PHALiENOPSIS. 523 



PhALJINOFSIS, Blume. 

 ( Tribe Yandese, subtribe Sarcanthese.) 

 A moderately extensive genus of epiphytes, the species of 

 ■which are not of very large growth, but the flowers of several 

 of them are magnificent and last long in beauty. The genus 

 has, moreover, received several grand and meritorious ac- 

 cessions within the last few years, so that it is much and 

 deservedly esteemed, and worth a place in every collection, no 

 less for the attractions of its flowers than for the comparatively 

 small space which the plants occupy. The known species 

 are all compact handsome plants, without pseudobulbs, but 

 emitting stout fleshy roots from the crown, and also pro- 

 ducing very thick distichous leaves, from the axils of which 

 the scapes of charming flowers arise. The flowers are remark- 

 ably showy, with spreading sepals, much broader petals con- 

 tracted at the base, and a spurless lip spreading from the 

 base and continuous with the column, the disk and base of the 

 lamina variously appendiculate. The flowers themselves are 

 very freely produced, and last a loug time ; indeed, they 

 may be had in bloom all the year round. We have seen 

 P. (jrandiflora blooming for six months, and have ourselves 

 exhibited the same plant for seven years at six exhibitions 

 during each year, and sometimes with as many as from 

 seventy to eighty flowers expanded on it at one time. Some 

 of the species of Phalmiopsis now in cultivation are amongst 

 the finest Orchids yet introduced to this country, and no 

 collection, however small, should be without an adequate 

 number of representatives of these lovely plants, which are 

 free-flowering, and, as we have already pointed out, con- 

 tinue for a long time in perfection — qualities which proclaim 

 them to be plants of more than ordinary value. 



There are two sections — Euj^halccnopsis, in which the petals 



