ERIOPSIS RUTIDOBULBON. Native of Colombia. 
The finer species. It has wrinkled, ovate-oblong, terete pseudobulbs, deep purplish- 
black in colour, with a pair (or occasionally three) broad, dark green, prominently 
veined leaves. Flower scapes, from the bottom of the pseudobulbs, carry a long, 
drooping raceme, bearing up to 24 attractive blooms, each about 2 inches in 
diameter. The spreading, oblong, obtuse sepals and petals are deep orange yellow 
edged with maroon. The lip is three-lobed; the lateral lobes, curling inwards, 
are orange-red, while the roundish, slightly notched, front lobe is smaller and is 
white spotted with deep purple. 
Both these species grow at an elevation of from 4,000 to 6,000 feet on palm tree 
stems where they are exposed to the full light of the sun. They should, there- 
fore, be grown in a cool position, but plenty of sunlight must be available. Much 
water is necessary, particularly in the warmer months, but even in Winter the 
compost should be kept damp. Staghorn peat is a suitable compost, providing 
the drainage is absolutely free. They should do well enough in Brisbane suspended 
from a tree or from the top of an open bushhouse. It is doubtful if they could 
be grown in the North except on the tablelands. Maleny should suit them ex- 
cellently. 
ESMERALDA 
A genus of evergreen, epiphytical plants closely related to Vanda and Arachnis, 
to which genera most of the species have been assigned. They require warm, moist 
conditions, and, therefore, a glasshouse is desirable for their cultivation in Bris- 
bane and even in the greater parts of the North, while artificial heat will be 
essential in the South and in the cooler parts of Queensland. 
They will grow in a pot or basket with wood-charcoal topped with sphagnum 
moss, but the addition of an old clean bone, a few large pieces of well dried 
dung and a little fibre makes for vigorous and healthy growth. 
ESMERALDA BELLA. Native of the hot gulches in Himalayan Sikkim. 
Stems erect and shortish, clothed with a double row of shining, bilobed leaves 
about 5 inches long and 1 inch wide. Blooms are produced on short, four-flowered 
racemes from the axils of the leaves on the upper part of the stem, and are about 
24 inches across. The straight and oblong, somewhat wedge-shaped sepals and 
petals are light ochre-yellow, banded with cinnamon. The labellum has its white 
lateral lobes striped with purplish brown, while the broad swollen middle lobe has 
a brown border. 
Syn. Arachnanthe bella. 
Fy 
