130 ORCHID -grower's MANUAL. 



Chysis. 



This is a beautiful, though somewhat small genus, there 

 being but a few species, so far as I am aware. They are deci- 

 duous epiphytes, losing the leaves during their season of rest. 

 The pseudobulbs are thick and fleshy, and about a foot long, 

 producing their flowers with the young growth. These will do 

 on blocks of wood, but grow much finer in baskets or pots, 

 with peat, moss, and potsherds. All the species require a 

 liberal supply of heat and moisture in their gi'owing season, 

 but after they have finished their growth, they should be 

 removed into a cooler house till they begin to grow, and then 

 taken back to the East Indian house. During their season 

 of rest they require but very little water, and are propagated 

 by dividing the plants just as they begin to grow. 



C. aiirea. — A charming Orchid fi'om Venezuela, producing 

 its flowers on a short spike, generally twice a year; the 

 blossoms are yellow, the lip being marked with crimson. It 

 flowers at different times of the year, and lasts about a fort- 

 night in beauty. 



C. bractescens. — A fine species fi'om Guatemala ; its flowers 

 are produced on a short spike, sometimes six together, each 

 flower measuring two or three inches across. The sepals and 

 petals are white, while the lip has a blotch of yellow in the 

 centre. It blooms in April and May ; lasts two or three weeks 

 in perfection, and makes a good show plant. 



C. Icevis. — A beautiful species from Guatemala. The pseudo- 

 bulbs are fifteen inches long, producing from the young growths 

 in June pendulous spikes of bloom, with eight or more flowers 

 on each ; sepals and petals yellow and orange ; lip orange, 

 blotched with scarlet or crimson, and fringed round the 

 margin. It will last about a fortnight in good condition. A 

 scarce plant, figured in the fifth number of Warner's '* Select 

 Orchidaceous Plants." I have only seen this plant in bloom 



