138 ORCHIDS 



Gymbidium. 

 distichous manner, bright light green in colour, and about 2ft. 

 long. With age the plant forms a stout, stem-like pseudo-bulb, 

 but when young it shows no sign of this. The raceme is erect. 

 Sin. to i2in. long, and bears two or three beautiful, large 

 fragrant flowers, which have ivory-white sepals and petals, and 

 a white lip, stained with pale yellow, their odour resembling 

 that of lilac. The blossoms are developed in spring, about 

 March, and they last several weeks in perfection. A well- 

 grown, well-flowered sj^ecimen is a beautilul object. Eastern 

 Himalaya, 1S46. (B. U., t. 5126.) 



C. elegans {Lindl.). — This is now referred to Cyperorchis 

 elcgaiis. 



C. giganteum {U'a/L). — A strong and bold-growing species. 

 The spike is stout, arching, and many-flowered ; the blossoms 

 are large, and have brown segments streaked with red, the lip 

 being yellow, blotched with crimson. The plant has a distinct 

 pseudo-bulb, which is clothed with the broad, sheathing bases 

 of the long, sword-like leaves. It blossoms during the winter 

 and early spring, lasting several weeks in full beauty. It 

 requires intermediate-house treatment and plenty of water. It 

 is a native of Northern India, where it was discovered by 

 Dr. Wallich; introduced in 1837. (B. M., t. 4S44.) 



C. g. Lowianum. — A synonym of C. Loiviamim. 



C. grandiflorum {Griff.). — A large and handsome plant, the 

 leaves being 2ft. long, green, striped at the base with yellow. 

 The flower-spike is erect, arching above, and the flowers are 

 4in. to 5 in. in diameter, bright olive-green, except the lip, which 

 is straw-coloured, with a deep yellow margin, and blotches of 

 dark crimson in front ; there are also two crimson projections 

 on the disk. It flowers in autumn, the blossoms lasting well if 

 kept in a cool temperature. Sikkim-Himalaya, i860. Syn. 

 C. Hookeriannin. (B. M., t. 5574.) 



C. Hookerianum {Rclib. /.). — A synonym of C. grandiflorum. 



C. Lowianum {RcIiIk). — Without doubt the most popular 

 species of the whole genus. The stout flower-spikes are from 

 2t"t. to 4ft. long, arching, and clothed almost from base to point 

 with flowers, each of which is 4in. across ; the sepals and 

 petals are equal, spreading, yellowish-green, with lines of brown, 

 and the lip is scoop-shaped, with large, erect, yellow side lobes, 

 the front being coloured deep maroon in the best varieties, 

 brownish-red in others. The flowers are developed in March 

 or April, and they remain fresh many weeks. This plant now 

 occupies a first position among exhibition Orchids. It requires 

 intermediate-house treatment, an abundant supply of water all 



