NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 101 



Manchester. It was produced by seed from the T. concliiflora, impreg- 

 nated by T. pavonia. The flower is most like T. conchitlora, but a 

 deeper orange-yellow, and the darker spots too of the centre. It is a 

 very free bloomer, and, like the two parents, deserves to be grown in 

 every flower-garden. 



Vanda Lowei — Mr. Low's Vanda. Stove Epiphyte. 



Tliis very extraordinary plant has been found in Borneo by Mr. 

 Hugh Low, jun., by whom it has been sent to England. The follow- 

 ing account of it is given in a letter from this gentleman, dated Sarawak, 

 January 12, 1846: — " At tiie time I formerly sent it to you I remem- 

 ber liaving said that I expected something very magnificent in its 

 flower, and sure I am that when it produces its spikes of flowers in 

 England it will be the admiration of all cultivators, probably beyond 

 any Orchid that has ever yet appeared. As I saw it nothing could 

 have exceeded it in beauty ; about 200 of its branches were hanging 

 Imrizontally from tiie main stem of a large tree, from each of Mhich 

 depended two, three, or four chains of flowers, each ten feet in length, 

 and sometimes twelve feet. Tlie individual flowers are upwards of 

 three inches in diameter. When they first open tlie ground colour is 

 pale lemon-yellow, barred and blotclied with bands and spots of the 

 riciiest ciimamon ; as they become older the cinnamon colour gra- 

 dually diminishes in size ; tiie yellow becomes richer and more bril- 

 liant, and takes the place formerly occupied by the more dull but not 

 less rich tint ; the stem and foot-stalks of the flow-er are covered with 

 a rich downy coating of moss, similar to that of the Rose ; the labellum 

 is shaded cinnamon and purple ;. the leaves are of a light green colour 

 aud leathery texture, similar in shape to those of Aerides odoratum, as 

 far as I recollect, but more stiflT and erect; the whole habit of the 

 plant is as neat as the rest of those of the same tribe. The roots are 

 large, but by no means so thick as in some of the continental Indian 

 Yandas. It deliglits in iiigh trees on the banks of rivers, thick forests, 

 and other humid places." Mr. Low begged that it migljt be called 

 Vanda Lindleyana, under which name it has already become known to 

 a few persons ; but as it had never been before described, Dr. Lindley 

 took the opportunity of transferring the name to its discoverer, who 

 certainly ougiit, before all others, to be associated with one of the finest 

 plants which he has discovered in that interesting but dangerous island 

 in which his researches have been so diligently prosecuted. We have 

 a specimen of this plant now before us, preserved in spirits, and we 

 are thus able to verify Mr. Low's dimensions. The flowers are more 

 tlian three inches in diameter and spread quite flat, and the space from 

 flower to flower is about five inches. The " rich downy coating of 

 moss," of which Mr. Low speaks, is formed by curious short liairs, 

 wliose sides are studded with irregular microscopical spines, and must 

 add mudi to the beauty of this most singular plant. 



