52 ORCHIDS FOR EVERYONE 



crimson. The species has proved variable in the matter of colour, 

 consequently several varietal names have been given, such as C. i. 

 Sanderi, C. I. Sanders, C. i. splendens, C. i. superbum, etc. 

 The erect spike and distinct colouring mark C. insigne as one of 

 the finest species introduced in recent years. The cool end of the 

 Intermediate House provides a suitable temperature for it. 



C. LowiANUM is the most popular member of the genus, and 

 deservedly so, as it is readily cultivated, soon develops into a large 

 specimen, and produces from one dozen to three dozen flowers on 

 its long, graceful, drooping spikes. As an exhibition plant it is 

 held in high favour because the flowers last such a long time in 

 good condition. The individual blooms are four inches across, 

 yellow-green, with faint brown lines, and a lip that is cream 

 coloured, with brighter side lobes and a large horse-shoe shaped 

 blotch at the apex. C. Lowianum flowers late in the Winter and 

 continues in perfection for from two to three months, and where 

 several plants are grown the flowers are generally available from 

 February to May. 



C. Tracyanum has large, attractive flowers, five inches 

 across ; sepals and petals yellowish green, with interrupted longi- 

 tudinal lines of crimson ; lip yellow, crimson-striped, and with a 

 cream-white, crimson-spotted apex. A splendid Cymbidium, 

 ranking next in importance to C. Lowianum and C. eburneum. 



Best Hybrids 



The best hybrids are C. Veitchii (the name now given to 

 the hybrids popularly known as C. ehurneo-Lowianum and C. 

 Lowio-eburneum. It is now the custom to give the same name to 

 the progeny of any two species even when the seed parents are 

 different. In the case of C. Veitchii the original C. eburneum x 

 C. Lowianum cross has cream-white flowers with a distinct 



