| 
| 
DENDROBIUM AINSWORTHII ROSEUM. 
[PLATE 20. | 
A Garden Hybrid. 
Epiphytal. Stems (pseudobulbs) clustered, elongate, spreading, terete, stoutish 
above, tapering to the base, jointed, the surface furrowed between the joints. Leaves 
distichous, linear-oblong, acute, three-fourths of an inch broad, sheathing the stems 
at the base, the sheaths remaining as a membranous investment. Pedwncles proceedin 
from the joints of the stem, slender, two to three-flowered, the pedicels with sma 
ovate bracts at their base. Flowers showy, white, with rich amaranth-crimson blotch, 
measuring about three inches across; sepals lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, spreading, 
white, tinged with rose colour, as are the larger and broader oblong-ovate petals; 
lip eeeto) broadly obovate, cucullate, the basal portion rolled in over the column, ~ 
the anterior portion spread out into a broad concave heart-shaped front lobe, which 
is undulated at the margin, and nearly covered by a large rich amaranth-crimson 
blotch, feathered at the edge, and traversed by deeper crimson veins, the extreme 
margin being paler. Column short, enclosed by the basal portion of the lip. — 
Denprosrum Aryswortat, Moore in Gardeners’ Chronicle (1874), N.8. i. 443, figs. 
93, 94; Id. N.s. viii, 166, figs. 30, 31, 32; Anderson in Gardeners’ Chromele, 
NS. vi., 751; Floral Magazine, 2 s. t. 196; Rand’s Orchids, 242; Williams’ 
Orchid Growers’ Manual, ed. v., 163. | 
Var. RosEum ; sepals and petals tinted with magenta rose; lip almost wholly covered 
by the large mulberry-crimson feathered blotch. 
Denprosrum’ AINSWoRTHIL var. rosEuM, Moore in Gardeners’ Chronicle (1877), N.S. 
vu., 665; Id. n.s. viii, 166; Anderson in Gardeners’ Chronicle, N.S. vi, 750. 
The beautiful Dendrobium Ainsworthii is the result of a cross between D. nobile 
ao 2. heterocarpum, and was raised by Mr. Mitchell, gardener to R. F. Ainsworth, Esq., 
MLD., of Higher Broughton, Manchester, after whom it is named. In habit of growth 
— m general appearance the plant partakes mostly of the character of D. nobile, » 
while the flowers more closely resemble those of D. heterocarpum in form, and have 
ry alight degree the delicious fragrance of those produced by that species. In 
~ Ainsworthii the flowers have white sepals and petals, while the lip is marked 
by a dense blotch of a rich amaranth or mulberry-crimson. In the D. Ainsworthin 
mseum now figured, the sepals and petals are of a bright rosy-magenta, and the lip 
® more fully covered with a richep coloured deep crimson blotch. This variety 1s 
i Tare, and forms a char.aing contrast to the white blossoms of its sister 
ybrid. The flowers will be ‘ound very useful for cutting, as they last for a 
“nsiderable time in water. 
