Mauritia 



60 ) 



Maxillaria 



species, heterophylla and simplicifolia, have been 

 introduced, but they are probably long since lost 

 to cultivation. 



MAURITIA. 



The six or seven species making up this genus 

 (ord. Palmae) are handsome stove Palms, with fan- 

 shaped leaves. They are, however, rare in cultiva- 

 tion. Seeds should be sown in a brisk hotbed, in 

 spring, otherwise germination is slow. A compost 

 of peat and loam, in equal parts, with sand, is 

 suitable, and the plants should be stood during 



most part, less showy than those of many other 

 Orchids. 



Propagation. By imported pieces, and by 

 division of the pseudo-bulbs. Spring is the best 

 season to carry out division, and the pieces should 

 be started in a rather close and warm pit. 



Soil. Peat and chopped sphagnum, with a little 

 sand. A few points of live sphagnum should be 

 employed for surfacing. 



Other Cultural Points. Although they come 

 from tropical regions it will be noted, from the 



MAXILLARIA SCLRUILIS (seep. 61). 



the hot days of the summer a few inches deep in 

 a tank of warm water, for they are thirsty sub- 

 jects. 



Principal Species : 



aculeate, stem prickly and 

 Ivs. bearing spiny hairs. 



flexuosa, stein unarmed. 



MAXILLARIA. 



Description. A large genus (ord. Orchidacesc) 

 of terrestrial Orchids, distributed throughout 

 central America from Brazil to the West Indies. 

 The species display a considerable range of varia- 

 tion, but the flowers are in most cases thick and 

 fleshy. Comparatively few species are in cultiva- 

 tion, due to the fact that the blooms are. for the 



Maurocenia (see Cassine). 



lists given below, that most of the Maxillarias can 

 be grown in a cool house, and with the Lycastes, if 

 desired. When they are making growth they will 

 appreciate a shift into an intermediate house, but 

 they should be kept out of the warmest houses, or 

 growth will be rapid and correspondingly weak. 



Host of the plants do best in pots, which should 

 be well drained, as a constant supply of water is 

 needed all the year round. To attempt to dry 

 them off would be fatal, although less water is 

 needed in winter. A number of species, amongst 

 which may be mentioned meleagris and tenuifolia, 

 have creeping rhizomes, and these may be accommo- 

 dated upon blocks of wood or Tree Fern. Shade 

 during bright weather is essential, and as this shade 

 should be rather heavier than that given to most 

 Orchids, it will be well to place the Maxillarias in 

 a corner by themselves. 



