ODOURS OF ORCHIDS 65 



CHAPTER XVIII 

 ODOURS OF ORCHIDS 



MANY Orchids have fragrant flowers, while in some sections 

 the fragrance is emitted by the whole plant. A large 

 number of Burmese and Indian, highland Orchids, such as 

 Dendrobium moschatum y the section of deciduous Bulbo- 

 phyllums which includes B. auricomum, B. hirtum, B. 

 comosum, and B. suavissimum, have leaves that on becom- 

 ing dry after falling give off a strong odour of newly-mown 

 hay, the plants also in all their parts being similarly scented 

 when dry, even the cases containing them being pleasantly 

 scented by the plants. 



The odours of Orchid flowers may generally be likened 

 to well-known perfumes. Trichopilia suavis, Miltonia 

 Roezlii, and others are scented like the Rose ; Odonto- 

 glossum odoratum and some other Odontoglossums, Maxil- 

 laria picta and other Maxillarias, like the Hawthorn. 

 Certain Maxillarias of the M. luteo-alba section are scented 

 like Honeysuckle, and odour similar to the Tuberose is 

 given off by many Angraecums. Some have a much 

 stronger odour at night than in the day, a peculiarity 

 which is found in Epidendrum nocturnum, E. ciliare, and 

 many species. Vanilla is a common scent in Orchids, 

 being present in some Vandas. The odour of Violets is 

 furnished by Dendrobium heterocarpum and others of its 

 class, and the Primrose, Wallflower, and other common 

 garden plants have their exact imitators in the matter of 



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