ANGR^CUM. 



121 



Madagascar, and several others are known to inhabit the Mascarene 

 islands (Mauritius, Bourbon). The greater number of the known 

 species are therefore concentrated within a comparatively limited area ; 

 these are all insular and presumably quite local. Our information 

 respecting the dispersion of the species indigenous to the African 

 continent is still very imperfect. In south Africa (extra-tropical) 

 seven or eight species occur^ including A. arcuatiivi, all of which are 

 quite local, while the tropical species, A. Kotshyi, has been reported 

 from the country of the sources of the Nile and from the 

 neighbourhood of the Zambesi^ places that are upwards of 2,000 miles 

 distant from each other. Seven or eight species have been introduced 

 from the west coast of Africa, chiefly from Sierra Leone, of which 

 four are still in cultivation, including the sombre A. caudatum, and 

 others are known as herbarium specimens. One of the west African 

 Angraecums, A. bilobum, has recently been discovered to be represented 

 by a variety in Zanzibar, separated from the type by the whole 

 breadth of the continent at its widest part. Two or three species 

 were discovered by Dr. Welwitsch in Angola, and one by Schimpfer 

 in Abyssinia. The assumption that the Angraecums may be generally 

 spread over tropical Africa, where the climatic conditions are suited 

 to orchid life, thence appears to us to be a perfectly logical one. The 

 most surprising fact, however, in the geographical distribution of 

 Angrfecum is the presence of A, falcatum in Japan, a species with all the 

 essential characters of a true Angrgecum, but separated from its congeners 

 by an interval equal to one-fourth of the circumference of the globe. 



Cultural Note. — The geographical stations of the Angraecums and their 

 environment in situ, where known, should indicate the cultural treatment 

 of the plants in the glass houses of Europe. Coming from one of the 

 hottest regions of the globe, they require the highest temperature usually 

 maintained in the orchid houses of this country, such as the East 

 Indian house, and where a highly humid atmosphere is kept up during 

 the growing season, and where shading is used on bright days in summer. 

 The dwarf species may be grown in teak baskets suspended near the 

 roof-glass, or, where a pure atmosphere is always available, on a teak 

 raft surfaced with sphagnum that can be always kept moist, We have 

 seen the latter method, which appears to be that most natural to the 

 plants, very successfully practised by cultivators whose houses are situated 

 beyond the influence of London fog. Although Angnecam arcuatum and 

 A. falcatum aie extra-tropical species they thrive well in the coolest part 

 of the East Indian house suspended near the roof-glass. 



