DENDKOBIUM DENSIFLORUM. 



[Plate 303.] 



Native of Jfortliern India. 



Epiphytal. Pseudohulhs erect, clavate, and articulate, furrowed, from one to 

 two feet in height. Leaves produced only near the apex, oblong acute, nervose, 

 coriaceous in texture, from four to six inches long, and deep shining green on the 

 upper side, paler beneath. Raceme lateral, pendulous and massive, produced from 

 the upper joints of the stem just below the leaves, many-flowered, and fm^nished 



■with numerous plaited oblong recurved bracts ; sejpals and petals ovate-obtuse. 



spreading, the petals much the broader, rich bright yellow or amber colour; lip 

 large, somewhat quadrangular or rhomboid, serrulate on the edge and retuse, colour 

 deep rich orange, the surface clothed with a dense covering of short golden woolly 

 hairs. 



Dendeobium DENSIFLORUM, WalUcIi, Catalogue, No. 2,000 ; Lindley, in Wallichs' 

 FlantcB Asiaticce Rariares, t, 40; Botanical Register, t. 1828; Lindley, Genera and 

 Species, Orchidaceous Plants, t. 1 ; Hooher, Botanical Magazine, t. 3418 ; Paxtons 



Magazine of Botany, v., t. 12.1; Flore des Serres, t. 1397; Williams, Orchid- 

 Grower's Manual, 6 ed., p. 278. 



We have before us one of our oldest favourites, and we think everyone 



~i 



favourite who has been fortunate enough to witness the grand specimens that now 

 adorn our Orchid houses. At the public exhibitions, many years ago, we have 

 seen plants with nearly a hundred spikes upon them. When in perfect order and 

 in vigorous health this Orchid makes a grand display, producing a beautiful contrast, 



ith its rich green foliage and spikes of bright-coloured flowers hanging gracefully 



all over the plant ; these spikes are from ten inches to a foot in length, 

 and we much regret that space will not permit us to represent them at full 

 length in our illustration. There are some varieties of this species w^hich produce 

 shorter spikes, but they difi'er greatly in the number of their flowers. The 

 form known as D. Grijffithii resembles D. densiflorum, but the blossoms are paler 

 in colour, and the plant is taller in growth. 



. Our drawing was taken from a very fine specimen in the grand collection 

 of JM. le Comte de Germiny, Chateau de Gou\ille, France, Tvhich had about 

 one hundred and sixty pseudobulbs, and when in bloom was a noble sight. 

 Dcndrobes are great favourites of M. le Comte de Germiny, and we do not 

 wonder at it, as there are few Orchids that really surpass them for beauty. 

 Nearly every shade of colour is to be found in the genus, and many of the species 

 are of a most graceful habit, and free in growth, when they get the proper treat- 

 ment, as they do here, under the care of Mr. Vincent, the energetic gardener. 



