238 ORCHIDS 



DISPERIS. 



About a score of terrestrial Orchids of the tribe OphrydccE 

 are included in the genus Dispcris [Szv.) — from dis, double, 

 and pera, a pouch, in reference to the shape of the 

 sepals. The species are usually small and slender, nati\'es 

 of the East Indies, tropical and South Africa, and the 

 Mascarene Islands. Flowers solitary or racemose ; dorsal 

 sepal erect, galeate or calcarate, the lateral ones spreading 

 or oblique, free or more or less united ; petals united to 

 the dorsal sepal, falcately curved, usually constricted in 

 the middle and obliquel)" acute or lobed at the apex ; 

 lip adnate to the face of the column, long-clawed above 

 it, variously curved within the galea. Leaves one or 

 few, alternate, or limited to a single opposite pair. 

 Tubers ovoid. D. Faintiiiicc, probabl}' the onl)- species 

 now in cultivation here, should be grown like Disn. 



DIURIS. 



Of this genus of terrestrial Orchids, belonging to the 

 tribe Epidendrcce, there are some fifteen species, all of them 

 interesting, and some very beautiful, but practically 

 unknown here. All are natives of Australia. Flowers 

 one or more in a terminal raceme, often rather large 

 and conspicuous, owing to the tail-like green lateral 

 sepals (hence Smith's name, from dis, twice, and ouris, a tailj. 

 The rest of the perianth is )-ellow, purple, or white, 

 often bright yellow, with deep purple spots or blotches. 

 The prominent petals are often very spreading, the shorter 

 dorsal sepal closely embracing the column at the base ; 

 the lip is three-lobed. The leaves are narrow. They 

 require similar cultural treatment to Blctia, but should 

 be kept in the cool greenhouse throughout the j'ear. 



DORITIS. 



Five species of stove Orchids of the tribe I'luideiz are 

 comprehended in the genus Doritis (LiiidL). The name 

 is from doni, a lance, and is in reference to the form of 

 the lip. The species are natives of India and Malaya, and 

 l)osses3 the characters of PhaUenopsis, but the column is 



