204 



ORCHIDS 



Denclrobium. 



with dull red ; column orange-red. The flowers are developed in 

 January or February, and remain fresh about a fortnight ; they 

 change to a deep golden-yellow before perishing ; they are also 

 remarkable for their strong primrose fragrance. The species thrives 

 best when planted in baskets. Native of various parts of India ; 



introduced in 1837. Syn. 



(Fig. 62 ; 



Fig. 62 



Flower of Df.xhrobium 



AUREUM 

 [§ nat. ?i/e\ 



D. hefej-ocarpiim. 

 B. M, t. 4708.) 



Var. Henshalli. — Pseudo- 

 bulbs longer. Lip white, with 

 a yellow blotch and two 

 reddish spots. (B. M., t. 4970, 

 as D. hcterocarpiim Henshalli) 



A'ar. philippinense. — 

 Pseudo-bulbs almost pen- 

 dent, from 3ft. to 5 ft. long. 

 Flowers paler, and the seg- 

 ments more acute, than in 

 the type. 



D. BensoniaE(y?.7y'./;).— 

 A handsome species, erect in 

 habit, the pseudo-bulbs from 

 I ft. to 2 ft. high, terete, yel- 

 lowish when mature. Leaves 

 about 2in. long, deciduous. 

 Its lovely flowers, which are 

 ;Mn. across, are produced in May and June, growing in 

 twos or threes on the upper part of the stem :" the sepals "and 

 petals are milk-white ; the lip is white, with an orange centre, 

 and ornamented near the base with two large veivety-black 

 blotches. This .species is a native of Moulmein, whence it was 

 introduced to our gardens in 1S66, by Lieut.-Col. Benson. It is 

 not easily kept in health after about two years' cultivation. It 

 should be planted in a pot or a basket, in peat-fibre and 

 sphagnum, and be grown in a hot-house ; 

 finished, the plants should be placed in an 

 perature, and be kept dry. (B. M., t. 5679.) 



D. bigibbum (Li/idL). — This sturdy species has fusiform 

 pseudo-bulbs, ift. to 2ft. high, and bears about half-a-dozen 

 lance-shaped leaves 4in. long. Flower-spikes from near the 

 apex of the two-year-old pseudo-bulb.s, erect, about ift. Ion?, 

 bearing from four to twelve or more flowers, each of whic^'h 

 is i|in. across, full ; the sepals are oblong : the petals broader 

 than long, magenta-purple; the lip is funnel-shaped, with a 



al)out 



when growth 

 intermediate tem- 



