PAPHINIAS PERISTERIAS. 1 31 



PAPHINIAS. 



Of this useful genus there are only two with which I am 

 acquainted, but both of them are well worth growing ; they 

 are very compact in habit, having short bulbs and flag- 

 shaped leaves from six inches to a foot in length ; they 

 succeed best in the Cattleya house in pots in good fibrous 

 peat with plenty of drainage, liberally supplying them with 

 water at the roots during the growing season j propagation 

 is effected by dividing the bulbs. 



Paphinia cristata. A pretty dwarf free flowering species 

 from Demerara ; grows eight inches high, and has short 

 shiny bulbs, from the base of which the flowers appear on 

 a short stalk, three together, and droop downwards over the 

 side of the pot ; sepals and petals dark chocolate tinged 

 with purple ; lip white, barred with purple and fringed ; of 

 this there are two varieties, one with much darker flowers 

 than the other. In bloom at different times of the year, 

 and will remain in beauty about two weeks. 



P. tigrina. A fine species from Trinidad ; grows ten or 

 twelve inches high, and produces its flowers, which will last 

 several weeks in perfection, on an upright spike, several 

 together ; a scarce plant, and one which is best grown in a 

 pot, in peat, with good drainage. 



PEKISTERIAS. 



A singular class of Orchids, of which there are several 

 species, but only three that I can recommend as worth grow- 

 ing. There is one noble plant in this class, Peristeria elata, the 

 dove plant, which ought to be in every collection. These plants 

 furnish flowers from the bottom of their large bulbs, and will 

 grow in either house : they are best grown in pots, with loam 

 and leaf-mould, with a good quantity of water during their 



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