BLETIA. 145 



freely. The colour of the flowers is distinct from that of 

 most of our Orchids, and produces a good effect in a house ; 

 and although they are not thought much of by many Orchid- 

 growers, they are well worth the care that is bestowed upon 

 them on account of their pleasing colours. 



B. canipanulata, Llave. — The blossoms of this species are 

 •of a deep purple, with a white centre, and they grow in a few- 

 flowered raceme. It flowers at diflerent times of the year, 

 and lasts long in perfection. — Mexico ; Peru. 



B. hyacintMna, B. Bromi. — A handsome tuberous plant, 

 with long lanceolate plicate leaves, and slender scapes a foot 

 high bearing flowers of a beautiful rose-purple ; the lip is 

 white, streaked with red in the centre, and spotted and 

 broadly edged with deep crimson. It proves to be hardy 

 under congenial treatment. — China ; Japan. 



YiG.—Sm. Exot. Bot., i. t. 60 ; Bot. Mag., t. 1492 ; Loddiges, Bot. Cab., 

 t. 1968 ; Garden, 1879, t. 205 ; Blume, Orch. Arch, Ind., t. 6, fig. 1 ; Thiinb. 

 Icon. Fl. Jap., t. 9. 



Syn. — Cymbidium hyacinthinum ; Bletia japonica. 



B. hyacintllilia albo-Striata, Siehold. — This is exactly 

 similar in habit to B. iDjaciut/dna, but with all the nerves white, 

 producing a very pretty striped variegation, and as it succeeds 

 well in a cool-house it will be a valuable acquisition. — Japan. 



B. patula, Graham. — A fine species, wdth roundish bulbs 

 or tubers, lanceolate plicate leaves a foot and a half long, and 

 long erect scapes three feet high, bearing many (20) flowers 

 in a terminal raceme. The flowers are large, spreading, up- 

 wards of two inches across, and of a reddish lilac or rose 

 colour, with the six lamellae on the disk white. It blooms in 

 March or April. This plant should be placed in the Cattleija 

 house during the growing season, but must be removed to a 

 cooler place to rest. — West Indies. 



Fig.— Bot. Mag., t. 3518 ; Paxt. Fl. Gard., ii. 69, fig. 169. 

 B. Shepherdii, Hooker. — A robust-growing species, with 

 broadly lanceolate dark green leaves a foot and a half long, and 

 branching flower scapes two to three feet high. The flowers 

 are of a deep reddish purple, marked down the centre of the 

 lip with from five to seven creamj^ yellow lamellae. It blooms 

 during the winter months, and remains in perfection three or 

 four weeks. — Jamaica. 



Fig.— Bot. Mag., t. 3319 ; Paxton, Mag. Bot., ii. 146, with tab. 



