212 ORCHIDS. 
stalks; sepals and petals overlapping, of a soft lavender 
colour; lip spreading, heart-shaped, yellow, margined with 
white. The flower of a good variety measures 3in. across. 
Introduced from Burmah in 1877. This species thrives 
when treated as advised for D. nobile, producing its 
delicately-tinted blossoms in January or February. It is 
frequently introduced in large quantities. 
Plate; Botanical Magazine, t. 6438. 
D. formosum.—The largest-flowered among the white 
kinds. It has stout, erect pseudo-bulbs rft. to 14ft. high, 
hairy when young, and covered with broad-ovate leaves, 
which are 5in. long, and somewhat leathery. Flowers on 
the end of the leafy stems, usually in bunches of three or 
five; each flower is at least 4in. across, full, and of the 
purest white, save a blotch of yellow in the throat; the 
sepals are lance-shaped and pointed; the petals almost 
as broad as long, blunt; the lip is scoop-shaped, with a 
large, tongue-like, reflexed front. The blossoms appear in 
spring, and last several weeks in perfection if the plants 
are placed in a cool-house whilst in bloom. Unfortunately 
this grand Orchid is not easily kept in health. Newly- 
imported plants grow and flower perfectly, but in about 
three years they get worn out, and are after that 
worthless. It is a native of British Burmah, where 
it is found only in the plains low down, growing upon 
trees, from which it obtains only partial shade. From 
February to April the plants are exposed to a temperature 
of 11odeg. in the shade, and, consequently, they get a 
thorough ripening. In the Andaman Islands, where it is 
also a native, it gets practically no rest, rain falling for 
~ about eleven months in the year. Under cultivation, this 
species should have tropical treatment, with plenty of sun- 
light and ‘water from May to December, and then a short 
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