GLOSSVUDTA 
A very beautiful genus of small terrestrial orchids found in the open spaces 
among the coastal green forests. It grows in thick patches, carpeting the ground 
with brilliant purple-mauve. Plants grow from small underground tubers usually 
some inches below the surface, and are rather hard to transplant, but, if they can 
be moved without hurting the tubers and planted in a quiet place in the garden, 
they will grow up and flower each Spring time. There are two species: — 
GLOSSODIA MAJOR. Australia, all States (except W.A.). 
Plant grows from 4 to 12 inches in height, covered with short hairs, with one 
(occasionally two) short, oblong-lanceolate leaf at the base and topped with 1 or 
2 flowers from 14 to 2 inches across. These vary in colour from a bluish-purple 
through mauve, mauve-pink, pink to white. 
GLOSSODIA MINOR. Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. 
Plant similar in habit to G. major. Flowers smaller than major and a rich purple- 
mauve in colour. They last for some weeks in beauty. 
GONGORA 
A large and interesting genus of epiphytical orchids, few of the species of which 
are looked upon as of cultural interest. They are curiously shaped, and usually 
rather dingily coloured, but most of them are delicately fragrant, while a few 
are attractive in appearance. They grow in compact clusters of usually deeply 
ribbed, oblong or ovate cylindrical pseudobulbs each topped with a pair of stalked, 
broad, lanceolate pointed, plicate leaves. The flowers are produced on long pen- 
dulous scapes growing from the base of the latest matured pseudobulbs. 
They do best in baskets suspended from the roof in a fairly open compost of fibre 
and sphagnum moss, though pots will serve. Occasionally the flower spike grows 
downwards from the base of the pseudobulb as is the habit with Stanhopeas and, 
in such cases, of course, growing in pots is fatal to the flowers. They like com- 
paratively cool culture, and the advice given in respect of Cattleyas will apply to 
the Gongoras. As is the case with Cattleyas, the Gomgoras need copious water 
during the Summer period, but in Winter only sufficient to preserve the pseudo- 
bulbs from withering. 
In the warmer parts of Brisbane and northwards an ordinary bushhouse or cool 
glasshouse will suit them admirably, but in the colder parts and southwards a 
glasshouse is desirable. As long as the temperature does not often fall below 50 
182 
