128 COOL ORCHID GROWING. 



grow remarkably well in the warm end of the Peruvian 

 house. They must be copiously supplied with, moisture when 

 growing. 



S. cernua (Rio, Brazil). — Pseudo-bulbs short and thick,. 

 bearing an oblong fleshy leaf, scarcely an inch long ; flowers 

 bright reddish scarlet, produced on drooping spikes, from 

 three to nine together. Flowers in the winter, lasting from, 

 four to six weeks in beauty. 



S. coccinea (Brazil). — Pseudo-bulbs short, one-leaved; leaves 

 oblong, from two to three inches long ; flowers large, from 

 two to three inches across, and of good substance : sepals and 

 petals of the brightest scarlet ; lip yellow, barred or streaked 

 with red. This does well either on a block with sphagnum 

 Moss, or planted in peat and sphagnum in a shallow pan, and 

 suspended near the roof. Flowers in winter. 



S. grandifiora (Organ Mountains, Brazil). — This and the 

 last are the two best in the group, and should be grown by the 

 dozen for winter bloom. The pseudo-bulbs are from one to 

 three inches long, one and two-leaved; leaves from one tO' 

 three inches long. Flowers large, brilliant scarlet, produced 

 freely about December. There are one or two varieties of this 

 little plant, some having shorter bulbs and smaller, deeper 

 coloured flowers than the others. The effect produced by a 

 small plant of this species, even with only four expanded 

 flowers, is wonderful when seen in company with fresh 

 green leaves and white flowers, as those of Odontoglossum Alex- 

 andras. This plant, when in flower, may be taken to the 

 drawing-room, and will last for weeks unharmed if covered 

 with a clean glass shade or bell-glass. I have seen this grown 

 and flowered well in a Wardian case for several successive 

 years in an ordinary sitting-room. 



8. violacea. — This is another pretty and very distinctly 

 coloured species from the Organ mountains. Its pseudo-; 



