24 ORCHIDS. 



The flora of the temperate regions abounds in terres- 

 trial Orchids, which are, however, with some exceptions, 

 distinguished by flowers more remarkable for peculiarity 

 of form than for size and brilliancy of color. It is, how- 

 ever, in the tropical forests, that we meet with these plants 

 in full luxuriance ; here the species are mostly epiphytal ; 

 establishing themselves upon the branches of the trees, 

 they either vegetate amid masses of decaying vegetable 

 matter or cling by long succulent grasping roots to the 

 naked branches of trees, from which and the moist at- 

 mosphere they derive their nourishment. 



They are also found abundantly on the banks of 

 streams near falls of water, where they are constantly 

 bathed in the rising spray. Some few species indeed 

 seem of a different nature, growing mostly on rocks ex- 

 posed to a broiling sun, their roots alone absorbing the 

 moisture of the dew. 



In general, a certain degree of shade seems to be es- 

 sential to Orchids. In Brazil, they are found abundantly 

 in damp woods and rock valleys, embowered among foli- 

 age of the most luxuriant description. 



In Nepaul, as stated by Dr. Wallich, the epiphytal 

 species grow in company with ferns ; and the thicker the 

 forest, the more stately the trees, the richer and blacker 

 the natural soil, the more profuse the Orchidaceae and 

 ferns upon them. There they flourish by the sides of 

 dripping springs, in deep shady recesses, in inconceivable 

 quantity, and with an astonishing degree of luxuriance. 



We should, however, err, did we suppose that the prin- 

 cipal haunts of Orchids are the deep shady woods ; it is 

 even probable that just the contrary is the fact, and that 

 the cases just cited are extreme. 



