Brilliant scarlet and orange sepals and petals, and broad, flat lip. Spur long. 
Flowers last 5 to 6 weeks. Midwinter. 
COMPARETTIA FALCATA. Native of Peru—Pacific Slopes of the Andes. 
Small growing. Single leaf. Flowers—crimson purple. Lip broad and heart- 
shaped. Very suitable for bushhouse cultivation. Blooms last 6 to 8 weeks. 
Spring. 
COMPARETTIA MACROPLECTRUM. Native of Colombia. 
Small growing. Two—sometimes three leaves. Usually five or six flowers on scape 
from base of bulbs. Sepals and petals rose coloured, spotted purple. Lip very large, 
magenta with purple spots. Spurs about 2 inches long. Flowers in Spring. Blooms 
last 4 to § weeks. 
CORVFAN EHES 
A remarkable genus of evergreen epiphytical orchids, some half-dozen species of 
which make interesting and attractive novelties worthy of inclusion in any collec- 
tion where suitable conditions can be afforded them. They grow in the moist, hot 
jungles of northern South America, growing out on the ends of the branches of 
the great trees where they get the full benefit of the sunlight. 
There are probably no more remarkable orchids than the species of the genus 
Coryanthes. It is impossible to give an intelligible description of the flower, the 
most notable feature of which is the helmet-shaped lip—which is attached to (or 
detached from) the rest of the flower by a stout headed stem. This stem has, 
near its base, a gland which secretes a sweet watery fluid which during the maturity 
of the flower drips into the helmet-shaped lip or pouch, attracting the bees neces- 
sary for the fertilisation of the flower. 
All the plants of this genus require warmth and light at all times, and during the 
growing period need copious water. Even in Winter the compost should not be 
allowed to become so dry as to allow any shrivelling of the pseudobulbs. As in all 
other cases where heavy watering is required, it is essential that the drainage of the 
pots shall be perfect. Basket culture is the most satisfactory method of growing 
them, but pots suspended close to the roof of a glasshouse will serve. 
The best compost is a good fibrous peat topped with live sphagnum moss—but the 
substitution of osmunda or todea fibre for the peat is a satisfactory alternative. 
It is characteristic of the genus that the blooms, though large and brilliant, are 
short-lived, like those of their close relations, the Stanhopeas, rarely retaining their 
form more than three or four days. The following are the chief species: — 
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