THE ORCHIDS OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 941 



the plant sketched. It was obtained from the Thana District, but the exact 

 locality is not mentioned by him. But it is a proof positive that the orchid 

 grows somewhere in the Thana District. I throw out this hint for future 

 collectors. 



Hooker notices that the plant is very variable in size of flower and colour of 

 lip. Well may it be so, considering the variable heat and moisture of the rainy 

 season, during which the plant shows its floral beauty. The flowers appearing 

 as they do in the rainy season, on raceme terminating the leafy stem fall very 

 gracefully. This graceful fall, Williams happily names as "nodding." As a 

 rule the flowers, though not numerous, are yet showy of bright white petals, 

 with the midlobe wavy fringed delicately at the margin and crimson streaked 

 in the body ; the lip is shovel-shaped as Hooker terms it. 



This orchid is evidently a child of the Highlands through India. It is now 

 referred to by Williams to genus Thunia, of which there is no mention made 

 in Hooker's Flora of Br. India. To have thus dissociated Phajus albus, Lindl., 

 from Hooker's genus Phajus is, I think, botanically correct. I say so because the 

 species of Thunia are so readily distinguished from those of Phajus that there 

 can be no doubt of the two genera being distinct. Williams observes that in the 

 manner of growth and habit there are striking differences between the species 

 of Thunia and Phajus, respectively. Thus, for instance, says Williams, the 

 orchids of genus Thunia " have* terete leafy stems which grow in fascicles ; 

 their leaves are deciduous ; and their terminal drooping clusters of flowers are 

 provided with large membranous bracts. The structure of the flowers closely 

 resembles that of Phajus. 



For the purpose of distinguishing the differential details between genus 

 Thunia and genus Phajus we have the high and unquestionable sanction of 

 Reichenbach. They are as follows : — " Thunias have a terminal inflorescence on 

 the leafy shoots, whereas Phajuses have their inflorescences and theiro fascicles 

 of leaves apart. Thunias have fleshy membranous leaves, Phajuses have plait- 

 ed ones. Thunias have persistent, Phajuses deciduous bracts. Thunias 

 have four, Phajuses eight poilen-masses. Phajus flowers get blue when dried, 

 Thunia keep white or get brownish. " 



(/V. .3. — Here is a wrinkle for orchid collectors ! K. R. K.) " You can make 

 cuttings of Thunias as of a Dracaena, try it with Phajus ! " So says Williams. 



(N.B. — The interjection " ! " means : — " Don't try ; you are sure to fail in 

 propagating the plant, if you try ' cuttings ' " — K. R. K.) 



This orchid is well worth introducing in the Konkan to a larger extent, as I 

 believe that though it is a native of the hills, it is capable of growing in the 

 lowlands of the Konkans. 



Hooker's arrangement of the species of genus Phajus is based on the position 

 of the scape, but he is doubtful whether such an arrangement will hold good. 

 It is best therefore to refer Phajus albus, the species under description, to genus 

 Thunia. 



(K. R. K.) 



