THE ORCHID REVIEW. 203 
long, thick, and smooth roots are sometimes from three to four feet long. 
The plants differ much in habit, and probably also in constitution, and this 
constitutional difference may have some effect on the establishment of 
* newly imported plants in European collections. The flowers vary a great 
deal in colour, some being much darker than others, and it would be easy 
to find half-a-dozen different varieties ; indeed, we have heard of a certain 
Orchid grower who is supposed to possess about twenty, but the same fact 
may be observed in other species, as V. tricolor and suavis, and again 
among other Orchids, chiefly Cattleyas, where sometimes scarcely two 
plants are alike. Vanda Roxburghii in a wild state seems to be a very free 
bloomer, and we have noticed on some of our trees where they are thickly 
grouped, a constant succession of flowers. 
This species is called by natives of Lower Bengal, Rasna Nai, and is 
greatly esteemed by native doctors and physicians, who attribute to its 
roots some very valuable medicinal properties. They are believed to be 
very efficacious, when prepared, against rheumatism, dropsy, asthma, fever, 
scorpion’s bite, and similar disorders, as well as several diseases of the 
nervous system. The roots are somewhat fragrant and bitter, and form 
one of the most appreciated elements entering into the composition of 
several medicated oils, which are all invariably used as an external remedy. 
In other parts of the Empire the leaves are also highly appreciated, chiefly 
in Chutra, Nagpur, where they are pounded and made into a kind of paste 
which is often applied to the body against fever. 
Calcutta. A. GRIESSEN. 
+—e—+ 
MASDEVALLIA RACEMOSA. 
A LARGE plant of Masdevallia racemosa, which I have had in a small 
Cool house since December, 1892, begun to flower on July 31st, 1898, 
and has continued flowering on the old spikes, the flowers as they come 
in succession, keeping at full size and bright colour, until to-day, June 17th, 
1899, when I cut off the spikes to relieve the plant. In previous years I 
did not allow the spikes to remain on so long, as I doubted whether the 
plant might not flower itself to death, but I should be much obliged if you 
would favour the readers of the Orchid Review with your opinion as to 
whether Masdevallia racemosa is naturally a perpetual flowerer. 
GB. LUCE SMITH. 
The Acacias, Worthing. 
[The flowers of Masdevallia racemosa are i iably produced in succession 
over a considerable period, but whether in the wild state this period extends 
throughout the entire year, as the present note would suggest, is perhaps 
not definitely recorded. Lehmann states that the number of flowers open 
