CHYSIS BRACTESCENS zinaz : 
Bracteis ovatis acutis concavis ovaria pedicellata superantibus, sepalis tepalisque cuneato oblongis acutis concavis, labello trifido cartilagineo laciniis 
lateralibus triangulis, lacinia mediana cuneato dilatata, antice emarginato subbiloba, concava, carinis quinis seu septenis, subzequalibus contiguis, radiantibus 
in basi, in ima basi puberulis, columna latissime trigona cymbiformi in basi puberula. 
CHYSIS BRACTESCENS, Lindl, Bot. Reg., 1840, misc. 131! 1841, tab. 23! Warner and Williams Sel. Orch. I. 34! Ill. Hort, 1860, 240, 398! VanHoutte 
res, 675! Deustche Gartenzeitung, 1886, p. 82! 
Pseudobulbi fusiformes usque sesquipedales, vulgo spithamei. Folia plicata cuneato oblonga acuminata undulata. Racemi axillares deflexi seu 
porrecti pauciflori rhachi valida. Sepala et tepala alba, apicibus nunc viridulis. Sepalus extus glutinosa. Labellum intus flavum, extus album. Columna 
vulgo dorso alba, antice flava. 
In Mexico late dispersa videtur. HG. Rehb. f. 
Icones analytic : Flos a latere sepalis tepalisque decisis. Labellum superne plicis anticis minis evolutis. Columne due antice. 
THE genus Chysis comprises about half a dozen species, all handsome plants, natives of Mexico and Central America. 
There is a great similarity among them as regards habit of growth, all having thick, fleshy pseudo-bulbs usually spindle 
shaped, and bearing a few long and rather broad plicate leaves, which die away every season during the resting period. 
Their flowers also are much alike, all being large, of wax-like texture, and produced from the young growths. 
C. bractescens is an old introduction, having been first brought to Europe in 1839, and was flowered for the first time in 
cultivation by the late Mr. George Barker, of Birmingham. It has never been a common Orchid, probably on account of 
its being a reputedly difficult plant to grow successfully. Of late years, however, it has been imported largely, and 
consequently has become more commonly grown and its treatment better understood. 
Collectors have aided cultivators considerably of recent years by stating the conditions under which the plants they 
discover and collect grow in their native haunts. In the case of Chysis bractescens it is found growing in thick forests 
on the stems or large branches of trees. In the States of Vera Cruz and To asco it occurs towards the foot of the 
mountains at about 1500 feet altitude, where the temperature ranges from about 70 deg. to 80 deg. F. except during 
the winter season, when it is lowered by north winds. It is naturally a deciduous epiphyte, and is sometimes found 
hanging on the trees by its roots alone. Seldom is this Orchid seen grown to perfection ; generally it is represented by 
sickly plants, in many cases the result of growing them in hot, ill-ventilated houses. When well grown, the pseudo-bulbs 
measure from a foot to eighteen inches and even two feet in height, and of proportionate thickness. It should be grown 
in a well ventilated part of the East Indian house during the greater part of the year, and in a suspended basket, so 
as to afford it abundance of light, though not fierce sunlight at mid-day. If grown in a pot, it should be placed on a high 
stage as near the roof as convenient. The pot or basket should be well drained, and the compost should be fibrous peat 
and sphagnum moss, sufficiently open or porous, so that the roots may penetrate freely and allow superfluous moisture to 
drain away. During active growth, which takes place in summer, an abundant supply of water must be given, and the 
atmosphere kept moist and well ventilated, in order to keep the foliage free from thrips, which are very liable to attack 
this Orchid when grown in a hot and dry house; frequent syringings overhead during hot and dry weather will tend to 
keep this pest away. 
The resting period begins as soon as the current season’s bulbs are fully developed, which is towards the end of 
summer. The plant must then be placed in a cooler and drier atmosphere, either in the same or another house. The 
lower temperature and dryness will conduce to the ripening of the bulbs, which is the chief point to consider, bearing in 
mind that the largest and best ripened bulbs produce the finest spikes of flower. In early spring the plant will start 
again into active growth, when it should be removed to warmer and moister quarters. The flower spikes are produced 
from the new bulbs when about 5 in. or 6 in. long, which is about the middle of May, the flowers lasting in perfection 
two or three weeks. After the flowers are past the plant may be subjected to a warmer and moister treatment. Imported 
plants usually flower well the first season from the native grown bulbs. It is during the first season after importation that 
the plant requires close attention, in order to produce strong growths. - 
This species, as well as others of the genus, may be increased by cutting away the old bulbs and placing 
them on damp moss in a close propagating case, when they soon form new growths, which may be detached after 
having made a few roots. 
Painted from a specimen in the collection of Major Mason, The Firs, Warwick. 
