flowers are smallish, being about 1 to 1} inches across. They are slightly per- 
fumed with a suggestion of narcissus. Treatment as for Cymbidiwms in general 
but rather less water than usual is required, Because of their pendent flower 
spikes they are well adapted for growing in hanging baskets. They dislike being 
disturbed and once established should not be repotted except when absolutely 
necessary. 
CYMBIDIUM CANALICULATUM. Native of Australia. 
This interesting and extremely variable species is found over a wide range of 
territory, variations of it being found from the coastal rain forests of North 
Queensland to the forest areas about Newcastle in New South Wales. Unlike 
most of the other epiphytical orchids it is not confined to the coastal areas, 
where ample rainfall is the rule, but extends out to about Moree, in New South 
Wales, and to Chinchilla (and perhaps further West) in Queensland. It is also 
found in the Northern Territory, and North-West Australia. The manner of 
growth differs little (if at all) throughout this wide area of distribution, but there 
is a considerable variation in the colouring of the flowers. Some of the areas in 
which it is found are notoriously dry, and in those places the plants are invar- 
iably found on hollow stumps, dead trees, or living trees with hollows in trunk or 
branches. The roots penetrate through any interstices down to the moist centre of 
their host, which is usually a sort of natural reservoir, enabling the plants to live 
through the frequent droughty periods. Instances have been noted where the roots 
of this orchid have travelled to a distance of forty feet to reach this water supply. 
The coastal growing varieties do not have to send their roots on such voyages of 
discovery, but, like most other epiphytes, use them to extract their food require- 
ments from the atmosphere, and also to maintain a firm grip on their host tree. 
C. canaliculatum flowers very freely once it is established, and is quite an attrac- 
tive plant, although the individual flowers are not very large. 
Rev. H. M. R. Rupp, a noted authority on Australian orchids, has classified canali- 
culatum as follows:— 
C. canaliculatum—type form— 
(1) Forma inconstans. The commonly found type ranging from about Newcastle 
(N.S.W.) to Broad Sound (Q.). Sepals and petals—outside, brown or green; 
inside, dull to light green, with heavy brown blotches or flakes. Labellum 
white, dotted purple. 
(2) Forma aureolum. Found chiefly west of the Dividing Range in northern 
New South Wales and Southern Queensland. Sepals and petals outside, al- 
most bronze; inside, golden yellowish-green with red blotches or spots. Lab- 
ellum very white with red dots. The varieties found in North-West Australia 
appear to belong to this form. 
C. canaliculatum—variety marginatum, : 
(1) Forma fuscum. From Cape York to Mt. Garnet and perhaps more widely 
spread. Sepals and petals outside, brown or greyish; inside, uniformly brown 
with a narrow pale-green margin. Labelium greenish-white, dotted red. 
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