AiVD THEIR MANAGEMENT. 421 



Phaius. 



Marthir Blunui and siniii/ans (Sander). 



Xonnan (t"\g. 14(11 Wallicini J/annii and si»iiilans (Cookson). 



o<ihLvodi,-iis<- Co<>/.-si'i!/ and Humblotii (Cookson). 



Owenianus iicol.tr and Humblotii (Sander). 



Phcebe U'allicliii and Humblotii (Cookson). 



Rubv CooksouiZ and //»w;/<A'/// (Cookson). 



PHAL/ENOPSIS. 



For magnificence of flowers no genus of tropical Orchids 



surpasses Plialcenopsis (BIhiiw) ; indeed, it ma}- be said to 



comprise some of the most beautiful of the whole Natural 



Order. The generic name is from phalaina, a moth, and 



opsis^ resembling — hence the popular name of Moth Orchid. 



The species are mostl}' natives of the hottest and 



moistest parts of the Old World, their natural range 



extending from Assam and Burma, through the Islands of 



the Indian Archipelago, to the Moluccas and the Philippines. 



Although the first Phalaniopsis was discovered in the 



Island of Ambo}-na as earl}- as 1750, and figured about 



the same date, it was not until 1S36 that a li\-ing plant 



was introduced to this countr}-. This flowered in 1838, and 



proved to be P. aiiiabilis. There are now many species 



in cultivation, all of which are epiphytes and, with 



the exception of P. Lon'ii, evergreen. The lea\-es 



usually number from four to eight, and are closelj- 



arranged in two opposite rows. None of the species ha\-e 



pseudo-bulbs, but the leaves are generally thick and 



leathery ; in several the upper surface is prettily mottled 



with silvery-gre)', and the underside coloured deep 



purple. The genus is distinguished by the grace with 



which the flowers are displayed ; the}' usuall}- face in one 



direction, and are elegantly supported on slender, 



frequently branching racemes. Another charm of 



PhalcEnopsis is their remarkably free-flowering nature ; 



P. SchilUriana has been known to bear over 170 flowers 



on a raceme, and as each flower is 2in. across, very full 



and spreading, its striking appearance may be easily 



conceived. 



In regard to the individual flower, the genus may be 

 roughly divided into two sections : the one in which the 

 sepals and petals are about the same size, and the lip is 

 undivided at the apex — represented b}- P. Luddcmaiiniana 



