254 oechid-grower's manual. 



approaching to black. It blooms in July, August, and 

 September, and lasts long in perfection. Native of Brazil. 



Renanthera. 



This genus is very nearly allied to Vanda, and the treat- 

 ment recommended for that genus will suit these plants also. 

 They are all showy plants, with distichous leaves. They require 

 the temperatm-e of the East Indian house, and should be 

 potted in living sphagnum moss, with an abundance of 

 drainage. They are propagated in the same way as Aerides. 



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 

 three inches long. The flowers, which are beautiful orange- 

 scarlet, are produced from the axils of the leaves, on long 

 branching panicles, and they continue in bloom several 

 weeks together. This plant requires to be so placed as 

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

 ^vay of inducing it to bloom ; it is indeed a shy bloomer, 

 which doubtless accounts for it not being much cultivated. 

 By letting it gi'ow up the roof, where it gets plenty of hght 

 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 Hberal 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 fi'om shrivelling. The 

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

 as before remarked, should be kept moist during the growing 



