Plate 158. 



DENDEOBIUM MACCARTHI^ 



Mrs. MacCartJiij 8 Dend/robium 



Gen. Char. {Vide supra, Plate 102.) 



Mi 



sis, nodis parce tumidis^ racemis axillaribus 2-5-floriS;, floribus muguis dilute purpurcis, sopalis 

 lanceolatis acutis petala multo latiora ovato-lanceolata longitudiuc fere aBqnantibus, labclln 

 subtrilobato rel subtrapeziformi apice rotundato retuso, foliis lanceolatis. 



Cypripedium MacCartliiae. Hoolicr in Bot. Mag. pi. 158. 



This most beautiful species of Dendrohium, which long escaped the observation of 

 botanists in Ceylon, occurs sparingly, pendent from the trunks of large trees, in the 

 forests about Ratuapoora and towards Galle, where it seems to be pretty generally 

 known to the natives under the name of " WissaJc-mal^' the meaning of wliich is 

 " Rainy-month flower," or " May-flower." It was originally sent from Mr. Thwaitos to 

 the Royal Gardens, Kew, where it flowered for the first time in 1864. 



It is the most beautiful of the Ceylon OrcMdacece, and was named by Sir William 

 Hooker in compliment to Mrs. MacCarthy, the accomplished lady of the Ilononrable 

 C. J. MacCarthy, Colonial Secretary of the Island, to whose kindness and regard for 

 science botanists are deeply indebted. 



Though it flowered at Kew in the previous year, it was first exhibited to the public 

 in 1865 by Dr. Ainsworth. of Manchester, who sent a beautiful specimen to one of the 



Tuesday Meetings at South Kensington. Since then it has appeared in other collec- 

 tions. It is very easily grown in heat and moisture, and seems scarcely to require any 

 rest, as it is continually pushing new shoots, even before the old are matured. It 

 flowers abundantly (and without casting its leaves) during the summer and autumn ; 

 the flowers lasting two or three months in perfection. A shallow pan, suspended near 

 the glass, suits it best. It is one of the most beautiful and desirable of Orchids. 



Descr. Steins simple, one and a half to two feet long, of about tlic thickness of a 

 goose-quill, striated, slightly swollen at the joints; internodes one to one and a hfilf 

 inch long. Leaves few at the upper part of the stem, lanceolate, two and a half to 

 three inches long and from three-quarters to one inch wide. Racemes one to three, 

 each one in the axil of a leave, four- or five-flowered ; peduncles ^Tith several sheathing 



