39 



CHAPTER V. 



THE GENUS AN^CTOCHILUS. 



This curious little genus of plants is found 

 extensively in the woods of Ceylon, one of the 

 Philippines Islands; and is another member of the 

 terrestrial division. Their general appearance 

 resembles somewhat that of Goodyera discolor, 

 but the foliage is far more handsome ; that of the 

 species A. sefaceiis is of a very dark green 

 colour, with a broad longitudinal stain of gold 

 colour along the midrib, and each side netted 

 over with the same colour ; the leaves of the 

 other species A. argenteus, are of a pale green, 

 marked in the same way, but possessing a silvery 

 appearance, from which it takes its specific name; 

 in form the leaf is also more acute. 



I have succeeded in growing this plant to a 

 remarkable degree of perfection by pot cultiva- 

 tion ; the pots should be nearly half filled with 

 potsherds, and the plant potted in a mixture of 

 turfy peat, a little chopped sphagnum, and a 

 small quantity of very small potsherds, all mixed 

 together : it does not require any elevation at all, 

 nor does it want much water ; this pot should 



