RHYNCHOSTYLIS. 



53 



Cultural Notr.—T\\r cultural treatment of the species and varieties 

 here referred to Rhynchostylis is the same as that of Saccolabium. 



Rhynchostylis coelestis. 



Stem stoutish, apparently attaining but a moderate height, emitting 

 from below numerous cord-like roots. Leaves ligulate, fleshy, 4—6 inches 

 long, channelled above, acutely keeled beneath, closely imbricating at the 

 base, unequally lobed and toothed at the apex. Peduncles erect, densely 

 racemose along the distal half. Flowers crowded, |-inch in diameter, on 

 white or pale blue, furrowed and slightly twisted pedicels ; sepals and 

 petals similar and sub-equal, oval-oblong, obtuse, the lateral sepals the 

 broadest, white with an indigo-blue apical blotch ; lip obovate-oblong, the 

 saccate spur much compressed and slightly curved, the basal half of the 

 blade white, the apical half bright indigo-blue. Column very short ; 

 anther beaked, dark blue. 



Rhynchostylis ccelestis, Kchb. in Gard. Chron. XXIII. (18S5), p. 692. Saccolabium 

 cceleste, Rchb. in Gard. Chron. loc. cit. Williams' Orch. Alb. VIII. t. 361, 



The bright blue of this pretty orchid, a colour so rare among the 

 epiphytal Oechide^, renders it exceptionally interesting to amateurs. 

 The information respecting its origin is of a very meagre description, 

 and all that appears to have been divulged is contained in the following 

 paragraph extracted from Williams' Orchid Album, sub. t. 361: — ''This 

 species was collected and sent home by M. Roebelin, who states that 

 he found it growing upon isolated trees in the rice fields of Siam, 

 these trees being charred stumps which had survived the fires used in 

 clearing the ground for cultivation." 



R. retusa. 



Stems as thick as the little linger, rarely exceeding a few inches in 



height under cultivation. Leaves ligulate, spreading or arching, 9 — 12 



inches long, imbricate at base, obliquely two-lobed or truncate at the 



apex, paler beneath with several yellowish longitudinal lines. Racemes 



pendulous, longer than the leaves. Flowers crowded, |-inch in diameter, 



on short grooved twisted pedicels, at the base of which is a minute 



scaly bract ; sepals nval-oblong, acute, the lateral two much the broadest ; 



petals narrowly oblong, both sepals and petals white, spotted with 



anu'.thyst-purple ; lip deeply saccate at the base, the sac much compressed, 



the blade obovate-cjblong, channelled above, reflexed at the apex, wholly 



purple. Colunm short ; anther beaked. 



Rhynchostylis retusa, Blume, Bijdr. p. 286 (1825). Rchb. in Walp. Ann. VI. 

 p. 887 (1854). Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI. p. 32. Saccolabium Blumei, Lindl. in 

 Bot. Reg. 1841, misc. No. 115. Id. ScH. Orch t. 47. Linden's Pcsr. t. 21 (majus). 

 Illus. Iwrt. 1868, I. 545 (majus), De Tuydt, Z,Ci Orrh. I. 27. Williams' Orch. Jl': 

 IF. t. 169. r^. J', t. 238 (Russelianura). 



