The plant here illustrated flowered in our own collection in the Victoria and 
Paradise Nurseries during the month of August in the present year, and it was 
exhibited before the Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society of London soon after 
its blooms opened. 
Lelia monophylla is a distinct and pretty species, bearing upon its slender stems 
linear-oblong leaves, which are solitary and dark green; it forms a creeping rhizome, 
and grows to a height of from six to ten inches. The flowers are borne upon a slender 
peduncle, which issues from a small sheath situated on the top of the stem, the colour 
of the oblong sepals and petals being vivid orange-scarlet; lip minute, yellow, column 
tipped with purple on the anther-cap. It blooms during the months of August, 
September, and October, and the flowers continue in full beauty for several weeks. 
This little plant requires somewhat different treatment to most Leelias. It is 
remarkable as being the only member of the family which has yet been found 
off the American mainland, as its native home is on trees which grow on the 
mountains in Jamaica, at elevations of from 3,500 to 5,000 feet above the sea-level, 
where the mean temperature is cool. With us it succeeds well in the Odontoglossum 
house, hung up near the roof-glass, in order that it may obtain the benefit of the 
full light, but yet it requires to be shaded from the strong sun. We also find that 
shallow pans or baskets are the best to grow it in; these must be well drained, and 
very little potting material should be used about its roots, but good fibrous peat is 
the best material to use. This should be elevated into a cone-like mound, and the 
plant set upon the top; when so placed, the roots can work inside or outside, and no 
water will lay about its crown. Having no bulbs, it requires a very moist atmosphere, 
and a moderate amount of water to its roots at all seasons. This plant is found 
growing somewhat low down on the stems of trees in its native mountains, 
and in this situation it is subject to rains all the year round, and heavy dews 
at night, the plants never becoming thoroughly dry. They are also shaded 
from the hottest sunshine, and obtain an abundance of fresh air, nature providing for 
them in such a manner that their wants are all supplied; and in a state of cultivation 
we must endeavour to imitate as near as possible the conditions under which they grow 
in a state of nature. The cultivator should ever keep a watchful eye upon this 
little gem, and if the plant does not appear to thrive in one position, or in one aspect, 
it should ,be removed to another, for frequently a change of aspect in the same house 
produces a wonderful effect, and leads to the achievement of success. The best 
time to re-basket this plant is immediately before growth commences, and in performing 
the operation the greatest care is necessary, in order to prevent injury to a single 
root. However, it will not require a fresh basket or fresh soil often, which is a 
great benefit, for this, like many other small-growing plants, cannot withstand dis- 
turbance at the roots. 
