STANHOPEA. 465 
America and Mexico. The genus is related to Acineta, 
Catasetum, and Coryanthes, and, like them, it is remark- 
albe, even among Orchids, for the highly-specialised 
character of the labellum of the flower. If we are 
struck by the singular modification of form in that part 
of the flower which is really a petal though called 
a lip, in such genera as Cattleya, Odontoglossum, and 
Phalzenopsis, how much more may one wonder at Nature’s 
provision to insure cross-fertilisation in the flowers of the 
genera above named and Stanhopea! It would be im- 
possible to find anything more remarkable in the whole 
order of Orchids than the lip of S. eburnea or that of 
S. platyceras. 
The flowers are developed irregularly, according to the 
treatment and growth of the plant; as a rule, however, 
the species bloom in autumn. The only drawback Stan- 
hopeas have, as garden plants, is the early fading of their 
flowers, which rarely last a week, even under the most 
favourable conditions. But they are wonderful objects when 
at their best, and they are almost overpoweringly fragrant ; 
whilst the plants are so easy to manage, and so rarely 
fail to bloom, that they well deserve to be ranked with 
first-class garden Orchids. 
Culture.—All the species should be grown in a stove 
temperature. They are best planted in teak baskets, 
sufficiently large to afford space for a good layer of com- 
post, consisting of one part peat-fibre and two parts 
sphagnum, with a few pieces of charcoal. The bottom of 
the basket must, of course, be open, and a few long, 
narrow pieces of charcoal should be laid, about rin. apart, 
across the bottom. This is sufficient to keep the compost 
from washing away, whilst it permits the flower-spikes 
to come through the bottom of the basket. Some culti- 
vators use nothing but sphagnum for Stanhopeas, and 
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