536 



OECHID-GROWER S MANUAL. 



states that the very broad petals constitute the greatest 

 charms of its flowers. The tendrils of the lip assume the 

 anchor-like form seen in P. Schilleriana. The callus, which 

 is peculiar, being horse-shoe shaped with one blunt angle 

 outwards on each side, is white or whitish with brown or 

 purple freckles. It flowers during the autumn months. In 

 the var. marmorata the lateral sepals have numerous rows of 

 small purple spots at the base, and the lip has three broad 

 basal purple bars on the side lobes, and a middle lobe with 

 purple dots in the central line and fine purple stains at the 

 sides. — Eastern ArcJiipelago. 

 Fid.— Orchid Album, v. t. 209. 



P. ScMlleriana, Rchb. f. — ^A magnificent plant, undoubtedly 

 one of the finest species in cultivation, and quite dissimilar 

 from all other kinds. The roots of this plant are very dis- 

 inct, being flat and rough, and, moreover, very free in 

 growth. The leaves are oblong-obtuse, six to eighteen inches 

 long, beautifully variegated, being of a dark green colour, 

 mottled with irregular bands or streaks of greyish white on 

 the upper side, the under surface purple. The scapes or 

 peduncles are produced from the axils of the leaves, and in 

 their native country are sometimes more than three feet long, 

 and more branched than those of other kinds. The individual 

 blossoms measure more than three inches across, and are 

 arranged in two rows along the spike ; the obovate sepals and 

 larger rhomboid petals are of a beautiful light mauve, edged 

 with white ; the lip, which is three-lobed, with rounded lateral 

 lobes, and an oval central one split at the end into a pair of 

 divergent curved horns, is of the same colour, with darker 

 spots, the disk bearing a four-cornered callus, which is yellow, 

 spotted with reddish brown, and the middle part handsomely 

 spotted — indeed the whole aspect of the plant is very attractive. 

 The flowers, which are produced in summer, continue for 

 several weeks in full perfection. There are many difi'erent 

 varieties of this plant. Mr. Warner sent a specimen to the 

 St. Petersburg Exhibition in 1869, which had one hundred and 

 twenty expanded blooms upon it, and presented a most glorious 

 spectacle. The accompanying illustration was taken from a 

 plant which flowered in the garden of Lady Ashburton at 

 IMelchet Court ; it was figured in the Gardeners' Chronicle, 

 1875, and we are indebted to the editors of that periodical 

 f jr the use of the block. This plant bore three panicles of 



