172 ORCHIDS FOR EVERYONE 



in proportion to the plant, and a compost of fibrous peat, fibrous 

 loam, some dry, broken leaves and sand, over good drainage. 

 Potting is best done soon after the flowers have faded, as new 

 growth commences at this period and new roots appear. Abund- 

 ance of moisture in the atmosphere and at the roots is necessary 

 for the full development of the tall growths, but for a little while 

 after potting the supply at the roots must be quite moderate, and 

 when the growths cease to extend and do not produce new leaves, 

 this must be taken as a sign that the plant needs a rest. A severely 

 restricted supply of water will suffice from this time until the spikes 

 are advancing. Water must not be allowed to collect in the centre 

 or heart of the new growth, or damping may follow. 



The best species is Ansellia africana, which has a yellow 

 lip, and yellow sepals and petals, spotted and barred with red- 

 brown. A. coNFUSA has clusters of small, light yellow flowers. 

 A. coNGOENSis is rather dwarfer than the rest, and has the white 

 side lobes of its lip marked with brown ; A. gigantea closely 

 resembles A. africana, but diff^ers in having larger flowers and 

 producing these in upright spikes. Ansellias produce their spikes 

 from the top of the growths. 



ARACHNANTHE 



The Arachnanthes are closely allied to the Vandas, and need 

 similar general treatment to that found successful for the tropical 

 members of the latter genus. They are not often seen in modern 

 collections, but when A. Cathcartii and A. Lowii are well 

 grown, and in flower, few Orchids attract so much attention. 

 A. Cathcartii comes from the deep, hot, moist valleys of the 

 Eastern Himalaya. Its fleshy flowers, three inches across, are 

 borne four or five together on short stiffs spikes. The under side 



