CHAPTER AEF 
MILTONIA. 
THIS genus embraces not more than a dozen well-marked 
species, all of them showing considerable variation in the 
size and colouring of the flowers. Most of them are in 
cultivation, as they are easy to grow, and, with scarcely 
an exception, bear large and handsome flowers. All are 
natives of Brazil, except M. Warscewiczii, which is Peruvian. 
Several were amongst the first-formed collections of Orchids 
that were cultivated in English gardens about fifty years 
ago. The genus was named in compliment to Lord 
Fitzwilliam (Viscount Milton), who, fifty years ago, had 
one of the best collections of Orchids then known. 
The Miltonias are related to the Odontoglossums ; indeed, 
four of the species were till recently known in gardens as 
Odontoglossums. They have either long, stout, creeping 
rhizomes, upon which the pseudo-bulbs occur about tin. 
apart, or the pseudo-bulbs are clustered. The leaves vary 
in number from four to eight, all except two springing 
from the bottom of the pseudo-bulb, their sheathing bases 
inclosing it when young. There are generally two leaves 
on the apex of the pseudo-bulb, and these are strap- 
shaped or linear, smooth, shining green, the keel on the 
under side being prominent. As a rule, the leaves, when 
they are two years old, fall away from the pseudo-bulbs. 
