AXD THEIR JIAXAGEJ/EiYT. 341 



NEPHELAPHYLLUM. 



For this genus of the tribe Epideiidiwc^ and of which 

 but a few species ha\"c been described, Blume stands 

 sponsor. The name is from iicphclc, a cloud, ancl 

 phr/loii, a leaf and is in reference to the marks upon 

 the lea\-es. The species are creeping, terrestrial Orchids, 

 natives of Southern China, the East Indies, and the 

 Mala\-an Archipelago. Flowers loose or densel\' racemose, 

 on leafless scapes. Leaves stalked, o\'ate-lanceolate or 

 cordate, usually purplish beneath, spotted or clouded abo\-e. 

 The\- require the same cultural conditions as Aiuvctoc/iilus. 



NEUWIEDIA. 



A comm.emorative name given b\- Blume for a genus 

 consisting of about five species of warm intermediate- 

 house terrestrial Orchids, belonging to the tribe A/os/asii'iC. 

 Flowers small, nearly or quite sessile ; sepals and petals 

 equal, free, connivent, or at length spreading ; lip sub- 

 spathulate, otherwise similar to the petals ; column short ; 

 spike or raceme terminal, dense, simple, often elongated; 

 leaves long, contracted to the petioles. The species, which 

 are natives of :\Ialacca and the Malayan Archipelago, 

 require similar cultural conditions to Cypripediiiin. 



OBERONIA. 



To this genus of the tribe Epidcndrcti: belong several 

 species of stove or warm intermediate-house epiphytal 

 Orchids, natives of tropical Asia, Australia, and the 

 Mascarene and Pacific Islands. The name, given by 

 Lindle}', is after Oberon, the Fairy King, and is in 

 allusion to the quaint and variable forms of the plant. 

 Flowers small, in numerous dense, sub-cylindrical racemes 

 or spikes, sessile, or short pedicellate ; sepals free ; sub- 

 equal ; petals narrower, or shorter, than the sepals ; lip 

 sessile, usually conca\-e. Leaves distichous ; sheath com- 

 pressed, equitant. 



The species are rarely met with outside botanic 

 collections. They should be grown in shallow pans or 

 baskets, suspended near the roof in a compost consisting 

 of two' parts sphagnum to one of fibrous peat. They 



