supplementary to Eiicyc. of Plants and Hort. Brit. 145 



A noble plant, which flowered for the first time in Britain in 

 the epiphyte house at Chatsworth, in August, 1837; "and cer- 

 tainly there never was a more beautiful sight than when it ex- 

 panded its large, rich, leopard-spotted blossoms, in all the 

 perfection of their singular form and deep soft colours. The 

 full-blown flowers measured nearly 4^ in. across, and emitted a 

 very agreeable odour, resembling a combination of chimo- 

 nanthus, heliotrope, and the perfume called Marechal." Dr. 

 Lindley considers that this was the famous lynx flower of Her- 

 nandez, alluded to by Mr. Bateman (XIII. p. 509.). It approaches 

 nearly to S, tigrina, " and the Mexican plant, the rival of this 

 in beauty, which is about to appear in Mr. Bateman's mag- 

 nificent publication." There is nothing remarkable in the 

 foliage or manner of flowering, except that the furrow which 

 terminates the upper side of the leaf, at the lower end does not 

 run through to the pseudo-bulb, but loses itself about half-way 

 down the petiole. This peculiarity, which was pointed out to 

 Dr. Lindley by Mr. Paxton, is to be found in no other species 

 hitherto introduced. "The success with which epiphytes are 

 there cultivated by Mr. Paxton is wonderful ; and the climate in 

 which this is effected, instead of being so hot and damp, that the 

 plants can only be seen with as much peril as if one had to visit 

 them in an Indian iunfjle, is as mild and delijihtful as that of 

 Madeira. As to luxuriance of growth, never have they been 

 seen in their native woods in such perfect beauty." The essence 

 of Mr. Paxton's mode of culture we had previously abridged 

 from the Botanical Register, and it will be found in p. 144. 



2J47. DENDRO'BIUM [orchid. t3. 



*n6b\\e Lindl. noble £ El pr 2 f Gsh. Y. tipped with P China ?18o6 D p.r.w Sert. 



Dendrobium is one of the handsomest of the Asiatic genera of 

 Orchidaceae ; and D. nobile, says Dr. Lindley, "must be con- 

 sidered the handsomest of all Dendrobia. Its very stems are so 

 bright and transparent, that they form a beautiful object; and the 

 effect of the brifjht fji-een veins of the leaf-sheaths seen throu";h 

 the semitransparent skin, is very striking. The flowers are un- 

 rivalled for delicacy of texture and gracefulness of form ; at first 

 nodding, as if their slender stalks were unable to sustain their 

 weight; and then, as they disentangle their ample folds, as- 

 suming a horizontal position, with the rich trumpet-shaped lip 

 forming an apparently solid centre, they seem purposely to raise 

 themselves to the distinct view of the beholder." This species was 

 introduced from China by Mr. Reeves, who bought the plant 

 in the market at Macao, and does not know in what part of 

 China it is found wild. It flowered with Messrs. Loddiges in 

 1837; but in what year it was introduced is not mentioned. It 

 is most nearly allied to D. moniliforme. [Bot. Beg., t. 1314.) 



Vol. XIV. — No. 9G. l 



