A XI) THEIR MAXAGEMEXT. 26 s 



Houlletia. 



large and finely-marked flowers, with spreading;- sepals and 

 petals. The lip is united to the column, and is of \er_\' 

 remarkable structure ; it is di\-ided into two parts, the 

 basal one of \\hich is furnished at each side with a 

 curving, horn-like process almost the length of the column. 

 The apical part is broader and articulated, and often 

 develops two short, pointed lobes at the base. 



Culture. — Although of such distinct and ornamental 

 character, Houlletias are not common in gardens : ne\-er- 

 theless, when in flower, few Orchids are more effective. 

 The\- ma\- be grown along \\ith the Cattleyas, where the\- 

 should be shaded from bright sun, and the atmosphere 

 about them be kept moist. They may be planted in pans 

 of fibrous peat and sphagnum. Liberal supplies of water 

 should be given A\hen the\- are making their growth, onl\- 

 sufficient being afforded during the resting period to keep 

 the pseudo-bulbs in a plump state. 



H. Brocklehurstiana {Liudl.). — One of the best of the genus, 

 with very distinct and showily-coloured flowers. The stout, ovate 

 pseudo-bulbs are about 3in. high, deeply furrowed, and tapering 

 towards the top ; they each bear a solitary, pale green leaf, 

 I ft. to iTjft. in length, broadly lance-shaped and plaited. The 

 flower-stems originate at the base of the pseudo-bulbs, are about 

 2ft. long, and bear from ten to twelve flowers. The oblong 

 sepals and petals are concave, usually of a rich reddish-brown, 

 thickly marked with spots of a purplish tinge. The basal part 

 of the lip is yellow, freely spotted with purplish-brown, and 

 has two pointed, recurving horns at the sides ; the somewhat 

 triangular terminal lobe is almost entirely purple. In some 

 forms the colour is much darker, and in others the ground- 

 colour of the lip is nearly white, striped and spotted with purple. 

 A native of Brazil ; introduced in 1S41. Syn. Ma.xillaria 

 Brocklehitrsfiana. (B. M., t. 4072.) 



H. Landsbergi (Rchh. f.). — Though described as long ago as 

 1855, this species has only been re-introduced within recent years. 

 The flowers are large, fleshy, and 3in. across ; sepals oblong, 

 orange, with red spots ; petals smaller, and notched ; lip narrow, 

 with four horndike lobes, white, tinged with purple. Leaves 

 ift. long, and 4in. broad. Pseudo-bulbs, lin. long. Costa Rica, 

 1891. (B. M., t. 7362.) 



H. odoratissima (Lindl.).—K handsome - flowered species, 

 having ovate pseudo-bulLs, light green, lance-shaped, plaited 

 leaves, and erect flower-scapes from ift. to lift. high. There 



