DEXDROBICM. 327 



D. " BENITA," O'Brien.— Thin hybrid was raised by W. B. Brymer, Esq., of 

 Dorchester, and is described by Mr. J. O'Brien as follows :—" The flowers, 

 which are borne in pairs, are SJ inches across ; the sepals white, tinged with 

 l)ale lilac hue on both surfaces; the petals white, tinged with amethystine 

 purple on the outer half; the labellum is white, with radiating lines of purple 

 at the base, which expand into a rich purplish blotch, which fills the larger 

 proportion of the area of the lip ; the purple blotch has a pale primrose band 

 in front, and the tip of the labellum is coloured like the tips of the petals. Of 

 the growth of the plants, Mr. John Powell, the gardener at Ilsington, gives the 

 following particulars : — ' The plants vary in their habit of growth. The two 

 which have flowered partake most of D. aureuin (Ueterocarpum), although the 

 pseudobulbs are more thickened at the nodes than are those of that species or 

 D. nobile. There is one very distinct plant in the batch, having a more branch- 

 ing habit, and thinner linear leaves.' It is a very handsome Dendrobium, and 

 it bears the name -D. Benita at Mr. Brymer's request, in compliment to his 

 niece" (Gardeners' Chronicle, 3rd ser., 1893, xiii. p. 356). — Garden hybrid. 



D. BENSONIAE, li^hb. f. — A lovely species, bearing some resemblance in 

 its habit to D. orystallinmn. It has sub-erect or pendulous terete stems 

 1 to 3 feet long, the younger ones with linear-acute or emarginate leaves, the 

 older leafless ones bearing the large showy flowers two or three together from 

 the nodes ; the sepals oblong- lanceolate, the petals roundish oblong, both 

 creamy- white, the orbicular concave tomentose lip orange, with two large black- 

 purple spots at the base. A handsome and desirable species. — Moulmein. 



Fia.—Bot. Mag., t. 5679 ; Moral Mag., t. 355 ; Jennings, Orcli., t. 32 ; Gard. Chnm., 

 X.S., xxii. p. 145, f . 30 ; Lindenia, iv. t. Ii8 ; VcitcU's Man, Orch. PL, iii. p. 22. 



D. BENSONIAE XANTHINUM, Bchb. /.—A very chaste variety of the 

 preceding species ; sepals and petals pure white ; lip white with an orange 

 disk. This variety is quite destitute of the two dark blotches found at the 

 base of the lip in the typical form. — Moulmein. 



D. BIGIBBUM, Lindley. — A very handsome species, of a distinct type, 

 represented by D. superbiens, Goldiei, and Phalaenopsis, and certainly one of 

 the handsomest of the Australian kinds. It is a dwarfish-growing plant, 

 producing slender fusiform stems about a span long, the younger ones having 

 a few linear-oblong leaves near the summit, whence also spring the peduncles, 

 bearing racemes of rich rosy-purple very broad-petalled flowers; they will 

 sometimes continue to throw out these racemes from the same stem for several 

 successive years ; it will thrive in the Bast Indian house, potted in fibrous peat 

 and sphagnum moss, giving abundance of drainage, and a plentiful supply of 

 water in the growing season; if allowed to become dry enough to shrivel, it 

 will with great difiiculty be restored. This species delights in an abundance 

 of light. We have found it do well in a stove where no shading is used ; in 

 fact we have grown it far better in this way than even in the Bast Indian 

 house. It flowers in October, November, and December. — North Australia. 



Fia.— Sot. Mag., t. 4898 ; Warner, Sel. Orch. PI., ii. t. 8 ; Paxton, Fl. Gard., iii. p. 25, 

 f. 245 ; Flore des Ser res, t. 1143 ; Floral Mag., 2nd ser., t. 386 ; Orchid Album., 1. 1. 38 ; 

 JSatem. Second Cent. Orch. Pl.,t. 169 ; L'lllust. HoH., 1883, xxx. t. 476 ; L'OrchidophiU; 

 1891. p. 208 ; Veitch's Man. Orch. PL, Iii. p. 23 ; Gardening World, vi. p. 73. 



