EPIDENDRUM DICHROMUM AMABILE. 
[PuaTE 452.] 
Native of Bahia and Pernambuco. 
Epiphytal. Pseudobulbs clustered, ovate, fusiform, from three to six inches 
long, bearing two or three leaves on each bulb; these are ligulate, acute, from six 
inches to a foot in length, leathery in texture, and deep green. Scape racemose or 
paniculate, in the wild specimens we are told they attain a height of three or more 
feet, bearing many flowers. Flowers measure about two inches across, and vary 
much in colour; sepals linear-lanceolate, soft rose, faintly tinged with yellow ; 
petals obovate or broadly spathulate, much wider than the sepals, and of a deeper 
rose colour; lip three-lobed, the side lobes oblong, with reflexed tips, rich purple, 
middle lobe obcordate, emarginate, ribbed on the disc, wholly rich crimson-purple, 
with darker streaks, the border white. Column bearing two blunt wings, white 
tinged with purple. 
EPIDENDRUM DICHROMUM AMABILE, Bateman, Botanical Magazine, t. 5491. 
EPIDENDRUM picHromMuM, Lindley, Botanical Register, misc., No. 129.  Id., Folia 
Orchidacea, Art. Epidendrum, No. 76. Reichenbach fil, Gardeners’ Chronicle, 1866, 
pe 219. 
EPIDENDRUM AMABILE, Godefroy’s Orchidophile, 1887, p. 304. 
This is a plant that most growers have had a difficulty in keeping long 
together in-a thriving condition In the early days of this species, many people 
potted it in pure sharp sand, but this did not appear to suit it; we have found 
it to thrive best when grown upon a block of wood, and with very little soil. 
This block of wood should have its end plunged in the drainage of the pot, and 
which should be surfaced with very sandy peat fibre, this will induce the roots 
to shoot out and penetrate it. The plants bear full exposure to the sun and light, 
except during the hottest part of the day, and when growing it requires to be 
kept in the full heat of the Cattleya house with a very moist atmosphere. It may 
be rested cooler, but at no period of the year should it be allowed to feel the 
effects of drought, many plants suffering more from the want of nourishment 
during their resting season than from any other cause. 
The plant here figured belongs to a genus which was not popular a 
few years ago with the majority of Orchid-growers in this country, the same 
being very extensive, and the poor ones, having a great tenacity of life, 
survived where other plants did not. Consequently, in the early days of 
Orchid cultivation, when every Orchid plant was carefully conserved, our houses 
