ORCHIDS OF LESSER VALUE 197 



PLEUROTHALLIS 



This is a very large genus, probably the largest, of Orchids, 

 but while it contains many interesting species, and most of them 

 are easily grown in the cool house, there are none of real horticul- 

 tural merit, for even P. Roezlii, a foot or more high, with fairly 

 large, blackish flowers, is far more curious than beautiful. As a 

 rule the flowers are quite small and inconspicuous, with green and 

 dull purple colouring. 



RESTREPIA 



The Restrepias are of lowly growth, akin to the Pleuro- 

 thallis, and are easily grown in small pans or baskets in a cool 

 house, in peat and sphagnum. They have small flowers, the 

 joined lower sepals being the chief attraction. The best species are 

 R. ANTENNiFERA, ycllow and red ; R. elegans, yellow, with 

 purple spots ; R. maculata, yellow, with rows of red-brown 

 spots ; R. pandurata, whitish, with red - purple spots ; 

 R. STRIATA, yellow, with deep maroon stripes ; and R. san- 

 GuiNEA, crimson. 



RHYNCHOSTYLIS 



A small genus with one notable species, R. retusa, which is 

 very like a Saccolabium, needs similar treatment, and is often 

 known as Saccolabium Blumei. It has foot-long, pendulous, 

 densely-flowered spikes of white flowers, spotted with deep violet- 

 purple, and with a purple lip. R. R. Heathii has pure white 



