cree. ieee 
272 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
of yellow and purple striped flowers, which vary in colour. It also varies 
a great deal in habit, sometimes appearing as a tallish plant, and at others 
rather dwarf and fleshy. This depends a great deal on the conditions under 
which it grows, and the more the plant is exposed to the full light the 
dwarfer it appears. This species varies so much that it may be easily 
mistaken for C. bicolor, which is found further south. 
Pogonia, a genus of terrestrial herbs, is represented by two species, 
P. carinata and P. plicata, found in quantity in shady spots, and which are 
scattered throughout Bengal. About April or May they push up their small 
spikes, which very seldom exceed 6 ins. in height, and have the peculiarity 
of flowering before the leaves appear. P. plicata, which is very common 
in the neighbourhood of Calcutta, is represented by two distinct forms, 
one which has brown leaves, and the other perfectly green, though some- 
times brown in their early stage. Their leaves are very broad, strongly 
plicate, and rest on the surface of the earth. P. carinata is smaller in 
habit. 
Pogonias are sometimes found in European collections, but do not seem 
to flower freely. Let me say that to succeed with them, their resting 
period ought to be very well observed, that is to say from the time the 
leaves perish until the flower spikes appear, which is for them a natural 
sign of awakening. While growing, they require a great deal of humidity, 
which will practically correspond to our rainy season. 
Didymoplexis pallens is undoubtedly a charming little terrestrial 
leafless saprophyte, which also flowers during May and June, and is nearly 
always found in wooded, shady situations. The flowers, which are 
yellowish white, are rarely more than four in number, on a small, erect 
spike, and the pedicels, which are very short at first, have the peculiarity 
of elongating enormously as the capsule develops, sometimes attaining 4 
length of eight inches. It is not cultivated in Europe, and, being a 
saprophyte, probably could not be introduced alive, though it would be an 
interesting addition to a botanical collection. 
Eulophia is also represented by two species well known in European 
collections, viz.: E. virens and E. campestris. The former extends from 
Bengal southwards to Ceylon, in the Central Province, and the latter 
is well known all over the plains of India. Unfortunately they are not of 
much decorative value. Geodorum dilatum is also sometimes found, but 
is very scarce in the district of Calcutta, and is known to flower just before 
the rains break. Saccolabium papillosum seems to be the only representa- 
tive of the genus found in our plains. It is spread northward and eastward 
to Assam. One or two species of Goodyera and Sarcanthus are said to 
grow in Bengal, but I have not yet found any. 
A. GRIESSEN. 
