168 obchid-geower's manual. 



and leaves during the period of growth, but need very little 

 rest, and should never be allowed to shrivel. 



C. purpurea, LindUy. — A beautiful upright growing plant, 

 with distichous oblong-linear emarginate leaves three to four 

 inches long. It produces its flower spikes, which are about 

 eight inches long and many -flowered, from the side of the 

 stem ; the blossoms are pale rose-coloured, the lip being of a 

 deeper rosy crimson, and they appear from March to May, 

 lasting two or three weeks in beauty. A fine specimen of 

 this species was shown at the Chiswick and Eegent's Park 

 Exhibitions in 1850. This single plant, on which there were 

 more than a hundred spikes of flowers, was exhibited by R. S. 

 Holford, Esq., Tetbury, Gloucestershire. It is to be regretted 

 that we do not see this plant so well cultivated as it was some 

 few years ago, for it is a fine object when grown like Mr, 

 Holford's plant.— Iwc^ia ; Sylhet, Khasya. 



FiG.—Lindl. Sert. Orch., t. 19 ; Paxton, Mag. Bot., vii. 25, with tab. 



CaTASETUM, L. C. Richard. 

 {Tribe Vandese, suhtribe Stanhopiese.) 



A genus of very remarkable Orchids, with short stem-like 

 pseudobulbs, large plicate leaves, and erect or pendulous 

 spikes of quaint-looking polygamo-trimorphous flowers, often 

 large, but seldom very attractive in character. There are 

 nearly forty known species from Tropical America and 

 Mexico, many of which are in cultivation, but they can 

 scarcely be regarded as favourites with Orchid-growers. The 

 separation of the sexes gives rise to flowers which have been 

 taken to belong to totally distinct genera, e.g., MojiachantJms 

 and Myanthus. 



Culture. — The Catasetums thrive best in the Cattleya house. 

 They should be potted in a compost of peat with good drain- 

 age, and we have found them succeed best in baskets suspended 

 from the roof. They should not receive too much water when 

 growing, and when the growth is complete just sufficient 

 should be given to keep them from shrivelling. 



