488 ORCHIDS 



Thunia. 



T. alba {Liiuf/.). — This is a free-growing species, with terete 

 tapering stems 2ft. to 3ft. high, clothed with pale green leaves, 

 which are narrowly oblong, pointed, about 6in. long, and glaucous 

 underneath. The flowers are borne in a pendulous cluster at 

 the apex of the stem, a dozen or more together ; each is from 

 3in. to 4in. in diameter when fully expanded; they are frequently, 

 however, kept half-closed by the large, boat-shaped bract at the 

 base, but this may be remedied by carefully slitting the bract 

 with a sharp knife. The sepals and petals are white, oblong- 

 lanceolate. The sides of the lip inclose the column ; the 

 central part is expanded, wavy at the margin, the white ground 

 being faintly marked with pxile purple. Introduced from Nepal 

 about 1836 ; it is conmron in the Himala)'as and Uurma. 

 The flowers are produced in June. Syn. Pliaius allnis. (B. M., 

 t. 3991.) 



T. Bensonre (Beiitli.). — An elegant and beautiful specii;s, 

 similar to T. alba in general appearance. The stems are 2ft. 

 to 3ft. high. The leaves are pale green on the upper surface, 

 glaucous beneath. The drooping flowers are produced on 

 short, terminal racemes of about ten to twelve ; each bloom is 

 between 4in. and 5in. across. The sepals and petals are alike, 

 spreading, narrowly oblong, bright red-purple, of varying depth 

 of shade, but always paler towards the base. The lip is trilobed, 

 rich magenta-purple on the front lobe, which is broadly oblong, 

 frilled, unevenly lobed, and toothed at the margin ; the side 

 lobes meet over the column. Introduced from Rangoon in 

 1S67. It flowers in July. Syn. Phaiiis Bcnsoiice. (B. M., 

 t. 5694.) 



T. Brymeriana {Rchh. /).— Allied to T. MarsJialliana, this 

 species bears large white flowers in terminal drooping heads ; 

 the lip is yellow, with radiating crimson lines. The stems 

 arc 2ft. high. A native of Burma, whence it was introduced 

 in 1S94. 



T. Marshalliana (Rchb. /.).— There are few Orchids more 

 beautiful than this. It is easily grown, and flowers abundantly. 

 It is considered by some botanists to be a variety of T. alba, 

 from which ic does not differ in habit, although it is much 

 superior in its flowers. The flowers are 5m. in diameter, and 

 pure white, excepting the front of the lip, which is of a rich 

 golden-yellow, veined with deep orange-red. The sepals and 

 petals are pointed, spreading, and broadly lance-shaped, the base 

 of the lip surrounding the column, the front expanded, prettily frilled 



