but little space in the Orchid-houses, and are best grown in small pans suspended 
near the glass where they have the full benefit of the light, but must be shaded from 
the sun since their thin-textured leaves would suffer injury from too complete an — 
exposure. 
Paphina cristata is a low-growing plant, with small shiny pseudobulbs, and light 
green plicate foliage about eight inches in height. It is a free-blooming species, 
generally producing three flowers on a scape which proceeds from the base of the 
pseudobulb after that has completed its growth. The flowers last in beauty for about 
a fortnight, and are produced at different periods of the year. The sepals and petals 
are nearly covered with transverse parallel lines of dark chocolate-purple on a creamy 
yellow ground; the lip is coloured in’ a similar manner, and furnished with some 
curious tufted fringes. 
These plants are not so easy to cultivate as some other Orchids; but, by bestowing 
on them a little extra care and attention, they may be kept in a thriving and healthy 
condition. We find them to grow best in small pans, nearly filled with drainage, and 
a lump of charcoal on the top of it; place the plant on the top of this with but little 
rough fibrous peat or live sphagnum moss about the roots, and so that it is elevated a 
little above the rim, as it has the peculiarity of throwing its flower-spike downwards. 
This species is a native of Guiana, and of the adjacent island of Trinidad. In 
the latter it is found growing on decayed branches of trees in the neighbourhood of the 
mud lake. In the former it occurs in the warmer parts of Demerara, and, consequently, 
must be cultivated in the warm house, and kept in a moist atmosphere during the 
season of its growth; when at rest, however, a smaller quantity of water will suffice, 
but it should never be allowed to shrivel, as, when once its condition becomes bad, it 
is very difficult to restore its health. 
OponToGLossum ALEXANDRA! FLAVEOLUM.—Whoever expected ten. years ago to 
see a yellow-flowered Odontoglossum Alexandre (2?) No one, we should think, unless 
it were by a great stretch of the imagination. However, here is one from the fine 
collection of G. Hardy, Esq., of Timperley, Manchester. The flowers in every respect 
resemble those of O. Alexandre, except in their colour, which is a bright canary- 
yellow. The spike before us bears fifteen expanded flowers, and is one of the 
greatest surprises we have had the good fortune to meet with for a long time. It 
is true that distinct varieties of this “the Queen of Orchids” are turning up almost 
every day, but one seldom has a chance of seeing an entirely new break of colour 
of this sort. We believe that a variety with yellow flowers bloomed some time ago 
in the Broomfield collection, but the colour was not so decided in Mr. Warner's plant 
as it is in the case now before us.—B, S. W. 
