Miltonia 



(77 ) 



Mimosa 



Where they are observed to be doing harm, traps 

 of pieces of Carrot will catch a good many, and by 

 occasionally lifting pot plants that are stood upon 

 the ground, others may be caught. Deep trenching 

 of the soil is an excellent cure. 



MILTONIA. 



Description. In this genus (prtl. Orchidacess) are 

 some of the showiest of Orchids, vexillaria and its 

 hybrids rivalling the C'attleyas in size and effect. 

 All are dwarf, the flattish pseudo-bulbs being sur- 

 mounted by several stiff leaves, that, in the group 

 referred to, are of a curious greyish-green colour. 

 The flowers are always flat, and the lip is very 

 large. The flowers of vexillaria are too lumpy for 

 artistic effect when cut, and they do not last so 

 well in water as those of Candida, etc. 



Compost. For the vexillaria group, including 

 Koezlii and bleuana, sphagnum forms the chief 

 item, mixed with a little peat fibre and sand. For 

 the cooler growing forms, fibrous peat with a little 

 sphagnum suffices. In all cases efficient drainage 

 is essential. 



Propagation. By division at the time of potting. 



Temperature. Roezlii and bleuana are only 

 successfully grown at the cool end of a stove, the 

 former plunged in live sphagnum and the latter 

 suspended from the roof or elevated towards it. 

 Candida, spectabilis and varieties, cuneata, etc., can 

 be grown all the year round in a cool house, but 

 are the better managed if given a few degrees 

 more warmth during winter, the cool end of a 

 Cattleya house suiting them. Vexillaria is best 

 grown in a light position in an intermediate house 

 where abundance of air can be admitted during 

 summer. 



Other Cultural Points. Differences of opinion 

 prevail as to the best time for potting, but where 

 atmospheric conditions are fairly favourable no 

 mistake can be made if potting is done as soon as 

 the plants begin to make new growths. Use small 

 pots or pans for the erect-growing forms, but 

 broader receptacles for spectabilis and its varieties. 

 Though never deciduous, Miltonias require very 

 little water at the roots when there is no apparent 

 growth. Moisture in t he atmosphere must always 

 be maintained, according to the time of year, 

 frequent clamping between the pots and on the 

 stages being necessary when evaporation is rapid. 



Diseases and Pests. Too low a temperature, or 

 excessive water in winter, will turn the tips of the 

 leaves brown or black. Thrips are a great pest, 

 and must be opposed with vaporising compounds, 

 sponging with tobacco solution, and dusting with 

 tobacco powder. Cotton-wool wrapped round the 

 spike will deter slugs. 



Principal Species, Varieties, and Hybrids : 

 bleuana, IV, My., wh., lip lamarcheana, 14', aut., 

 wh., br. blotch, yel. br., yel., pur.", hybrid 



disc, hybrid (vexillaria (Clowesii X Candida) : 



X Roezlii). The finest 

 member of the genus ; 

 aurca, uobilior, rosea 

 gigantea, and virginalis 

 are all beautiful forms. 



Candida, 1J', Aug., reddish 

 br., yel., wh.: grandi- 

 flora is a superior form. 



Clowesii, 2', ant., In-., 

 yel., wh., pur. 



nmrata, I. 1 .', spr., br., 

 yel., whl, ro. (//. 

 speciosa). 



joiceyana is similar to, 



and must be regarded 



as a form of, lamarche- 



aua. 

 Fhahriiopsis, 1', My.,wh., 



pur. (/. pulchella). 

 Roezlii, 1', aut., wh.. 



pur. blotches, yel. 

 schrikleriiina, 1', Sep., 



br.. yel., pur., wh., 



fragrant, 

 spectabilis, 9", sum., 



blush ro., lip pur. 



Numerous vars., the 

 finest being bicolor, 

 morelianu, atro-rubens, 

 radians, and virgiualis. 



travassosiana, li', Sep., 

 yel., pur., a form of, or 

 hybrid from, Regnelli. 



vexillaria, \\' , spr., vari- 

 able species, wh. to 

 deepest red rose, yel. 



Other Species, Varieties 



Biuoti, H', sum., yel., 

 br., pur., lil., hybrid 

 (candida X Regnelli). 



Bluntii, 1', aut., yel., 

 reddish br., pur., hybrid 

 (spectabilisX Clowesii). 



lubbersiana, larger and 

 brighter. 



peetersiaua, pur., yel. 

 Coguiauxiii", 1', aut., 



vio., pur.,wh., hybrid 

 (spectabilis moreliaua 

 X Regnelli). 



Eudresii, \\' , spr., wh., 

 red, yel. 



festiva, 9", sum., pale 

 yel., pur., hybrid (spec- 

 tabilis x flavescens). 



flayescens, 1$', sum., yel., 

 lip yel., pur. (syn. stel- 

 lata). 



joiceyaua (see lamarche- 

 aua). 



or. disc. The choicest 

 forms are albicaiis, 

 cobbiaua, Daisy Hay. 

 wood, Fairy Queen, Le- 

 opoldii, measuresiana, 

 Memoria G, D. Owen, 

 (seep. 76) Princess May, 

 rubella, spleudeus, and 

 superba. 



and Hybrids : 



moreliana (see spectabilis). 



leucoglossa, 9", aut., wh., 

 gni., pur., hybrid (spec- 

 tabilis X Candida). 



peetersiana (see Bluntii 

 var.). 



pulchella (nee Phatenop- 

 sis). 



Regnelli, \y, aut., wh., 

 ro., pur. 



aurea, yel. 



purpurea, deep colour, 

 russelliana, 1J', sum., 



reddish br., yel., wh. 

 specioea (see cuneata). 

 stellata (see flavescens). 

 Warscewiczii, 1^', spr., 



br. pur., wh., lip br. 



pur., lil. (syn. Odonto- 



glossum fuscatum). 

 Weltonii, brighter. 



xanthina, shaded with 

 yel. 



MIMETES. 



Greenhouse evergreen shrubs (ord. Proteacese), 

 all from South Africa. They are of little decora- 

 tive value, and are rare in cultivation. Increase is 

 by cuttings of the ripened shoots in autumn, or 

 before growth starts in spring. No bottom heat 

 is required. Soil, peat and loam, in equal parts. 

 Plenty of moisture is needed. 



Principal Species : 



Zeyheri, 6" to 8", Jy., bracts rosy red (syn. Oro- 

 thamnus Zeyheri of liata/nieal Magazine 4357). 



MIMICRY. 



In their war against enemies, numerous insects 

 mimic certain features of their environment or 

 of other plants or animals. Mimicry may be pro- 

 tective or aggressive. In the first case an insect 

 may develop a certain colour, such as that of the 

 leaves upon which it lives, to assist it in escaping ; 

 in the second the colour may be employed to assist 

 it in catching its prey. Warning colours are ex- 

 hibited by some insects which are unpalatable to 

 others, to prevent the latter mistaking them for 

 palatable food. The looper caterpillars, and the 

 Thorn Moth Caterpillar, which fasten themselves to 

 twigs and imitate them by remaining perfectly 

 rigid, are good examples of protective mimicry. 

 The Indian Mantis, which, feeding exclusively 

 upon insects, flattens itself against the trunk of a 

 tree, and stretches out its wings and legs to 

 resemble a pink flower, thereby luring its prey 

 towards it. is an instance of aggressive mimicry. 



MIMOSA. 



This large and widely distributed genus (ord. 

 Leguminossc) enters little into British gardening. 

 The "Mimosa" sold in the London streets in spring 

 is Acacia dcalbata (which see). Most of the 

 Mimosas have leaves more or less sensitive to the 



