AXB THEIR MANAGEMENT. 411 



Paradisanthus. 



depressed, pj-riform. Lea\-es lanceolate, acute, green, sub- 

 glaucous, twin. These plants, which are rarely seen in 

 cultivation, are best grown suspended from the roof, in 

 the temperature of an intermediate-house. P. bahiensis 

 {^RcJib. f.) is the species oftenest grown. 



PELEXIA. 



Interesting, but not ver}- ornamental, warm-house 

 terrestrial Orchids, belonging to the tribe Ncotticff. The 

 name given b}- Richard is derived from pelc.\\ a helmet, 

 and is in reference to the shape of the back sepal. 

 Flowers mediocre, arranged in a sometimes dense, some- 

 times elongated and loose, sub-sessile spike ; back sepals 

 erect, connate ^^■ith the petals in a narrow galea ; lateral 

 ones linear ; lip affixed to the base of the peltate column, 

 erect, linear, canaliculate, the base produced into a spur- 

 like lamina ; column short. Leaves either radical and 

 long-stalked, or few and many-sheathed at the base of a 

 simple stem. The species, which are rarely found in 

 cultivation, require the same cultural requirements as 

 A ncectocliihis. 



PERI5TERIA. 



Sir Joseph Hooker is responsible for the name of this 

 small genus of tropical American Orchids, belonging to 

 the tribe VaiidecB. It is derived from ptvistcra, a do\'e, 

 and has reference to the dove-like appearance of the 

 column. Six or eight species have been discovered. 

 They are handsome in appearance, and are characterised 

 by large, fleshy pseudo-bulbs, surmounted b)- se^-eral long, 

 plicate, pointed lea\"es. The flowers are produced on 

 erect or drooping scapes that spring from the base of 

 the pseudo-bulbs. They are fleshy, fragrant, and nearly 

 spherical. The sepals are concave, and united at the 

 base, and the petals resemble them, except that they are 

 a little smaller. The lip is continuous with the column, 

 and is sagittate at the base, the upper half being bent 

 over the face of the column, which is short and flesh)^ 

 P. elata is the finest species, and on account of its beauty 

 and remarkable structure, has given rise to both the generic 

 and popular names — Dove Orchids. 



