CYMBIDIUM GIGANTEUM. 
[PLatTe 284. | 
Native of Northern India. — 
Terrestrial. Pseudobulbs large, oblong, furnished with numerous, thick, fleshy, 
terete roots. Leaves ensiform, two to three feet long, distichous, broadly sheathing 
at the base, very prominently ribbed, and deep green in colour. Scape about as 
long as the leaves, radical, drooping from the weight of the flowers, furnished towards 
the base with a few lax, sheathing, membraneous scales. Flowers four inches in 
diameter, spreading, very fragrant ; sepals and petals oblong, lanceolate, yellowish 
green, streaked with purple ; lip three-lobed, middle lobe recurved, bright yellow, 
spotted with crimson, and bearing two fringed lamelle on the disc, side lobes 
incurved, Column semi-terete. 
_ CYMBIDIUM GIGANTEUM, Wallich’s Catalogue, x. 7355; 
Lindley’s Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants, p. 
Botany, 12, p. 241; Botanical Magazine, t. 4844; Paxton’s 
14, f. 143; Williams, Orchid-Grower’s Manual, 6 ed., 233. 
-Cymsrprum rriprorpEes? Don’s Prodromus, p. 36. 
Sertum Orchidacewm, t. 4; 
163; Paaton’s Magazine of 
Flower Garden, U., 
Fe Pan  TtatrIDhsr aa ARTE or agama 
The subject of our present ‘Jlustration is a very old inhabitant of our plant 
stoves, and was cultivated in collections, many years ago, when few other Orchids 
existed in a cultivated state. Of late years this species has been a comparative 
- outcast on account of its large and robust habit of growth, and also through the great 
influx of new Orchids, which so inflamed the minds of Orchid-growers for novelty, that 
the old-fashioned plants apparently ceased to have any attractions. The reaction, 
however, has fortunately set in; tastes have changed, or minds have expanded, for 
the greatest lovers of novelties are also eagerly asking for the old discarded species. 
Cymbidium giganteum is a native of Kamaon and Nepal, where it was 
discovered by Dr. Wallich, who ‘ntroduced it to this country about the year 1836, 
although the form originally sent home would scarcely be looked upon 4s & good 
variety at the present time. The genus Cymbidium contains many fine species, some 
of which have not yet reached this country im a living state. The best and 
most showy of the kinds that are ‘1 cultivation will be found enumerated in the 
Orchid-Grower’s Manual, 6 ed., pp. 231-236. 
Our artist’s drawing was taken from a grand specimen, growing in the famous 
collection of R. H. Measures, Esq., The Woodlands, Streatham, where a house 18 set 
apart entirely for their accommodation, and where there probably exists the grandest 
collection of Cymbidiums to be found in any private establishment in this country, 
the finest examples measuring some ten OF twelve feet in diameter, the largest 
