54 
NOTES ON PLANTS IN THE CONSERVATORIES, 
The East Indian orchids, represented by the genus Dendrobium, 
are nowin full flower. This genus is a vast one, and is restricted 
to the Old World. It comprises about 300 species, found over 
a wide territory, extending from India and the Malay region to 
Japan and China, Australia, New Zealand and the islands of the 
southern Pacific, reaching perhaps its maximum development 
in the Malay Archipelago. From Burma come Dendrobium 
Wardianum and D. pendulum, much resembling each other in 
habit and in general color of the flowers, which are white more 
or less colored with rose. JD. pendulum, however, can be at 
once distinguished by the marked thickening of the nodes of the 
stem (a character which evidently suggested one of its synonyms, 
a name by which it is frequently known, D. crassinode) and the 
absence of the two eye-like spots of crimson magenta which mark 
the base of the lip in D. Wardianum. Both species are repre- 
sented by several specimens in flower. Resembling these in its 
pendulous habit, but otherwise differing greatly, is D. Pierardii, 
from the Himalayan region. The delicately tinted flowers, with 
the sulphur-yellow convolute lip, form quite a contrast with the 
more decided colors of the preceding species. Another member 
of this genus, an old friend and one of the first orchids introduced 
into cultivation, is Dendrobium nobile. This is found all the way 
from Sikkim, in the Himalayas, to central China, and it is as 
variable in its colors as it is extended in its range ; specimens 
are now in full flower, and also of the marked color variety 
nobilior, which differs in the deeper color ee the petals and sepals 
and in their greater breadth. Dendrobium aureum, also from the 
Himalayan Region, adds charm to the collection of these plants ; 
its yellow flowers make it at once noticeable ; it is sometimes 
called D. heterocarpum, Additional interest is added to this last 
species, as well as to D. mobile, by the presence in the group of D. 
Ainsworthit, just passing out of flower, a hybrid between the two; 
the xodile blood, however, predominates, as the stems and flowers 
more strongly resemble that species ; in fact, none of the yellow 
color of D. aureum is transmitted to the hybrid, the sepals and pet- 
als being a pure white, occasionally slightly flushed with pale rose. 
