242 ORCHIDS 



Epidendrum. 



As this genus includes several plants hitherto known 

 under Bnrkcria and other names, and as a considerable 

 number of handsome-flowered species are of recent intro- 

 duction, the list of useful garden Epidendrums is a fairly 

 long one. Even those species that are wanting in ordinary 

 attractions ha\'e characters of sufficient interest to 

 recommend them to some amateurs. For instance, some of 

 them are deliciousl)' fragrant, as E. fragrans, E. puniiit, 

 E. radiatimi, &c. Onl}' those known to possess good 

 ornamental flowers are, however, described here. 



Culture. — Nearly all the culti\ated Epidendrums thrive 

 when grown in the Cattleya-house and treated as if they 

 were Dendrobiums, E. viielliuuiu is, however, an excep- 

 tion ; its treatment is given under its description. 



These somewhat despised Orchids have been of con- 

 siderable \-alue to the hj'bridist. The intercrossing of 

 some of the showiest species has produced excellent I'esults. 

 By far the most interesting have been those instances 

 where Epidendrum has been used as one of the parents 

 in the production of bigeneric hybrids, such as Epi- 

 Cattlcya, Epi-Liclia, and Epiplironitis. 



E. atropurpureum ( ]]l//d.). — In this species the pseudo- 

 bulbs are ovate and wrinkled, bearing a pair of narrow, dark 

 green, leathery leaves. From between the latter is produced a 

 long spike, bearing several large flowers, which have spreading 

 oblong sepals and petals, of a dark brown colour, greenish at 

 the base ; the lip is large, spreading, three-lobed, and pure 

 white, with a feather-like blotch of reddish-purple at the base. 

 A very handsome species, well deserving a place in the smallest 

 collection of intermediate-house Orchids. It blossoms in 

 spring and early summer. It is a native of Tropical America, 

 from Costa Rica to Colombia, and was introduced m 1836. Syn. 

 £. macrocJuliij)!. (B. M., t. 3534.) 



Var. roseiim has purple sepals and petals, and a rose-coloured lip. 



E. aurantiacum (Batein.). — This free-flowering species in 

 pseudo-bulbs and foliage approaches Caiilcva Skinneri. The 

 flowers are bright cinnabar-red, ijin. across, and produce in 

 spring. This plant is now more correctly known as Cattleya 

 aaraniiaca. 



E. bicornutum {Hook.). — This is now known as Diairinm 

 hiLOriiiitiiin. 



E. Brassavolae {Rohh. p.). — Pseudo-bulbs pear-shaped, com- 

 pressed, 6in or more long, bearing two oblong leaves gin. long. 



L., 



