AA^D THEIR MANAGEMENT. 199 



Dendrobium. 



like, and it is either deciduous or persistent till the 

 pseudo-bulbs perish. The flowers are borne in lateral or 

 terminal bunches, sometimes singl}-, sometimes in very 

 large, pendent racemes ; the sepals and petals are usually 

 equal in length, the two lateral sepals being joined at 

 the base, and forming a spur, or chin ; the lip is usually 

 large and handsome, and is narrowed to a stalk-like base ; 

 the column is attached by its middle to the ovary, and 

 there are four waxy pollinia. 



The natural distribution of Dendrobium extends over 

 an immense area, from the Himalayas, through Burma, 

 to the ^Malayan regions, Australia, New Zealand, China, 

 and Japan. None have been found in Africa or in 

 ]\Iadagascar. They are most abundant in Burma and 

 Aloulmein, and from these two places the majority of the 

 most beautiful of cultivated kinds have been obtained. As 

 having an important bearing on the cultural requirements 

 of Dendrobiums, a few observations on the climate of these 

 regions may be worth attention. The wettest months are 

 from June to September, at which time the atmosphere is 

 almost constantly saturated. As much as 6ooin. of rain 

 ha\-e been known to fall in these regions in one )-ear, and 

 25oin. in a month have been recorded (Hooker). The 

 average dav temperature at this season is from Sodeg. to 

 9odeg. in 'the shade, falling to about jodeg. at night. 

 From October to February little or no rain falls, and the 

 atmosphere is, therefore, very dr\- ; the temperature also 

 is lower. This is the resting season for vegetation, the 

 Dendrobiums at this time being dried almost to scorching, 

 and shrivelled to half their size. In the Malayan and 

 Philippine regions, the climate is almost equal all the 

 year round. The air is nearly always saturated, and the 

 average temperature in the shade is godeg. by day, 

 seldom falling below ZSdeg. at night. During the wettest 

 months there is sunshine for several hours almost every 

 day, and in the driest season there are occasional 

 showers. From these facts we obtain some data which 

 will enable us to regulate the treatment for Dendrobiums 

 so as to accord, in a measure, with the conditions 

 under which the>' are found in a state of Nature, 



Culture. — All the species grow upon trees or rocks in 

 positions exposed to sunshine, so that under cultivation 



