CALANTHE. 61 



Veratrifoli.e. Pseudo-bulbs none, or a very small, fleshy or tuberous 

 rhizome, emitting long cord-like branched roots. Leaves broad and 

 spreading, persisting longer than one year. Inflorescence densely racemose 

 or corymbose-racemose ; bracts small, appressed, much shorter than the 

 ovaries. 



Besides the manifest differences iu the vegetative organs of the two 

 sections noted above, there is another well-marked distinction between 

 them of considerable horticultural imporiance that has been brought 

 oat by the experiments of the hybridist. These experiments go far to 

 prove that while the species of the Vestit.e group cross freely with each 

 other and with the mules resulting from such crosses, and while, so 

 far as the experiments have been carried, the cultivated species of 

 the Veratripoli^ will also cross with each other, no species or mule 

 belonging to one of the sections can be induced to cross with any 

 species or mule belonging to the other. 



It is a remarkable fact, too, which has been already referred to under 

 Phaius, that bi-generic hybrids have been raised between Phaius grandi. 

 folius and some of the forms of Calanthe vestita, thus proving the two 

 genera to be very nearly allied, which was indeed surmised to be the 

 case long ago by Dr. Lindley, and even by Griffith before him.* This 

 fact indicates plainly that in the systematic arrangement of the genera 

 Phaius and Calanthe should come closer together than they are usually 

 jjlaced in the best synopses of the Orchideae, or at least that they should 

 be brought imder the same sub-tribe ; but the reduction of C. vestita 

 to Phaius vestitus as proposed by Reicheubachf because mules have been 

 obtained between that species and a Phaius does not appear to us to 

 be at all justifiable. 



The genus Calanthe was founded by Dr. Robert Brown on 

 Calanthe veratrifolia, with which he became acquainted while investi- 

 gating the flora of Australia. The name means simply " beautifril 

 flower," from KitXoq (kalos) and avBog (anthos). 



Cultural Note. — Vestit.e. The species and hybrids comprisino- this 

 grovip should be potted as soon as they begin to start into growth in earW 

 spring. In removing the pseudo-bulbs from the pots the exhausted soil 

 should be shaken out and the old roots cut off"; the pseudo-bulbs 

 should then be re-potted in a compost of two-thirds fibrous loam and 

 one-third peat with the addition of a little sand to assist drainage. If 

 good fibrous loam is not procurable, a compost of three-fourths fibrous 

 peat and one-fourth sphagnum moss may l)e substituted with the addi- 



* Fol. Orch. Calanthe, p, I. 

 t Gard. Chroii. 1867, p, 264. 



