HABITATS OF TROPICAL ORCHIDS. 7 



they arrive in this country in an almost putrid state arising from over- 

 crowding and heating ; whilst, had a few dozens only been sent, and 

 that with proper care and packing, they would in all probability have 

 arrived in a living state. We are glad to find, however, that latterly 

 collectors are gaining more experience in this matter, both as regards 

 packing and means of transit, and that plants arrive now in far better 

 condition than was formerly the case. And again, more rapid transit to 

 India, the Philippines and other East Indian Islands, to the Mauritius, 

 and Madagascar, &c., &c., by the opening of the Suez Canal, and the 

 greater speed of our ocean steamers, renders many plants easily come- 

 atable even by those of limited means at their disposal, whilst, on the 

 other hand, there still remain many great difficulties in the transit of 

 plants which lead to their decay and death, more especially is this the 

 case where the plants have to be shipped in some local boat of call which 

 may be weeks before it reaches the port of departure for Europe ; and 

 this delay occurs in the worst of climates for preserving the life of the 

 plants. 



HABITATS OF TROPICAL ORCHIDS. 



ORCHIDS are divided into two sections, the Terrestrial and the 

 Epiphytal. Those are termed Terrestrial that grow directly in the 

 earth. Such are the species of Orchis, FJiajus, Galanthe, Bletia, Cypri- 

 •pedinm, Neottia, Goodijera, Epipadis, &c., which all draw their support 

 directly from the ground. The Epiphytal Orchids, such as Aerides, Vanda, 

 Angraecmn, SaccolaUum, Cattleya, Oncidium, &c., grow on trees and rocks, 

 from which, however, they derive little or no nourishment, on which account 

 they are often called Air plants. These are by far the most numerous 

 and interesting. Some are found adhering to the stems and branches 

 of living trees; some of them delight in elevated situations in lofty 

 forests, while others grow upon low trees. Some occur on rocks and 

 mountains, some on trees overhanging rivers, and some near dripping 

 rocks — the latter, of course, requiring a particularly damp atmosphere 

 to grow in. Those which are found in dense woods, where scarcely any 

 sun can penetrate, require a shady moist atmosphere, whilst those found 

 in more elevated situations do not need so much shade as the last. 



