236 REVIEWS ANt) EXTRACTS. 



will therefore'require a treatment altogether distinct from that of the mass of 

 the genus. Dcndrobium moniliforme and catenatum, again, occur only in 

 Japan, as fur north as 37° or 38°, or the parallel of Lisbon, and are periodi- 

 cally subject to a very low temperature. But the most remarkable instances 

 of a disposition of the part of some. Orchideous Epiphytes to depart from the 

 ordinary habits of the tribe axe found in Australia and its dependency New 

 Zealand. In some extremely valuable observations upon the geographical 

 distribution of the Orchideous plants of New Holland, which have been 

 placed in our hands by Mr. Allan Cunningham, we find a passage which 

 bears so directly upon this subject, that we cannot do better than quote it 

 entire. "There are two, if not three plants of this family," says this enter- 

 prising and scientific traveller, "that grow on trees or rocks in New South 

 Wales, whose natural constitution should, in cultivating them, form excep- 

 tions to the uniformly adopted mode of treatment of Epiphytes generally in 

 our English stoves; namely, that in which high temperature and considera- 

 ble humidity are employed. These are Dend. amulum, Br., an Epiphyte 

 uniformity found upon the rugged trunk of Eucalyptus resinifera or Iron- 

 bark, in the open very dry forest grounds of the older colony at Port 

 Jackson; — Cymbidium canaliculatum, Br., which of late years has been 

 observed beyond the tropic, both at Moreton Bay and still farther to the 

 southward at Hunter's River, growing upon the principal limbs of several of 

 the Eucalypti in the dry open shadeless forest. These two Epiphytes 

 nourish most luxuriantly in an extremely dry atmosphere, and flower 

 usually in the summer season in their native wilds, the high temperature of 

 which is oftentimes greatly increased by the blighting hot winds, which not 

 unfrequently prevail at that period from the north-west. The third is 

 Dcndrobium undulatum of Mr. Buown, a handsome species, originally dis- 

 covered by Sir Joseph Banks, at Bustard Bay, and which has been lately 

 found on barren hills, naturally clear of timber, upon the banks of the Bris- 

 bane River at Moreton Bay, where the plant forms tufts on bare rocks 

 exposed to the full heat of the sun, which during nine months of the year is 

 very considerable on that part of the coast. These species were some years 

 since received alive at Kew, from New South Wales; and with them was 

 communicated, as a guide to their culture, a note of the particular situations, 

 with regard to exposure to drought, &c which they naturally occupy and 

 delight in, in their native wilds. These particulars were, however, in all 

 probability wholly unheeded in the King's Gardens — the plants were associ- 

 ated with other Epiphytes of this vast and variable family, from Equinoctial 

 America and the West India Islands, desiring a humid air witli warmth to 

 luxuriate in, amongst whom the Australians soon shewed sickness, in conse- 

 quence qf the excess of moisture to which they were constantly subjected ; 

 and eventually dying, were not only lost to Kew, but I may add to Europe ! 

 Had they been placed in the dry stove among Cacti, Stapedis, &c. with but 

 an occasional light sprinkle of water afforded them, they would have fared 

 better! D. a-mulumwas, 1 find, notwithstanding, induced to flower, and thus 

 shewed by its delicate blossoms that it was well worthy of better treatment: 

 and might afterwards have been retained, had the notes communicated with 

 the plant from the Colony, and its look and constitution, so to speak, been 

 at all consulted. I would just observe, in tins place, that it is to be greatly 

 regretted, that collectors of these beautiful vegetables in foreign countries, 

 are not more careful to note and communicate home with the collections 

 they form, the particular localities of the species, which would be of great 

 use to the experienced cultivator; inasmuch as it would enable him to treat 

 them in a way, as nearly accordant with their habits in their respective 

 native countries, as would secure their lives in the Garden, and probably 

 induce them to flower when fully established in their new situations.'' To 

 these instances of Orchideous Epiphytes may be added two Others, which 

 are worthy of still more attention than those just cited. One is the beautiful 

 little Gwinia australis, which has much the aspect of Chiloschhta umeoidea 

 found in tb" jungle of Nipal; it grows on (lie brandies of shrubs in Emu 

 Bay, in Van Demon's Land, in about 41° S. Eat. and I Mi E. Long. 

 Earina mucronata is the other example. This plant, although occurring as 



