112 ORCHIDS 



CHRYSOQLOSSUM. 



Blume's name for a small genus of stove, terrestrial 

 Orchids, of the tribe VandecE. They have the habit of 

 Taiiiia, and are natives of India and Malaya. The 

 generic name is from chtysos, yellow, and glossttvi, a 

 tongue, and is in allusion to the colour of the lip. 

 Flowers mediocre, shortly pedicellate, disposed in a lax 

 raceme ; pollen-masses two, free. Pseudo-bulbs narrow or 

 wanting, one-leaved. The cultural requirements are similar 

 to those recommended for Cahmthc. 



C. villosum (Bliime). — Flowers yellow, banded with purple, 

 villous, |in. in diameter, lateral sepals decurved ; petals curved 

 upwards; mid-lobe of lip panduriform ; scape (with raceme) ift. 

 to 2ft. lone;. Leaves solitary, 6in. to lain. long, broadly elliptic 

 or ovate, villous ; petiole lin. to 2in. long. Perak and Java. 



CHYSIS. 



Handsome stoxe epiph}'tal Orchids, belonging to the tribe 

 Epidendrece, Lindley's name for the genus being based on 

 the fused appearance of the pollen-masses — from chysis, 

 melting. The several cultivated species are remarkable 

 for their large, fleshy flowers, and one of them — viz., 

 C. bractesccns — is handsome enough to rank among the most 

 select of Orchids. All the species have large, fleshy pseudo- 

 bulbs, about I ft. long, thin at the base, and gre}'ish-green. 

 The leaves are lance-shaped, and have prominent nerves ; 

 when the growth ripens, the leaves wither and fall off. 

 The flowers are in short racemes, and are developed along 

 with the new growth ; the sepals and petals are fleshy, 

 broad and spreading, and the lip is large, with prominent 

 side lobes and a recurved middle lobe. The introduced 

 species are natives of Mexico or Colombia. 



Culture. — Teak baskets, pans, or pots ma}' be used for 

 these plants ; they like plenty of root room, good drainage, 

 and a mixture of peat-fibre and sphagnum. When growing, 

 they must have warm-house treatment, with plenty of 

 water at the roots. When growth is finished, they should 

 be removed to an intermediate-house, and be kept rather 

 dry till they begin to grow again. They should be re- 

 potted as soon as new growth is evident. 



