S. Hendersonianum, which species are figured in former volumes of this work, 
and all are equally beautiful in their varied and distinct colours, as well as agreeing 
in being close and compact in their habit of growth, consequently they do not require 
great space for their accommodation. 
The plant here figured was grown in the Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper 
Holloway. It was exhibited before the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, in July of last year (1888), and was by them awarded a First Class Certificate. 
As in all seedlings, there is a considerable diversity in the colour of this species, 
some plants producing flowers tipped with pale azure-blue, whilst others are much 
deeper in colour, but the present example is the richest and deepest blue form 
that has hitherto come under our notice. 
Saccolabium celeste is a new and lovely species, evergreen, and compact in 
growth, with foliage six inches long. The plant attains to a foot or more in 
height, and is slow in growing to this size. The inflorescence proceeds from the axils 
of the leaves on either side of the stem, and the spike is erect, some six or nine 
inches in height, the raceme being dense. The blunt cuneate-oblong sepals and petals 
are tipped with sky-blue, and the compressed blunt recurved spur has a blue tint on 
both sides of the centre; the interior part is also sky-blue, while two falcate, subulate 
bodies rise from the apex inside the spur. The blooming season is July and August, 
and the plant continues in full beauty between three and four weeks, if kept in a 
fairly warm house, and the flowers shielded from the effects of damp. 
This plant requires the temperature of the East India-house to maintain it in 
proper condition, and should be grown in sphagnum moss, with ample drainage. 
It is of slow growth, and requires a considerable time to attain to the dimensions 
of a specimen, nevertheless when strong it produces lateral growths, which, as 
they increase in size, tend to make the plant compact and dense, whilst as its 
young shoots produce flowers in abundance, it cannot be ranked as a shy 
bloomer. From the natural habitat of the plant it probably will occur to growers 
in this country that it requires strong heat, an abundance of atmospheric moisture, 
plenty of sun as well as light. and air; yet it will be found advantageous 
to shade it from the hottest sun in this country, as being beneath glass, the foliage 
is apt to become yellow, or burnt, which would not occur in the open air. As 
before remarked, this species during its period of growth requires an abundance of 
water, and even when at rest it should be kept free from drought. We find 
Saccolabiums succeed best as basket plants, suspended near the roof, and yet not 
too near the glass during the cold nights, as the leaves are apt to become yellow, 
and in this case the beauty of the plant is much diminished, as nothing detracts 
more from the appearance of a plant as yellow and brown foliage. 
Insects are not very troublesome, yet the white scale sometimes makes its 
appearance, which should be at once removed, or otherwise they will speedily cause 
the foliage to assume an unhealthy hue, to the great detriment of the health of 
the plant. 
