532 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
AERIDES 
Natural Order ORCHIDEH. Genus Aérides 
A#RIDES (Greek, qer, air: in allusion to their mode of growth). A 
genus of about forty species of epiphytal Orchids, mostly with handsome 
showy flowers. They have erect stems, and long strap-shaped, leathery 
leaves, regularly disposed in two opposite rows; mostly ending abruptly, 
and deeply channeled down the centre, though some are nearly 
cylindrical. Most of them throw out large fleshy roots from various 
heights up the stem, and by means of these moisture is absorbed from 
the atmosphere. The flowers, which are frequently fragrant, are 
distinguished by having a tail or foot to the column, and the lip spurred. 
They are produced in long, many-flowered racemes. The species are 
confined to the Tropics of the Old World. 
This genus has long been popular with cultivators on 
account of the beauty and fragrance of its flowers and its 
good behaviour under cultural treatment. It was founded in 1790 by a 
Portuguese botanist on A. odoratwm, which was introduced from Cochin- 
China to Kew in 1800. Many of the so-called species are of recent 
introduction, and some of them are very much alike. 
AERIDES CRASSIFOLIUM (thick-leaved). Leaves broad 
and thick, obliquely two-lobed, purple-dotted. Flowers 
white, segments tipped with rich purple ; lip three-lobed; spur bent under ; 
in long drooping racemes. Plant dwarf. Introduced from Burma, 1877. 
A. cRISPUM (curled). Leaves 8 inches by 2 inches, flat, two-lobed. 
Flowers very fragrant, white, tinged with purplish rose, nearly 2 inches 
across ; lip three-lobed, middle lobe large-toothed and fringed ; horn-like 
spur, somewhat incurved; in ascending racemes nearly a foot long. 
Introduced from South India, 1840. The var. Warneri has the flowers 
quite white, except the lip, which is rose-coloured ; the leaves are smaller 
and more slender. 
A. FALCATUM (sickle-leaved). Leaves closely-set, leathery, blue- 
green. Flowers white, dotted with crimson, and rosy-tipped; lip with 
rosy centre; spur short; in many-flowered drooping racemes. Intro- 
duced from India. Also known as A. Larpente, houlletianwm, Leonie. 
A. Fretpinau (Fielding’s). The popular “Fox Brush” Orchid. 
Leaves 9 inches by 14 inch; spike 1 to 2 feet long, densely clothed 
with flowers 14 inch across, white, suffused and dotted with bright 
purple; lip trowel-shaped. Introduced from Himalaya in 1850. 
Hist 
Principal Species. 
