DENDROBIUM LUTEOLUM CHLOROCENTRUM 



[Plate 322.] 



Kative of Mouhiiein. 



Epipliytal. Stems terete and erect, bearing numerous distichous leaves, which are 

 deciduous, oblique and acute, some two inches long and deep green. Racemes 

 lateral, two to four-flowered, the individual flowers thick and fleshy in texture and 

 about two inches in diameter; sepals and petals nearly equal, ovate-lanceolate and 

 obtuse, of a uniform soft primrose-yellow ; lip three-lobed, lateral lobes rounded, 

 erect, streaked on the inside with narrow lines of crimson, middle lobe oblons?, 

 convex and emarginate, like the lateral lobes, primrose-yellow stained with oran^-e, 

 and bearing on the disc tufts of green woolly hairs, the throat being orange-yellow ; 

 spur short and obtuse, slightly curved. 



Dendeobium LUTEOLUM, Bctteman, Gardeners' Chronicle, 1864, p. 269a. Botanical 

 Magazine, t. 5441; Williams, Orchid-Grower'' s Manual, 6 ed. p. 291. 



Dendrobium LUTEOLUM CHLOROCENTRUM, Reichenhach Jil, Gardeners* Chronicle, 

 N. s. xix, 340, f. 48; Williams, Orchid-Growers Manual, 6 ed., p. 291, with 

 figure. 



The plant we here bring to the notice of our subscribers is a very beautiful 

 variety of Dendrohium luteolum, the blossoms of which are larger and far superior 

 to those of the typical form. It is of a vigorous habit of growth and also very free 

 in the production of its flow^ers, which expand during the winter months — a season 

 when flow^ers are in constant demand, especially when they are of a colour that is 

 popular for decorative purposes. It is also compact in habit, and occupies but little 



-1 



i 



1 



space, so that specimens of this variety are easily accommodated. This form was 

 introduced by us from Moulmein, where it grows wild upon the branches of the 

 forest trees, in localities subjected to heavy rains during its growing and flowering 

 season. During the dry season the plants are at rest ; but even then, heavy dews 

 prevail at night, which materially assist them to withstand the extreme heat 



of the dry hot days ; besides which, growing upon trees there is a certain amount of 

 shade, which is highly beneficial as it prevents them from shrivelling. As soon as 

 the rainy season begins the pseudobulbs swell to their original condition and produce 

 their flowers, after which the new growth is formed and matured before the dry 



season again sets in. 



For the drawing from which our .artist prepared the annexed plate we are 

 indebted to the kindness of W. Lee, Esq., Downside, Leatherhead ; the plant from 

 which it was taken being a beautiful specimen grown by Mr. Woolford, who has 

 this large collection of Orchids under his care. 



O 



