268 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [SEPTEMBER, 192?- 
C. bractescens was introduced from Mexico by Mr. Barker, of Birming- 
ham, in whose collection it first flowered in 1840. The individual flowers 
are three inches in diameter, on short stout pedicels, the sepals and petals 
ivory white, the lateral lobes of the lip are on the inner side yellow streaked 
with red, and the middle lobe is yellow stained with red. Regarding the 
cultivation of this elegant species, the following particulars are taken from 
Reichenbachia (vol. i., p. 41, t. 18). 
Chysis bractescens is found: growing in thick forests on the stems or 
large branches oftrees. In the States of Vera Cruz and Tabasco it occurs 
towards the foot of the mountains at about 1,500 feet altitude, where the 
temperature ranges from about 70° to 80° Fahr., except during the winter 
season, when it was lowered by north winds. It is naturally a deciduous 
epiphyte, and is sometimes found growing on the trees by its roots alone. 
Seldom is this Orchid grown to perfection; generally it is represented by 
sickly plants, in many cases the result of growing them in hot, ill-ventilated 
houses. When well-grown, the pseudobulbs measure from a foot to 
eighteen inches and even two feet in height, and of proportionate thick- 
ness. It should be grown in a well ventilated part of the East Indian 
house during the greater part of the year, and should bein a suspended 
basket, so as to afford it abundance of light, though not fierce sunlight at 
mid-day. If grown ina pot, it should be placed ona high stage as near 
the roof as convenient. The pot or basket should be well drained, and the 
compost should be fibrous peat and sphagnum moss, sufficiently open or 
porous, so that the roots may penetrate freely and allow superfluous 
moisture to drain away. During active growth, which takes place in 
summer, an abundant supply of water must be given, and the atmosphere 
kept moist and well ventilated, in order to keep the foliage free from thrips, 
which are very liable to attack this Orchid when grown ina hot and dry 
house ; frequent syringings overhead during hot and dry weather will tend 
to keep this pest away. 
The resting period begins as soon as the current season’s bulbs are fully 
developed, which is towards the end of summer. The plant must then be 
placed in a cooler and drier atmosphere, either in the same or another 
house. The lower temperature and dryness will conduce to the ripening 
of the bulbs, which is the chief point to consider, bearing in mind that the 
longest and best ripened bulbs produce the finest spikes of flowers. In early 
spring the plant will start again into active growth, when it should be 
removed to warmer and moister quarters. The flower spikes are produced 
from the new bulbs when about 5in. or 6in. long, which is about the middle 
of May, the flowers lasting in perfection two or three weeks. After the 
flowers are past, the plant may be subjected to a warmer and moister treat- 
ment. Imported plants usually flower well the first season. 
