a i i i et 
June, 1923.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 167 
points of the climate and gradually overcoming the bad ones by adapting 
the house to local conditions, might succeed wonderfully with plants that 
will not grow well in cloudy, damp climates. 
ORCHIDS OF THE ISLAND OF NEW PROVIDENCE, BAHAMAS. 
By R. NELSON MUSGROVE, Nassau, Bahamas. 
OST of the Orchids found on the Island of New Providence are, one 
might say, of botanical rather than horticultural interest. They are 
small-flowered, but in a great many instances the colouring is bright and a 
fairly good display is made by them in the Orchid house. 
On walking through the coppices the first Orchid that strikes the eye is 
Oncidium sphacelatum, growing in clumps in the leaf-mould under the 
trees. Those.growing in shade are more robust and with stouter flower 
spikes than those more exposed to sunlight. Some of the flowers are much 
more intensely coloured than others, and their flower spikes vary a great 
deal in length; some I have seen as much as 6—8 feet, others not more 
than 3—4 feet. I have occasionally come across plants with robust spikes 
growing from the sides, near the top, of old spikes that have been broken 
off, and nicely branched. 
Along with Oncidium sphacelatum is growing O. altissimum (?) in huge 
Masses with dozens of flower spikes covered with hundreds of yellow and 
purple flowers, the long dark green leaves making a fine contrast. The 
plants growing in the leaf-mould seem to be finer than those growing on the 
lower part of the trunks of trees. On the trunks and branches of the trees 
overhead there are various Epidendrums growing intermixed with hundreds 
of Tillandsias, and about them all are festoons of Spanish moss (T. 
usneoides), this interesting plant hanging in great masses from the top- 
most branches of the trees to the ground, a most beautiful sight. Polypodium 
and other ferns also contribute to the scene. 
As one wanders on from the drier portion of the woods the ground 
becomes wet and boggy, indicating the nearness of a pond or lake, and it is 
here that E. cochleatum is found in abundance, growing on rotted branches 
and trunks of trees, also on the Mangrove roots, all in great luxuriance, seem- 
ing to be enjoying life to the full. In company with this is E. Boothianum 
and Polystachya minuta or luteola growing together on the branches and 
trunks of the Cocoa Plum (Chrysobalanus). They seem to like this wood 
more than any other, though I have found them growing sparingly on the 
Red Cedar. E. nocturnum is also found; some of the plants I saw were 
Towing six to eight feet up on the trunks of the Palmetto Palm, and their 
thick white fleshy roots were clinging right down the trunk into the leaf- 
Mould on the ground. This species is also fairly common in the low, rocky 
