supplementa7'y to the Encyc. of Plants and Hart. Brit. 377 



2547. DENDKO^BIUM [bot. v. p. 121. 



*densiflbrum Part, dense-flowered £ [23 or 2 ... Y Nepal 1837 D p.r.w Paxt. mag. of 



A very showy epiphyte, originally sent to this country by 

 Dr. Wallich, but more recently imported by His Grace the 

 Duke of Devonshire, whose collector, Mr. John Gibson, found 

 it on the Khoosea Hills, growing upon trees in shady moist 

 woods, at an elevation of about 3000 feet. " Plants of this 

 showy species, when grown in the artificial climate of our hot- 

 houses, seldom produce their flowers, which is chiefly owing to 

 the inattention of cultivators to the process of drying them, and 

 also of preventing them from flowering at their favourite season; 

 for, with due regard to these particulars, we have succeeded in 

 flowering most profusely no less than six plants of this species, 

 in the collection of Chatsworth." The first step in attaining 

 the knowledge of the culture of any plant is, a knowledge of the 

 nature of plants generally ; and the second is, what may be 

 called the natural history of the particular plant to be cultivated. 

 Supposing the gardener to possess the first requisite, he only 

 requires in addition to know the natural habit of the particular 

 species, its seasons of flowering and of rest, its duration, and its 

 liability to the attacks of insects or other enemies. All Orchi- 

 daceag require, in common with all other plants, " a season of 

 growth, a season of rest, and a season for flowering;" and, in 

 our stoves, these should coincide, in order and duration, with the 

 corresponding seasons of those jmrts of the globe where the 

 species to be cultivated is indigenous. " All, or the greater 

 number, of the species of Dendrobium, flower in India in the 

 hot or dry season ; which is succeeded by the rainy season, 

 when they make their shoots ; and, during the cold or winter 

 season, they have a period of repose: they thus enjoy three 

 seasons, while in this country we have four, the autumnal 

 quarter not being known there. The different seasons of India 

 being thus so well known, it is by no means difficult to imitate 

 them in our hot-houses; and, by attending to these simple rules, 

 we should be enabled to flower the various species of Dendro- 

 bium more abundantly than those of any other genus of Orchi- 

 daceae ; besides which, we might easily induce them to flower in 

 this country at any season of the year. Dendrobium densi- 

 florum may be propagated by detaching one of the stems, while 

 in a dormant state, taking care not to injure the roots, and 

 potting it carefully into heath soil, well drained ; the stem will 

 require supporting with a slender stake, and the pot containing 

 it should be plunged in a gentle bottom heat, where it will 

 speedily produce new shoots." {Paxton's Mag. of Bot., Ju]y.) 



PHA'IUS Paxt. Phaius. (From pfia/o, to shine; in allusion to the splendour of the flowers.) ["p. 12';. 



*a\b{is Piixt white £ [Ai spl 1 my W E.Indies 1837 D p.r.w Paxt. mag. of bot. v. 



" This may be said to be one of the most delicate, as well as 

 the most lovely, of orchidaceous plants, the flowers being large 



