AXB THEIR MANAGEMENT. 53 



Anguloa. 



and July, and is a native of Colombia. S)n. A. i'!ri;uia/is. 

 (B. M., t. 4S07.) 



A. virginalis {Ho>-f.). — A synonym of A. iiiiiflora. 



ANCECTOCHILUS. 



Blume's name for a small genus of ground Orchids, of 

 the tribe Ncotiiecc, and allied to our native " Lad^-'s 

 Tresses " {Spiraiitlics icstivalis). Botanists describe about 

 eight true species, referring all the others to allied genera, 

 or reducing them to the position of varieties merel)'. The 

 generic name is from ajioiktos, open, and clicilos, a lip, and 

 is in allusion to the spreading apex of the lip. 



The flowers of these plants are so small and unattracti\-e 

 that they need not be described here. Indeed, most 

 cultivators of Anoectochili prefer to remo\-e the flower- 

 spikes as soon as the)- appear, so as to prevent their 

 exhausting the plant. All the kinds hax'c short, flesh)', 

 creeping stems, from \\hich roots are emitted more or less 

 freel)- on the lou'er side. The leaves are arranged in 

 a rosette, or alternately on the stem, and \'ar)- in form 

 from orbicular to lance-shaped ; the)- are succulent, ver)- 

 tender, and usualh' their veins are picked out in rich and 

 beautiful colours, golden, silvery, olive, and even rose- 

 coloured reticulations often covering their whole surface. 

 Under fa\ourable conditions, each leaf remains on the plant 

 three, five, or e\"en eight years, retaining the brillianc)- 

 of its colours the whole of that time. All the species are 

 natives of tropical Asia, the most beautiful being found in 

 Ce)'lon and Ja\'a. 



Culture. — Although considered somewhat difficult subjects 

 to deal with, )'et when a position suited to their require- 

 ments is found, the)' need perhaps less attention than any 

 other species of Orchid in culti\'ation. They like a warm, 

 humid position in a house, or a position in a house where 

 the temperature can be retained at a fairl)- e\en 

 condition of 65deg. to /odeg. Plants did well with 

 the writer for a great number of years in a house in 

 which Phalcenopsis throve. Though small pieces to 

 commence with, they are now so large that it is difficult 

 to cover them with a bell-glass of the largest size 



