SACCOLABIUM CCELESTE. 
[PuaTe 361.| 
Native of Stam. 
n epiphyte, with an erect habit, producing from its base numerous thick, 
fleshy roots, by which it adheres to the branches of the trees upon which it is 
found growing. It has an erect leafy stem, furnished with numerous closely set, 
distichous leaves, which are channelled above, carinate beneath, praemorse, unequally 
bilobed at the apex, and sometimes apiculate, some five or six inches long, 
thick and fleshy in texture, and deep green. Scape erect, six to nine inches high, 
issuing from the axils of the leaves, and bearing a dense raceme of elegant flowers. 
Sepals and petals spreading, almost equal, cuneate oblong, obtuse, slightly incurved, 
white tipped with azure-blue; lip rhomboid in front, emarginate, white, bearing 
numerous broad radiating lines of azure-blue, in some forms deep blue. Spur short, 
compressed, obtuse and recurved, blue on both sides. 
_ Saccotasium ca@LesTE, chb. fil., Gardeners’ Chronicle, Ns. xxii, p. 692; 
Williams, Orchid-Grower’s Manual, 6 ed., p. 564. 
Ruyneonostyiis caiestis, Rchb. fil., Gardeners’ Chronicle, N.s. xxiii., p. 692. 
This charming species of Saccolabium is of quite recent introduction, totally 
distinct from any other known kind, and is a veritable gem, distinct in its habit 
of growth, and belonging to the section which produces erect flower spikes, this 
habit rendering it quite different in appearance to those kinds which produce 
their elegant flowers in long, dense, pendent racemes, of which such kinds as 
S. guttatum, S. premorsum, S. Blumei, S. giganteum, and others are familiar 
examples. This species was collected and sent home in quantity by M. Roébbelin, 
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, and many of the plants sent home by him bore out his 
statement, as they were growing upon partially burnt wood. Saccolabiums we 
consider amongst the most beautiful of the whole Orchid family, and it is with 
much regret we observe how little they are appreciated at the present time. In 
past years it was very different, and the fine specimens exhibited at our London 
and other flower shows were the gems of the collections, and were admired by 
everyone. ‘Their neglect has been brought about by the false notion that they 
require extraordinary heat to grow them to perfection. 
‘The species which we here bring to the notice of our readers is a somewhat 
small-growing kind, but yet stronger in growth than many of its beautiful-flowered 
congeners, examples of which are S. curvifolium, S. ampullaceum, S. bellinum, and 
H 
