ANGRiECUM. 113 



ANGBiECUM, Thoiiars. 

 ( Tribe Vandeae, subtribe Sarcanthese.) 



A very curious genus of Orchids, of which some score or 

 more species are known, many of them being very handsome, 

 and such as ought to be in every collection. In habit they 

 resemble the Aerides, having like them the stems clothed 

 with evergreen leathery distichous foliage, which in some 

 kinds is regularly curved and very graceful, while the flowers 

 are produced in long racemes from the leaf-axils ; these 

 flowers are characterised by their spreading sepals and petals, 

 and by the long — sometimes very long— slender spur to the 

 lip, which has a spreadicg entire or three-lobed limb. Even 

 when not in bloom, the plants are objects of interest, and 

 give a noble appearance to the house in which they are 

 grown. The flowers are not so much prized as they ought to 

 be, because they are produced at the wrong season for exhibi- 

 tion ; but, blooming as most of the large kinds do in winter, 

 they are invaluable to those who look for the beauty of 

 ornamental flowering plants at that period. The blossoms 

 continue from six weeks or more in perfection. If in vigorous 

 health the plants generally flower every year, and also produce 

 young plants at the base. The latter, if required, should be 

 taken off when rooted ; if not, they should be left on, in order 

 to make a finer specimen. 



The species are for the most part found in Tropical and 

 Southern Africa, and in the Mascaren Islands. 



Culture. — The AnrjrcEcums require the same treatment as 

 the Aerides, and the potting material should be similar. 

 Like them, too, they are best grown in the East Indian house. 

 To this rule, however, A. falcatwn is an exception, as it suc- 

 ceeds best in the Mexican house. 



