Phalaenopsis 



( 183 ) 



Phalaenopsis 



rosciis .., mishmieiisis). 

 Euinjiliii (wv callosus). 

 saml Ti:imu> (we Bluiuei 

 var.). 



veitchianus (see Thunia 



veitchiana). 

 Warpurii (see tuber- 



culosus). 



PHAL^ENOPSIS. 



Description A genus of about thirty species 

 (<>rd. Orcliidaoeic), natives of Eastern India and 

 the Malay Archipelago. All are dwarf, short- 

 stemmed plants, bearing a few thick leaves in two 

 ranks. Usually the leaves are rich green, but in 

 sanderiana, sciiilleriana, and veitchiana they are 

 marbled with greyish green ; in leucorrhcda, "casta 

 and stuartiana the marbling is evident on young 

 foliage only ; Mannii has violet margins and spots 

 on its leaves. A ballot among Orchid lovers would 

 probably result in a good majority in favour of 

 rbaleenopsis as the most beautiful genus. In the 

 better known forms the flowers are about 3" across, 

 the sepals and petals being sufficiently broad to 

 make up a full and rounded bloom ; some species 

 have starry flowers. The finest species have long, 

 arching spikes, and these are sometimes branched 

 and carry quite a large number of lovely blooms 

 that by reason of their shape and pose have earned 

 for the genus the popular title of Moth Orchids. 



Propagation. This is not easy, but in some 

 instances when the stem has elongated somewhat 

 it may be severed, provided there are sufficient 

 roots left on the forward or apical portion to keep 

 it growing; the beheaded portion will in all 

 probability form a bud, or "back break," that with 

 care and patience will develop into a plant. When 

 a plant makes several leads, one may be removed 

 if it is well rooted, but the severance must be 

 gradual to guard against check. Lue:ldemanniana 

 is most readily divided, and it occasionally forms 

 plant lets on its Mower stems. These latter, as well 

 as those occasionally formed on the roots of stuart- 

 iana, must not be removed until roots have formed. 



Cultural Requirements. All the species succeed 

 in suspended Teak baskets, or cylinders. The 

 former should have preference. As t'he roots resent 

 confinement the receptacles should be only just 

 large enough to accommodate the specimens. In 

 the best collections re-basketing is seldom practised, 

 and the roots hang down in quantity from the 

 small baskets. To ensure the escape of water, 

 crocks must be placed in the bottom of the basket 

 or cylinder, and should occupy half the space. 

 Clean, live sphagnum moss is the only other 

 material necessary, filling it among the roots in 

 such a manner that the crown or collar is raised 

 well above the rim of the receptacle. When a 

 larger basket becomes a necessity it is a good plan 

 to select one large enough to accommodate the old 

 one, as it is scarcely possible to remove the roots 

 without injury. Kemove any bars to which no 

 roots are attached, and let the roots pass between 

 the bottom bars of the new basket, subsequently 

 filling the spaces with crocks and sphagnum. 

 Growth commences in March and new material 

 and new baskets should be provided then, if 

 necessary. 



Temperature and Ventilation The season of 

 growth extends from March to the end of October, 

 arid during that period the temperature should be 

 70 by night and 75 to 80 by day. From Novem- 

 ber to March tiu to (>5 at night and li.V to 70 by 

 day will suffice. The changes from the latter to 

 the former tigures, or rii-e rcrsd. should be gradual. 

 Bottom ventilntors opening on to the hot-water 

 pipes afford the best means of ventilation, and 



from spring till late autumn air should be admitted 

 through them in quantity regulated by the external 

 conditions, always guarding against draughts. The 

 house in which Phalsenopses are grown should, if 

 possible, be an inner one in a range, or the doors 

 should open into another house, porch, or shed, so 

 as to prevent the inward rush of unwarmed air. 

 There is usually no great difficulty in arranging 

 this, and it is trouble well repaid. 



Moisture and Shading. Excepting during the 

 depth of winter, or foggy weather, it is hardly 

 possible to keep ths atmosphere too humid, 

 for Phalamopses grow naturally in saturated 

 atmospheres. Even Lowii, though not needing 

 water at the roots when resting, would succumb in 

 a dry atmosphere. Overhead watering and syring- 

 ing are best avoided, though in one well-known 

 collection no bad results appear to follow the 

 former when practised during summer. From 

 March to October give abundance of water, and 

 damp down as often as necessary ; from November 

 to March give only enough water to keep the 

 sphagnum fresh and green, and damp down only 

 once or twice a day. Phalsenopses love shade from 

 sunshine or very bright light, and unless this is 

 provided there will be scorched leafage and other 

 ills. Besides the ordinary roof -blind, it is an 

 advantage during summer to have a thin blind 

 arranged curtain-like on rings and wires beneath 

 the roof glass on the sunny side of the house. 

 Particular attention to shading in early spring will 

 keep the young and tender leaves from harm. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 



[NOTE. s. = sepals, p. = petals, 1. = lip.] 

 The figures immediately following the name of 



the species indicate the length of the leaves. 



amabilis, 1', spike 2' to schilleriana, l.f, spike 2' 



3', win., wh., 1. spotted to 4', spr., s. and p. ro. 



red, shaded yel. (syii. pur., shaded wh.,1. pur., 



grandiflora). The var. wh., spotted red, stained 



aureahasmoreyel.onl. yel., crest yel. Distinct 



Aphrodite, 1', spike 2' to vars. are major, pur- 



3', win., s. and p. wh., purea, and vestalis. 



1. wh., yel., pur. (KIJII. speciosa, 10", spike 1' to 



amabilis of Lhulley). IV. win., s. and p. pur., 



The var. dayana has 1. pur., or., wh. Im- 



more pur. on 1. peratrix is a splendid 



gloriosa, 1', spike 2' to var., with wh. marks 



3', win., s. and p. wh., on s. and p. 



1. wh., pur. By some, stuartiana, 1', spike 1.',' 



a var. of Aphrodite. to 3', win., s. and p. 



Lowii, 4", spike l',sum., wh., dotted pur., lower 



s. and ]). wh., stained s. spotted reddish pur., 



pur., 1. pur., withwh., 1. wh. or yel., spotted 



yel. spotted side lobes. reddish pur., side lobes 



lueddemanniaua, 8", yel., spotted pur. The 



spike 8" to 12", s. and best vars. are bella, 



p. wh., barred pur., br., nobilis and punctatis- 



1. wh., pur. sima. 



rosea, 0", spike 1' to 2', suniiitrana, 8", spike 8" 



sum., aut., s. and p. to 12". sura., s. ami p. 



wh., stained ro. pur., 1. wh., reddish br., 1. wh., 



ro. pur. (syu. eqiuwtris : or., pur. Good vars. 



leucaspis is a brighter are kimballiana, pauci- 



var. with wh. mottling. vittata, and sanguinea. 



sanderiana ., 10", spike violacea, 7", spike 6" to 



IV to 3', win., s. ami p. 10", sum., s.andp.wh., 



ro. pk., wh., 1. wh., tinged gni., base vio. 



marked ro., pur., crest pur., lowers, vio. pur., 



yel., spotted red. Alba, tinged grn. at tips, 1. 



marmoratu, and punct- vio. pur., yel. Alba, 



ata are distinct vars. ; bowrmgiana, and 



sanderiana is proliahly a schroderiaua are good 



natural hybrid (Aphro- vars. 

 dite X s 



