PHRE AEA 
Another small genus of no horticultural value. The native species is P. limeno- 
phylax, which grows on trees in the vicinity of Rockingham Bay (North Queens- 
land). It has short, slender stems, sheathed by the bases of the short, dark green, 
caniculate, linear leaves, which are 1 to 2 inches long and about a quarter of an 
inch wide. The short stems carry a few minute, yellow flowers. It grows quite 
easily, potted in peat in a sunny place. 
PHYSUREAE or JEWEL ORCHIDS 
The so-called “Jewel” or “Gem” Orchids. This group is cultivated for the sur- 
passing beauty of its leaves, which are undoubtedly the loveliest of all the plant 
world. The flowers are insignificant and, indeed, should be removed from the 
plant as soon as they appear, to conserve its strength. 
In Brisbane, and more particularly in places south of that city, no one should go 
in for the cultivation of this group unless he can provide hothouse treatment. 
An odd plant or two might be grown in an unheated glasshouse by way of experi- 
ment and in certain parts of Brisbane would probably do well enough. In the 
North, glasshouse treatment should suit them excellently. 
They grow naturally in the hot, moist glens in the jungles of Assam, Java, Borneo, 
Malaya, India and Ceylon. In Summer the temperature about them must not fall 
below 70° nor exceed 80°, and in the Winter the range should be between 
60° and 70°. They should be planted in a compost of turfy peat (in lumps 
about the size of a sixpenny piece), a little chopped up sphagnum moss and 
osmunda fibre, a sprinkling of good leaf-mould mixed with some powdered brick, 
and thev should be grown only in the smallest of pots. These pots should stand 
on a layer of cinders, which should be kept in a saturated condition. The at- 
mosphere must be moist at all times. Where only two or three plants are 
grown bell glasses are helpful, one being placed over each plant. Where a num- 
ber are grown it is desirable to have a special glass frame to conserve the heat 
and moisture they need. 
The following is a brief description of the best species: — 
ANOECTOCHILUS CONCINNUM. Native of Assam. 
Leaves olive green, striped and netted with coppery-red veins and markings. 
ANOECTOCHILUS INTERMEDIUM. Native of Ceylon. 
Leaves bronze-green with a silk-like sheen, mid-rib banded grey at base, striped 
and veined with bright gold. 
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