GENERA AND SPECIES 93 



species and a large number of hybrids. Primarily the 

 genus may be divided into two classes the evergreen ; and 

 the deciduous, which lose their leaves after the completion 

 of the growths, and should have a protracted dry resting 

 reason. The evergreen species have a shorter and less 

 rigorous resting season accorded them. The deciduous 

 class is exemplified by D. nobile, D. Wardianum, D. eras- 

 sinode, and the plants associated with them, and their 

 hybrids ; and the evergreen species by D. densiflorum, 

 D. Farmeriy and D. chrysotoxum. D. Wardianum, with 264 

 flowers, is illustrated in Plate III. 



Next, the genus may be divided into two further classes 

 those requiring a high temperature, such as D. Phalcenopsis, 

 D. superbum, D. atro-violaceum, &c. ; and those which may 

 be grown comparatively cool, which include D. speciosum 

 (an excellent plant for a sunny conservatory), D. moniliforme 

 from Japan, D. aggregatum, D. Jenkinsii, and many others. 

 All the species require a high temperature, moist atmos- 

 phere, and an abundance of water during the growing 

 season, but should be kept drier and cooler after the growth 

 is completed to prepare them for flowering. The species 

 with pendulous growths should be grown in baskets or 

 suspended pans. 



Diacrium. A section of Epidendrum, with hollow 

 pseudo-bulbs, and white, wax-like flowers. D. bicornutum 

 is a very fine species for the warm house. 



Disa. A genus of terrestrial Orchids from Africa, best 

 represented in gardens by the fine Scarlet Disa grandiflora, 

 which, with the others of its section, D. racemosa and ZX 

 tripetaloides, have produced many beautiful hybrids. These 

 are cool-house plants, and should be potted in a mixture 



