Ayn THEIR MAXAGRMENT. 



65 



Bletia. 



occasional applications of weak manure-water will be found 

 beneficial. After flowering, the plants may be placed out 

 of doors, plunging" the pots in ashes, and lea\'ing the 

 lea\es exposed to full sunshine. They should be taken 

 indoors on the approach of cold weather, and be kept on 

 the dr\' side until new growth appears. 



B. acuminata [Rchb. /.). — A synonym of Zif/ia nik'saiis 



B. Gebina (Li,id/.).—A 

 synonym of £. liyacinthina. 



B. Qodseffiana (A"r(^//;/.). 



— This is regarded simply as 

 a small- flowered variety of 

 B. verecnnda. 



B. hyacinthina {R. Rr.). 

 — A useful and a handsome 

 species, and one of the 

 hardiest ; indeed, in favoured 

 situations it has been grown 

 outside. In the cool Orchid- 

 house, its rosy-purple, graceful 

 flowers produce a charming 

 efiect, and it well merits the 

 little care necessary to grow 

 it successfully. The leaves 

 are long and plaited, and in 

 spring, when the plant is in 

 flower, are of a beautiful 

 pale green, forming an ad- 

 mirable background for the 

 rosy-purple flowers. The 

 flowers are numerous, on 

 scapes about ift. high, each 

 flower measuring 2in. across; 

 the lip is purple, streaked 

 and edged with crimson. 

 Introduced from Chma in 1802. 

 B. M., t. 1492.} 



B. patula [Hook.). — This handsome plant has rounded pseudo- 

 bulbs, 2in. in diameter, and plaited leaves i^jft. in length. The 

 flower-spike rises from the young growth in March, and grows 

 to 3ft. in height, bearing about a score of reddishdilac coloured 

 flowers, each upwards of 2in. across The base of the lip is 

 white, as are also the six ridges occurring on the disk. During 



Y 



Fig. 19. PORTKjN OF R.\CF,ME 

 OF BlKTIA HV.1CINTHINA 



(much reduced). 



Syn. £. Gebiiia. (Fig. 19 



