CYMBIDIUM ELEGANS. 
[PLaTE 430. ] 
Native of Northern India. 
Terrestrial. Pseudobulbs clustered, stout, ovate, marked with the scars of fallen 
leaves, and producing thick fleshy roots. Leaves numerous, distichous, arching, 
sheathing at the base, linear-lorate, acute, keeled beneath, some two or more feet 
long, rich bright green in colour. Scape lateral, pendent, furnished with long 
boat-shaped bracts, and terminating in a long dense raceme of tawny-yellow flowers, 
which are half closed, i.e., having the sepals and petals connivent. Sepals and 
petals oblong, about equal; lip three-lobed, side lobes small, rolled close to the 
column, the middle lobe much dotted with deep red, the other portion of the 
flower tawny-yellow. 
CYMBIDIUM ELEGANS, Lindley, Sertum Orchidaceum, t. 14. Williams’ Orchid- 
Grower’s Manual, 6th ed. p. 233. 
The plant whose portrait we now have the pleasure to lay before our readers 
has hitherto been kept in our collections more on sufferance than for the beauties 
of its inflorescence, and we were highly pleased to receive the fine spike here 
depicted, as well as to see the magnificent specimen of it which was flowering last 
season in the Woodlands collection of R. H. Measures, Esq., at Streatham, in 
Surrey. It convinced us at once that the species has really been mismanaged for 
years, and has thus been prevented from displaying its real merits, which are of 
such a character as would recommend it to the care of all lovers of Cymbidiums. 
This species is said to have been introduced from N epaul fifty years ago, but it 
never was imported in quantity, and if this plant were kept in the same 
temperature to which C. eburneum and many other things were treated at that time, 
there is little wonder that the plant did not thrive and increase, or that its 
beauties have been so long in receiving recognition. The specimen here depicted 
was grown in the collection of W. J. Thomson, Esq., St. Helens, Lancashire. 
Cymbidium elegans, as its name implies, is a neat and handsome plant, 
producing linear-acute leaves, which are arching, bright green, and persistent. The 
flowers are produced in massive pendulous spikes, and are tawny-yellow in colour, 
a shade with which we are not much acquainted in this genus. We are told, 
however, that there are many fine yellow-flowered species in the South African 
district which have never yet been introduced to this country in a living state, 
and we trust that amongst the number of persons now directing their steps to 
that country, some may be interested enough in botanical and horticultural pursuits 
to send home to their friends and relations some of these choice and rare kinds. 
