484 ORCHIDS 



Stenia. 

 all broader and fimbriate, the disk crested ; pollen-masses 

 four, oblong-linear ; scapes short, recur\-ed, one-flo\\-ered. 

 Leaves oblong or narrow, coriaceous. Stems shortened. 

 Pseudo-bulbs clustered, one- or two-leaved. The species 

 inhabit Guiana, Columbia, and Peru, and the)- require 

 the same cultural conditions as the small-growing, warm- 

 house species of Zygopctaluni. S. fiiiibriata (Rc/ib. /.' and 

 -S". pallida (Liiidl.) arc occasionalh' frjund in culti\'ation. 



STENOQLOTTIS. 



Two South African species constitute this genus. It is 

 terrestrial, its nearest all}' being Habenaria — a genus little 

 known in cultix'ation outside botanic gardens — and it 

 belongs to the tribe Ophiydccc. Lindley's name is from 

 stenos, narrow, and glossa^ a tongue ; in allusion to tlie 

 narrow lip. 



Culture. — In a natural state, both species are found in 

 moist, shaded situations, often on rocks, to which the}- 

 cling b}- n-icans of their thick, flesh}-, white roots, and form 

 a turf-like mass. Under cultivation, the}- succeed when 

 potted in a compost of light loam, sil\-er sand, and leaf- 

 soil. A siu'facing of li\-e sphagnum is beneficial to the 

 plants, and impro\'es their appearance. Placed in the 

 warmest ]jart (A the Odontoglossum-house, and kept fairl\- 

 moist at all times, these little Orchids thri\-e admirabl}-. 

 The}- lose their foliage in winter, when thc}- should be 

 allowed U> rest b}- withholding water, though the}- must 

 not be allowed to get quite dry. 



S. fimbriata (////<// ).— l!oth the foliage and the flowers of 

 this little species are pretty and attractive. The leaves spread 

 horizontally near the surface of the soil, forming a rosette 6in. 

 in diameter ; the)- arc narrowly oblong, undulated at the margin, 

 and of a deep green, prettily marked with longitudinal l.iands of 

 black-purple spots. The spike is erect, usually 6in. to i2in, 

 high, bearing a great nun-iljer of small, pale ros)'-purple flowers, 

 each ^in. across. I'he lip is spreading, trilobed at the apex, 

 and is marked with a few purple spots. There is considerable 

 variation in this species. Usually the spots on the leaves are 

 numerous and well-defined; in some forms they are faint, and 

 in others are entirely absent. The blossoms are produced in 

 autumn. Introduced from South Africa in 1S71. (B. M., t. SS72.) 



