100 THE ORCHID-GROWER'S MANUAL. 



its spikes of flowers, produced in June or July, are pale 

 yellow, with the lip striped with purple, and continue five or 

 six weeks in beauty. There are several varieties of alatum, 

 but I only know one, viz. the majus variety, which was 

 flowered by Mr. Woolley, Cheshunt. 



E. atropurpureum, var. roseum. A fine Orchid, which grows 

 twelve inches high, with evergreen foliage and short round 

 bulbs, from the top of which it produces spikes of flower. 

 Sepals and petals dark purple ; lip large, of a beautiful rose 

 colour, and continues in perfection a long time. It is best 

 grown in a pot, in peat, with plenty of drainage. 



E. aurantiacum. A charming species from Guatemala. 

 This plant grows in the same way as the Cattleya Skinneri, 

 which the bulbs so nearly resemble as to be often mistaken 

 for it. It grows a foot high, and produces its flowers from a 

 sheath at the top of the bulb : the flowers are of a bright 

 orange colour, with lip of the same, striped with crimson : it 

 blooms in March, April, and May, lasting six weeks in perfec- 

 tion if kept in a cool house. There are two varieties of this 

 plant, one of which never expands its flowers. I have them 

 both growing in the same house, with the same treatment : 

 the best variety opens its flowers, while the other keeps them 

 nearly close^ a peculiarity which renders it not worth 

 growing. 



E. aloifolium. A pretty species when well grown, from the 

 same country as the former. This is pendulous-growing, and 

 very distinct from any of the other Epidendrums, having 

 curious and narrow-pointed leaves : the flowers, which are 

 large, proceed from the top of the bulb, one or two together : 

 the sepals and petals are greenish-yellow and brown, the lip is 

 of a pure white ; it blooms during the summer months, and 

 lasts long in beauty. This plant is best grown in a basket 

 with moss. 



E. bicornutum. A remarkably handsome Orchid from 

 Guayana, about ten inches high: the flowers proceed from the 



