GOVENIA DELICIOSA. 
[PLATE 210.] 
Native of Mexico. 
Terrestrial. Rootstock tuberous, subterrancous. Stem erect, two-leaved, invested 
at the base by purplish brown bluntly-acute oblong sheathing nervose _ bracts. 
Leaves broadly lanceolate-oblong acuminate, about nine inches long and two inches 
. broad, closely nervoso-striate, their bases enclosed with the stem by a pair of 
unequal sheathing bracts. Flower stem about one and a-half foot high, brownish 
green, furnished with a few close-set oblong-acute brown bracts, which are shorter 
than the ovaries, and terminating in a raceme of six to eight flowers, the pedicels pale 
reddish purple, each. subtended by an oblong purplish brown bract half an inch long. 
Flowers white, the front of the lip spotted with dark purple ; sepals oblong-lanceolate, 
the dorsal one arched over the column, an inch long, the two lateral ones shorter, 
deflexed, and laterally curved; petals smaller, with pale red transverse bars inside ; 
ip nearly elliptic-apiculate, reflexed at the base and then curving forward about the 
middle, so that the front part is pressed against the hinder part, which is yellow 
and cross-barred with pale red, the front half being white covered with distinct 
round purple dots. Column white, with brown spots in front. 
VENIA DELIcIOsA, Leichenbach fil. in Botanische Zeitung, 1852, 836; Id. 
. 
Go 
Gardeners’ Chronicle, N.8.,  xxii., 230; Williams, Orchid - Grower's Manual, 6 
ed., 337. 
This genus belongs to the terrestrial section of Orchids—a group which is too 
generally neglected by cultivators. We feel certain that were their beauties better 
known, they would be much more frequently sought after, and we should see fine 
collections of them brought together. They are mostly thought to be difficult to 
cultivate, but we fear a great deal of this difficulty is caused through neglect of the 
plants while they are in a dormant condition. It is at this time that they require 
attention, as if they are over-watered when at rest bad results will certainly follow, 
and the tubers or underground roots will almost certainly decay. What can be more 
beautiful than some of the- species of Disa, Cypripedium, Lissochilus, Bletia, Orchis, 
Satyrium, &e., many of which are quite hardy, and may be grown well in a cold 
frame? To be successful with these plants, therefore, it is not necessary to have 
even a greenhouse. Most of the plants belonging to this section of Orchids are 
found in North and South America, in South Africa, in Europe, and in some 
parts of Asia, but the majority are from the Eastern Hemisphere. oa 
Govenia deliciosa is a very pretty and distinct Orchid, with the habit o : 
Bletia. It has an underground tuberous rootstock, from which proceeds an sig 
stem about a foot or eighteen inches in height, furnished with a pair of bold plicate 
