LIST OF COOL ORCHIDS. 127 



fibrous peat, crocks, and sphagnum. They require large sup- 

 plies of water when making their growth. One of the largest 

 plants I have seen is in the collection of John Rhodes, Esq., 

 Potter Newton House, Leeds. It grows in the corner of a 

 warm fernery, and flowers magnificently, being a tall-growing, 

 but superb variety of S. macrautha. 



S. viacrantha (Guatemala). — One of the very finest Orchids 

 we have when well grown. Its varieties vary in height from 

 two to seven feet, but all boar finely-coloured blossoms ; 

 flowers borne singly at the top of long stems, individually 

 from five to six inches across ; sepals and petals rosy purple ; 

 lip beautifully suffused with rich crimson purple and yellow. 

 Makes a fine plant for exhibiting when vigorously grown. 

 Unfortunately, the flowers are not very lasting — from three to 

 four days ; but, on healthy plants they are produced in rapid 

 succession. Flowers in March and April. 



a. S. macrantha siolendens (Guatemala). — This has rather 

 smaller flowers than the last, but they are of a richer colour. 

 The plant, or at least some of its sub -varieties, are much 

 dwarf er than the species, being only from one and a half to two 

 feet in height. 



S. Ruckeri (New Granada).: — A very rare species, but seldom 

 met with in collections. It grows from two to three feet high, 

 bearing from three to four fine large flowers on a short spike ; 

 sepals and petals mauve, or rosy purple ; lip white and crimson. 

 This also remains in flower longer than any of the other 

 Bpecics. 



SophronitiB. 



Of this small genus we have three or four introduced 

 species, all interesting and very, beautiful. They are small, 

 dense-growing epiphytes, and do best on flat blocks, with 

 living sphagnum Moss. Their fine bright scarlet flowers aro 

 produced in the depth of winter, and are very showy. They 



