302 



CASSELL'S POPULAE GAEDENTN'a. 



0. liiteopurpureiim. — A robust-growing and very 

 variable plant, possessing great beauty. Pseudo- 

 bulbs three to six inches high, ovate and compressed, 

 bearing a pair of broad dark green leaves about a 

 foot long ; scape as long or longer than the leaves, 

 many-flowered. Flowers differing much in the in- 

 tensity of their markings in different plants, and 

 measuring nearly three inches in diameter. Sepals 

 and petals nearly equal, usually rich brown, or 

 brownish-purple, variously blotched and banded with 

 light yellow, the border generally well defined, and 

 of a deeper yellow; lip somewhat fiddle-shaped, 

 chocolate at the base, white in front, where it is 

 prettily fringed, and ornamented with numerous 

 yellow bristles. In the variety sceptrum, the flowers 

 are rich golden-yeUow, profusely spotted and blotched 

 with rich cinnamon. Autumn months. Xew Grenada, 

 at 6,000 feet elevation. 



0. maeulatum. — ^This is a smaE-growing but very 

 beautiful species. Pseudo-bulbs oblong, compressed, 

 bearing a. single oblong -lanceolate leathery leaf; 

 scape many-flowered; sepals rich brown, the upper 

 one barred or blotched near the base with yellow ; 

 petals much broader, deep yeUow, the basal half 

 more or less spotted vrith brownish-crimson ; lip heart- 

 shaped, tapering to a point, white, profusely spotted 

 with the same colour as the petals. It varies con- 

 siderably in its markings. Summer months. Mexico. 



0. membranaeeum. — A very small plant which 

 thrives best on a block of wood. Pseudo-bulbs small, 

 ovate, whole plant seldom exceeding six inches in 

 height ; sepals and petals white, transversely banded 

 with narrow lines of reddish -brown ; the lip white, 

 streaked the same as the petals. Spring months. 

 Guatemala. 



0. iitevium. — This species takes rank as one of the 

 most beautiful of the genus, and still remains one of 

 the scarcest. Pseudo-bulbs rather oblong, slightly 

 compressed, and which, with the narrow leaves, are 

 deep green ; scape many-flowered ; sepals, petals, and 

 lip narrow, beautifully crisp, and drawn out into long 

 tail-Uke points, snow-white, freckled and spotted 

 with purplish-rose and crimson. Its most elegant 

 flowers appear during the summer months. New 

 Grenada, at 6,000 feet elevation. 



0. nehulosum. — ^A strong-growing plant, and a 

 profuse bloomer if kept in a low temperature. Pseudo- 

 bulbs ovate, somewhat compressed, smooth and pale 

 green, bearing two or three oblong -acute leaves; 

 scape arising with the young growth, three to six- 

 flowered ; sepals and petals pure white, spotted and 

 barred with reddish-brown at the base; Hp white, 

 spotted and clouded over the whole surface with 

 brown, with a patch of yellow at the base. Its large 

 flowers are produced at various times of the year. 

 Mexico, at 10,000 feet elevation. 



0. Pescatorei. — In habit of growth and general 

 appearance when not in flower, this species resembles 

 0. Alexandra, to which species, indeed, it is a dan- 

 gerous rival. The flowers are borne upon large 

 panicles of thirty to forty, or more ; the individual 

 blooms, however, are smaller, and it may also be 

 known by its fiddle-shaped lip ; in some varieties 

 the flowers are of the purest white, stained on the lip 

 with crimson and yellow, and more or less spotted 

 with rose ; in other forms the whole flower is beau- 

 tifully tinged with flesh-colour. Spring and early 

 summer, lasting several months. New Grenada, at 

 6,000 feet elevation. 



0. FhaUenopsis. — This elegant little plant belongs 

 to a dijSerent section of the genus from any hitherto 

 noticed, which includes Fludanopsia, rexillarium, 

 Roezlii, Sec, in which the flowers are very flat, the 

 sepals and petals small, whilst the lip is very large. 

 Pseudo-bulbs small, conical or oblong, bearing a 

 single grass-like leaf, the whole plant seldom exceed- 

 ing eight inches in height, and more creamy-white 

 than green. The peduncles arise from the base of 

 the pseudo-bulbs, and are not longer than the leaves, 

 bearing about two flowers, each upwards of two 

 inches across; sepals and petals white; lip broad, 

 rosy-crimson, bordered with white, and stained with 

 yellow at the base. The cool end of the Brazilian 

 House suits it best. Spring and early summer. New 

 Grenada, at 5,000 to 6,000 feet elevation. Now 

 named Miltonia PAaltenopsis. 



0. pulchellum, var. majtts. — ^A free-growing plant, 

 with oblong bright green pseudo-bulbs, bearing a 

 pair of linear leaves upwards of a foot long ; scape 

 erect, about as long as the leaves ; scape many- 

 flowered ; flowers thick and fleshy, pure waxy-white, 

 vrith a stain of yellow on the lip, and deliciously 

 fragrant. Winter and spring months. Mexico. 



0. Soezlii, now Miltonia Moealii, as before re- 

 marked, belongs to the section vrith large flat la- 

 beUums. It is named in honour of its discoverer, 

 M. Boezl, one of the most successful and indefatigable 

 plant collectors that ever entered on this fascinating 

 but hazardous employment. Pseudo-bulbs slender, 

 ovate, compressed, two inches or more high, pale 

 green, bearing on the summit a pair of linear-lanceo- 

 late leaves nearly a foot long ; scape slender, erect, 

 three to six-flowered, each flower measuiing upwards 

 of three inches across ; sepals and petals about equal, 

 pure white, the latter having a large and conspicuous 

 blotch of rich purple at the base ; lip large and broad, 

 obcordate, notched in front, pure white, stained with 

 yellow at the base, and streaked vrith purple on the 

 disc. It thrives best in the Brazilian House, but is 

 very liable to the attacks of thrips if kept in too 

 high a temperature. Autumn and winter months, 

 lasting long in perfection. New Grenac"*. 



