340 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
ORCHIDS IN THE JUNGLE. 
By Major-Gen. E. S. BERKELEY. 
PROBABLY the best known of the Saccolabiums is S. Blumei, which is no 
doubt identical with Rhynchostylis retusa, Blume, found originally in 
Java. It is identified under the latter name in Veitch’s Manual, and other 
publications, but it will probably be many years before it loses its popular 
name. 
The special home of this plant, in its finest variety, is Toungho, Central 
Burmah, in the neighbournood of which it occurs in enormous quantities. 
It is, however, found under similar conditions in many other parts of 
Burmah, but in no part of the country is it seen in such grand form, and 
growing in such huge masses. It is specially found on the detached trees 
scattered along the banks which surround the rice fields. These banks are 
made to retain the water in which the rice grows, so that the whole country, 
with the exception of these banks, is at certain seasons under water. The 
trees are far apart, so that the plants growing on them get the maximum of 
light and air, and this will account for the abundance of plants found 
growing on these trees, as compared wiih the scanty number found in the 
neighbouring forest. During the rains these plants grow under an 
exceptionally moist condition of the atmosphere, as not only is the 
country covered with water, but it rains for several hours daily. 
The branches of the trees are often completely covered with this plant 
exclusively, from the tiny seedling to the full-grown mass, the latter almest 
as old as the tree itself. The seeds, blown by the wind from the jungle, 
naturally attach themselves to such trees, and, finding the situation 
suitable, grow with great rapidity. 
During the heavy rains the tips of the long roots (spongioles) are very 
sticky and gelatinous, quickly sucking up the moisture received, and 
adapting the same to the wants of the plant. It would bea very interesting 
scientific investigation to find out the chemical changes which take place 
during this period of active root-growth, as it might then be possible to 
ascertain in what proportion the elements of the plant are built up by the 
action of the rain alone. It is a far-fetched idea, in my opinion, that birds 
provide Orchids with nourishment by their droppings. It is in the 
laboratory of nature that the chemical process takes place, and the plant 
food is provided. 
After the rains cease, the water remains in the fields until the time 
comes for the rice to ripen, it is then run off. The whole country then 
becomes exceedingly dry, growth ceases, the plants lose their sappy 
condition, and the leaves become firm and leathery. This condition 
enables the plants to withstand the severe changes of temperature which 
follow during the dry season, the days being very hot and the nights 
cold. 
