BARKERIA. 



117 



sometimes very shortly so, and more rarely for half its length. They are 

 deciduous, losing their leaves during their season of rest, and, though 

 small growing, are free in producing flowers, which are both rich and 

 delicate in colour. The few species are from Central America and 

 Mexico. 



Culture. — The Barherias merit a place in every collection. They are 

 compact-growing, with upright slender bulbs, from the top of which the 

 flower stems are produced. These plants succeed best on flat blocks of 

 wood, so that the plants can be tied on the top without any moss ; they 

 send out their thick fleshy roots very freely, and will soon cling to the 

 blocks. They require to be grown in a cool-house, where they can 

 receive air every day during their season of growth. The Mexican house 

 will be the most suitable place for them, and during their season of 

 growth a good supply of water — twice a day in summer will not be too 

 much for them, but during their season of rest veiy little water will 

 suffice — only enough to keep their stems or bulbs from shrivelling, about 

 two or three times a week. They should be suspended from the .roof, 

 near the glass, where they can receive plenty of light and a good supply 

 of sun. 



B. CYCLOTELLA, Bchh. /.—A very beautiful species with short leafy stems 

 as thick as a quill, distichous ligulate-oblong acute leaves, and a terminal 

 raceme of very showy flowers, which have deep magenta sepals and petals, 

 and a broad emarginate lip of the same rich magenta round the margin, 

 the central portion being white. It is a deciduous species, and blooms in 

 February and March, the plant continuing for six weeks in bloom. — Mexico. 



Fl&. — Orchid Album, iv. t. 148. 



B. ELEGANS, Knowles and 

 Westc. — A handsome species, 

 of which the leaves are lanceo- 

 late, and the erect racemes of 

 flowers, few in number, are 

 produced during the winter 

 season. The sepals and petals 

 are dark rose, the lip is 

 whitish, broadly obovate, 

 having on the disk an oblong 

 callus ending in three elevated 

 lines, this being covered by 

 the large spathulate yellowish 

 purple dotted column, beyond 

 which in front is a large blotch 

 of deep reddish crimson. It is one of the best of the genus, and rare, having 



BARKESIA ELEGANS, 

 (From the Gardeners' Chronicle,) 



