VANILLA. 309 



V. tricolor Dodgsoni. — A superb variety, named in honour 

 of a most enthusiastic cultivator of these plants, with whom 

 it originated. The flowers are large, and borne in great 

 numbers upon the spikes ; sepals and petals light amber- 

 colour, streaked and blotched with reddish brown and 

 margined with violet ; lip large, rich purplish violet, with a 

 few white blotches near the base. It is very highly- scented. 

 Native of the Indian Islands. 



V. tricolor insignis. — This plant must now take its place as 

 a variety of V. tricolor, since we have the true V. insignis at 

 last in our gardens ; it will not, however, be any the less 

 welcome to Orchid growers though it be but a variety of 

 V. tricolor, for it makes a handsome specimen ; sepals and 

 petals light yellow, spotted with crimson ; lip pale lilac. 

 It blooms at different times of the year, but generally in 

 spring and autumn, and continues in bloom for six weeks. 

 Native of Java. 



V. tricolor Riisselliana. — This beautiful variety is very 

 distinct both in habit of plant and flower. It has a peculiar 

 and gracefully pendulous style of growth, and is, at the same 

 time, very robust. The spikes are long, and the flowers very 

 bright in colour. It bloomed with Mr. Sorley, gardener to 

 J. Russell, Esq., of Falkirk, and is an extremely fine variety. 



Vanilla. 



This genus contains a few species only. They are all climb- 

 ing plants, with dark green terete stems, and oblong fleshy 

 leaves, while the flowers of most of the known species are 

 dull-coloured and uninteresting. Vanilla is, perhaps, the only 

 genus of Orchidaceous plants which is of commercial value. 

 The fruits of various speciesof this family produce the Vanilla 

 so extensively used for flavouring chocolate, Hqueurs, ices, &c., 

 and which is considered one of the finest of aromatic per- 



