AXD THEIR JIAXAGE2IENT. 471 



Sophronitis. 



S. cernua {Liinil.). — In its habit of growtli this species is very 

 compact. The pseudo-bulbs are iin. long, and bear each a single, 

 somewhat broadly-ovate, dark green leaf, about lin. long. Four to 

 eight flowers are produced on a short peduncle ; they are 

 individually smaller than those of .S. gt-aiidijlora, and they are of 

 a rich, bright scarlet, with a yellow lip. They are produced in 

 mid-winter, lasting in full perfection for a considerable period. 

 Introduced in 1S26. Syn. S. J^terocar^a. (B. M., t. 3677.) 



5. grandiflora {LinJI.). — During the whole of the winter 

 months, this, the finest of the three species, produces its brilliantly- 

 coloured flowers. The pseudo-bulb is terete, or sometimes 

 egg-shaped, lin. or more long. The leaves are oblong, 2in. to ^in. 

 long, leathery, deep green, the whole plant seldom exceeding 

 3in. or 4in. in height. The flowers are produced singly from 

 the apex of the pseudo-bulbs, and measure from ijin. to 4in. 

 across : they are thick in texture, with broad, brilliant scarlet 

 sepals and petals ; the lip is narrow, folding at the sides, orange- 

 yellow, streaked with scarlet. When cut and placed in water, 

 the flowers keep fresh for a week or more : whilst if left upon the 

 plants and kept from drip or sprinklings from the syringe, they 

 continue in full beauty for many weeks. This species was 

 introduced, in 1S37, from the Organ Mountains, where it grows 

 upon trees at an elevation where white frost occurs in the 

 mornings. (Fig. 162 ; B. M., t. 3709.) 



Var. purpurea has pseudo-bulbs and leaves shorter than in the 

 type, and flowers of a bright carmine-purple. 



S. pterocarpa {Lindl.). — A synonym of .5'. ccniua. 



S. violacea {Lindl.). — One of the smallest of garden Orchids. 

 It is a perfect gem in its way, possessing a beauty peculiarly its 

 own. The pseudo-bulbs are lin. long, pointed at both ends, 

 and fluted. The leaves are narrow, 2in. long, and the peduncles 

 are usually one-flowered. Flowers lin. across, violet-magenta, 

 with a paler eye. They are produced in winter. The plant was 

 introduced from the Organ Alountains in 1837. (B. M., t. 6880.) 



SPATHOQLOTTIS. 



This genus, of the tribe Epidcndrccc, is distributed over 

 a large area, stretching from Northern India and 

 China, through the East Indies and the Malayan Archi- 

 pelago, as far as the New Caledonian Islands. Over a 

 dozen species have been introduced, and it is probable that 

 many kinds have yet to be discovered. The name given 



