84 RRNANTflERA. 



has not been generally overcome, of which the cultural experience of 

 it recorded in the horticultural press during the past twenty-five 

 years affords ample evidence. 



Renanthera coccinea is the typical species upon which the genus was 

 founded by the Portuguese missionary and botanist, Loureiro, who 

 described it in his Flora cochinchitiensis, published in 1790, but in 

 terms so brief and with such a peculiarity of diction that it was over- 

 looked by botanists till it flowered in the glass-houses of Europe, 

 when its extraordinary inflorescence attracted general attention. It is 

 in high repute in its native country, where it is frequently trained to 

 verandahs and other suitable places. It is also a great favourite 

 with the Chinese of the southern provinces of the empire, by whom 

 it has been assiduously cultivated from time immemorial, and among 

 whom it is probably an introduced plant ; its flowers are frequently 

 introduced by them into the quaint but generally faithful drawings 

 which they employ for various artistic purposes. 



The only known stations of the plant are the Moscos Islands, 

 opposite Tavoy and Cochin China. 



Cultural Note. — Renanthera coccinea is one of those orchids that require 

 a special treatment to induce it to flower regularly, and in the numerous 

 communications to the horticultural press respecting it during the past 

 twenty-five years there is expressed a general concurrence in its being a 

 refractory plant, and details are given of the various methods employed 

 by different cultivators to overcome the difficulty. As our space does not 

 permit us to quote these various methods, each of which may be suitable 

 for its own case, we can only refer to one of the most successful 

 instances known to us. 



At Chatsworth this orchid has been successfully cultivated for more 

 than half-a-century.* The plants are placed on the west side of the large 

 conservatory fully exposed to the sun after 1 p.m. Pieces of the stems 

 about a foot long, having a few roots, are attached to poles of the 

 Silver Birch 8 — 12 feet long and about 6 inches in diameter with 

 the bark on ; these poles are fixed perpendicularly in a border, 

 no potting material whatever being used for the plants. As the stems 

 incr ase in length the new aerial roots emitted by them soon attach 

 themselves firmly to the birch poles. From the beginning of May 

 to the end of September fire heat is dispensed with ; the temperature 

 of the house being entirely controlled by the state of the weather 

 is thence subject to great fluctuations, thus on bright days it frequently 

 rises to 32° C. (90° F), notwithstanding the greatest possible amount of 



* A plant was acquired in 1836 which flowered two years afterwards, when it was figured in 

 Paxton s Magazine of Botany. 



