PLEIONE 
A genus of small growing, deciduous orchids which are best treated as terrestrials. 
They are closely related to the Coelogynes, which they resemble in form of plant. 
They shed their leaves as soon as the pseudobulbs reach maturity and before the 
flower spikes are produced. The flowers are brilliantly coloured and of attractive 
form. For compost a mixture of good fibrous loam, leaf-mould, peat, dried dung 
and a little crushed brick or sand, with ample drainage of crocks and charcoal, 
will give good results. As soon as growth commences, watering should begin 
and progress should not be allowed to slacken until the new pseudobulbs have 
formed and the leaves commence to fall. At this stage water should be restricted 
to just enough to prevent the bulbs from shrivelling. Then, when the flower 
spikes begin to appear from the base of the pseudobulbs, watering may be com- 
menced again, and a weekly or fortnightly application of liquid cow-manure will 
assist towards better and more numerous flowers. After the flowers fade the 
plants should be repotted in preparation for the next series of growth. Any of the 
following species are worth having:— 
PLEIONE BIRMANICA. Native of Burma. 
A beautiful species with roundish pseudobulbs, blue-purple with white bands, 
raised shoulder and depressed conical apex, crowned with a dark green, lanceolate, 
pointed leaf. After leaves fall, flower scapes are produced from the base of the 
bulbs, and are one- or two-flowered, each bloom about 3 inches across and shaped 
something like Phaius Tankervilliae, but with a more graceful lip. Flower is 
light purple in colour, the disk having three white, toothed keels, blotched with 
brown. The front of the lip is finely dentate, instead of frilled as in most of the 
species. Winter flowering. 
Syn. Coelogyne birmanica. 
PLEIONE CONCOLOR. Native of India. 
A pretty species with the habit of the last-quoted species, the pseudobulbs, how- 
ever, being mottled brownish-purple with a network of veins. Flowers about 34 
inches across. Sepals and petals dark pink. Lip pink with yellow blotches in which 
are some reddish-brown spots. Crests yellow. Front of lip fringed. Flowers in 
Winter. 
Syn. Coelogyne concolor. 
PLEIONE HOOKERIANA. Native of Sikkim. 
A distinct species which differs from most of the Pleiones by producing leaves and 
flowers together. Pseudobulbs small (about an inch tall) and ovoid, smooth and 
green. They carry a single ovate-lanceolate, green leaf which is pointed and 
prominently veined. Stems are 4 to 5 inches high and bear a solitary flower up to 
3 inches in width. Sepals and petals bright rose. Lip funnel-shaped at base and 
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