CHAPTER XL. 
MICROST Y¥ faa. 
Or the forty known species of Microstylis, about half-a- 
dozen are cultivated for the sake of their richly-coloured 
foliage. They are terrestrial in habit, and are closely 
related to Malaxis paludosa of our native flora. The 
pseudo-bulbs are fleshy, and they perish a year after 
maturity, as in Calanthe vestita. The leaves are plaited, 
thin, and succulent in texture, and their folding bases 
completely inclose the pseudo-bulbs. The flowers are 
small, purple or yellow, and are produced on erect spikes ; 
they are not ornamental. The genus is represented in 
Europe, Asia, and America. 
Culture.—The species here described are from tropical 
countries; they can, therefore, only be grown in _ hot. 
moist houses. They all prefer a very moist, shaded 
position, a close frame or bell glass affording them the 
sort of atmosphere they like. In the winter all the leaves 
usually fall off, and the pseudo-bulbs remain dormant for 
several weeks. During this period, they should be kept 
fairly dry, and be taken out of the soil. About the 
beginning of March they should be started into growth 
again. This is best done by filling small pans or pots 
with drainage, and an inch or so of peat-fibre and 
chopped sphagnum, upon which the pseudo-bulbs should 
