302 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES ORCHIS 



and B. farinacea are most common, and generally their growth 

 denotes unhealthy forest vegetation. They yield but a small 

 amount of colouring matter. 



Orchis, the name of a Linnsean genus, and the type of an 

 extensive family of plants termed Orchidaceae, generally spoken 

 of as Orchids. The number of known species exceeds 3000._ 

 They are found more or less abundantly in all temperate and 

 tropical countries ; the greater number are epij)hytal — that is, 

 growing on trees ; some grow on rocks, and a considerable 

 number are perennial herbs, with tuberous roots growing in 

 the ground, of which 42 are natives of Britain. Although the 

 species are numerous, few possess economic properties ; the 

 principal being Vanilla (which see), and a few of those with 

 tuberous roots yield Salep (which see). Orchids have, during 

 the last fifty years, become highly patronised as curious and 

 showy garden plants, and to obtain them plant collectors are 

 specially sent to their respective countries ; and they have thus 

 become important trade plants. Hothouses have been specially 

 adapted for their cultivation, and they form an important and 

 attractive feature in all horticultural exhibitions ; and some 

 special kinds realise high prices — even at public sales £500 and 

 £600 has been realised in one day ; but this, during the last 

 year (1881), has been surpassed by the sale of an amateur's col- 

 lection, which occupied several days, and which realised over 

 £5538, some individual plants being sold for £20, £50, 

 and £100, and even more. The species thus patronised are, 

 however, few, in all not exceeding one hundred, consisting of 

 species of the genera Aerides, Saccolahmm, Vanda, Dendrobium, 

 Phalmnoijsis, Angrcecum, Odontoglossum, Cattlcya^ Stanhopea, 

 Ci/pripedium, and a few others. This presents a strong contrast 

 to the first notice of Orchids as garden plants. In the eighth 

 edition of Miller's Gardener's Dictionary of 1768, under "Epi- 

 dendrum," he says :— " But as the plants cannot, by any art yet 

 known, be cultivated in the ground, it would be to little purpose 

 to enumerate them, though, could the plants be brought to 

 thrive, many of them produce very fine flowers of uncommon 



