124 COOL ORCHID GROWING. 



mountain uplands of nortliern India, where they are found 

 either as sub-terrestrial plants, growing on Moss-covered rocks, 

 or else as epiphytes on the stems of Moss-grown trees in shady 

 localities. Of all alpine plants none can possibly be more 

 chastely beautiful than these lovely "Indian Crocuses," as 

 they are sometimes called. In cultivation it will be found 

 best to grow these plants in shallow well-drainod pans, using 

 :a compost of fibrous peat and living sphagnum, with the addi- 

 tion of a little leaf -mould and sand. When growing they 

 should be shaded and freely watered, but as their leaves begin 

 to fade they should be more fully exposed to the sun, in order 

 to thoroughly ripen their stout corrugated pseudo-bulbs. 

 This will induce them to bloom freely, and then nothing can 

 possibly be more lovely than these cool exotics. I have had 

 the pleasure of seeing great pans of these little alpine gems 

 bearing from twenty to eighty flowers in the Ferniehurst 

 collection. Some cultivators grow these plants well in leaf- 

 (EBould, sand, and living sphagnum, but in all cases shade and 

 moisture are essential to their vigorous growth, and they 

 should be potted soon after they have flowered. 



P. humilis (Upper K'epaul) .—Altitude from 7,000 to 8,000 feet ; 

 a delicate little species. Flowers white ; lip with yellow and 

 rose-coloured veins, having about six pectinate ridges on the 

 disc, the margin being serrulate. . This species is easily 

 recognised from the others by its dark green or purplish flask- 

 Bhaped bulbs being smooth, not corrugated, as in the other 

 •species. This delicate little plant produces bulbils on 

 the apices of declining bulbs ; these fall off and rooting into 

 the sphagnum soon become flowering plants. Pans of this, 

 TFhen well grown, bear from twenty to thirty flowers, all 

 ■expanded at the same time. It is of easy culture, and lasts 

 from two to three weeks in beauty. 



P. lagenaria (India). — Something like its congener, P, 



