals and petals are pure white ; lip white, 

 beautifully pencilled along the centre with purple and lilac. 



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