546 obchid-grower's manual. 



floral racemes are shorter, the flowers larger, and of a pale 

 green, and the sepals and petals acute. Introduced by 

 Messrs. Low. — Malayan Archipelago ; Philippine Islands. 

 SYS.—Bendrochilum uncatum. 



PleIONE, Don. 



{Tribe Epidendrese, subtribe CcElogyness.) 



A genus of pretty dwarf deciduous plants, with flask-like 

 pseudobulbs, and light green membranous leaves which are 

 produced after the decay of the flowers. Some authors 

 regard them as forming a section only of the genus Ccelogyne 

 from which indeed they differ but slightly, except in habit, but 

 their habit is so peculiar, that it would seem to indicate they 

 are entitled to generic rank. Thus every season, after finishing 

 their growth, the leaves begin to die away, and during this, 

 which is the proper time to rest them, they should have only 

 just enough water to keep them from shrivelling. After they 

 have enjoyed their due season of rest, the flowers will be 

 produced; this occurs during the autumn and winter months, 

 and immediately precedes the appearance of the young growth, 

 so that whenever the flowers are seen to be pushing up from 

 the base of the pseudobulbs, water should be given in moderate 

 quantities. The flowers are solitary, produced on sheathed 

 peduncles, which spring from the root ; and they have a 

 fringed lip saccate at the base. These plants are frequently 

 called Indian Crocuses, since they throw up their flowers in 

 autumn and winter, much after the manner of our common 

 Crocus, differing, however, considerably in shape, but like 

 them very handsome and rich in colour. The few known 

 species are nearly all natives of the Indian Alps. 



Culture. — The Pleiones are far too little cared for by Orchid 

 growers, manj' objecting to them on account of the leaves 

 being absent at the time of flowering; but this is easily 



