EPIDENDRUMS. 101 



top of the bulbs on a spike ; sometimes on one spike there 

 are as many as twelve beautiful flowers, each about two inches 

 across, of a pure white, with a few crimson spots in the centre 

 of the lip : blossoms in April and May, lasting two or three 

 weeks in beauty. This is rather a difficult plant to grow : 

 the best plant I ever saw was grown on a block of wood 

 without any moss, and flowered five or six years in succes- 

 sion ; but in the seventh year the plant seemed to lose its 

 vigour, and never flowered afterwards, probably because the 

 block began to decay and get sour. I have seen plants do 

 well in pots with peat and good drainage. 



E. cinnabarinum (from Pernambuco). A tall-growing plant, 

 four feet high, which blooms from the top of the bulb : the 

 flowers are bright scarlet, and are produced in abundance in 

 May, June, and July : it continues flowering for two or three 

 months. 



E. crassifolium. This is not so good as many Epidendrums, 

 but it is worth growing on account of its colour : it is a rather 

 tall grower, two or three feet high ; it produces its rose- 

 coloured flowers in profusion in March, April, May, and June, 

 and will continue blooming for three or four months, which 

 makes it a valuable plant for exhibitions. 



E. Hanburyanum (from Mexico). This is not so showy as 

 many of the Epidendrums, but is worth growing on account 

 of its colour ; sepals and petals deep purple, lip pale 

 rose : blooms during the spring months, lasting long in 

 beauty. 



E. macrochilum. A beautiful species from Guatemala ; the 

 sepals and petals brown, lip large, of a pure white, with a 

 purple blotch at the base : it blossoms in April and May, and 

 lasts five weeks in good condition, if the flowers are kept free 

 from damp. 



E. macrochilum roseum. A beautiful variety of the former; 

 the lip is of a darker rose colour, blooms at the same time, 

 and lasts long in beauty. 



