282 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [SePrempzr, 199 
BRASSAVOLA NODOSA AND THE CALABASH TREE, © 
SOME time ago I sent to the Orchid Review, pressed flowers, accompanie 
by a rough sketch, of a pretty little Brassavola, usually found growing here 
on oaks in open grassy country; never in our tall timber forests. These 
little plants are often found in great masses, exposed to strong winds and 
considerable sunshine. It was determined as a small form of B. nodosa. 
I suspected that it was close to B. nodosa, though the plant is not often 
more than two or three inches in height. The flowers are borne singly or 
in twos, and occasionally threes, on slender two inch scapes, quite large for _ 
sosmalla plant. The sepals and petals are linear, two inches in length — 
pale greenish white; and the labellum quite large, pure white, exhaling a — 
delightful fragrance at night. 
Recently a friend sent.me a dozen plants of a Brassavola from the 
Pacific coast side of Chiapas, which much resembles our species, and I am 
inclined to believe, must be the typical form of B. nodosa, as the pseudo- 
bulbs are more than double the length of the local form. Several have : 
already flowered, and there is little difference to be detected. The flowers % 
are, however, slightly larger. One curious fact I have noted, viz: a very — 
remarkable difference in odour; the local one having a delicate jasmine-like > 
fragrance, while the one from the Pacific side is scented like some of the 
odorous Phyllocacti. Both forms give out their odour at night only. 
As we have no oaks here, I attached them to the limbs of the calabash 
tree, where they quickly rooted. Referring at greater length to this tree— 
Crescentia species—I would urge upon all amateurs living in the tropics, 
who are at all interested in the cultivation of Orchids, to utilize this tree for 
the purpose above indicated. I know of no tree so remarkably adapted for 
growing Orchids upon as the calabash. There appears to be a singular 
combination of conditions that are most favourable to root development. } 
may add, however, that, in establishing the calabash tree in a garden, tt 
should be situated in a perfectly open, sunny place, where it gets free 
ventilation from all the breezes that blow. It prefers, for its best develop. 
_ ment, porous, well drained soil, and can be grown from large truncheons 
two or three inches in thickness and four or five feet long, by merely placing 
them in the ground as one would set a post, planting, say a foot oF eight. 
een inches deep. Here, in this climate, we have found the largest numbet 
to root when planted in the winter season, that is, in December or Januaty — 
when there is very little rain ; they will then slowly form a callus, and be : 
ready to start off with the first rains in May or June, and, in a couple © 
years, are large enough to accommodate quite a number of Orchids. ie 
I have, already, one small calabash tree about ten feet high, from W®” 
proceed a number of lateral branches, with the following Orchids established 
