[27] 



DEN DROBI U M JOHN SON IJE f. m,h-u. 



Pseudobulbis erectis elongatis medio incrassatis basi et apice attenuates, foliis paucis lanceolato-oblongis subobtusis, racemis infra-terminalibus pedun- 

 culatis 3— 8-floris, bracteis ovato-lanceolatis parvis, floribus magnis, sepalis triangulo-lanceolatis acuminatis, petalis duplo latioribus rhomboideis acuminatis, 

 labello trifido, lobis lateralibus rotundatis obtusis columna amplectentibus, lobo medio elliptico-ovato acuto, callo parvo emarginato in disco, mento obtus- 

 angulo, columna brevissima, alis falcato-semiovatis. 



Dendrobium Johnsoniae, F. Muell. in Wing's Southern Science Record, II. (1882), p. 95; id., III., 247; id. in Descriptive Notes on Papuan 

 Plants, VI., p. 16 ; Rolfe in Card. Chron., 1886, pt. II., p. 277 (in nota). 



D. Macfarlanei, Rchb. f. in Gard. Chron., 1882, pt. II., p. 520 (non F. Muell.); id., 1886, pt. II., p. 811 ; Wien. 111. Gart. Zeit, 1890, pp. 339, 34°, 

 fig. 68. 



D. NIVEUM, Rolfe in Gard. Chron., 1891, pt. I, p. 104. 



This handsome species was originally described by Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, in Wing's Southern Science Record for May, 1882, from a dried 

 specimen gathered in the Fastern peninsula of New Guinea, by the Rev. James Chalmers, and was dedicated to the daughter of the Rev. Mr. Johnson, of 

 Surrey Hills, New South Wales. Its subsequent history has been much confused. Immediately afterwards it was again described by Reichenbach, in the 

 Gardeners Chronic/e, as D. Macfarlanei, from materials sent by the Rev. S. M. Macfarlane, from the Papuan Institute, in Torres Straits. In 1883 Mueller, who 

 had not seen the pollinia, suggested that D. Johnsonise "should perhaps be referred to Phalaenopsis," though the pouch is totally different from anything 

 known in that genus. In December, 1886, D. Macfarlanei flowered, probably for the first time in Europe, in the collection of J. N. Hibbert, Esq., of Chalfont 

 Park, near Slough, since which time it has flowered in several other collections. In 1891 a plant, sent from New Guinea by Admiral Fairfax, flowered in that 

 gentleman's collection, and I, seeing there was an earlier D. Macfarlanei, described by Mueller and belonging to the section Aporum, changed the name of 

 Reichenbach's plant to D. niveum, quite overlooking its identity with D. Johnsonian— a fact which Baron Mueller has since kindly pointed out. Apart from 

 this, however, D. Johnsoniae has priority over Reichenbach's name, so that there arc two reasons why the name of D. Johnsonian must be restored to the 

 species. It is a very distinct as well as a most handsome plant, its racemes of large white flowers being extremely graceful. Generally there are some purple 

 markings on the side lobes of the lip, but these were not present in Admiral Fairfax's plant, the only colour present being a few faint nerves on the same 

 organ. " Many of the New Guinea Dendrobiums are still very imperfectly known. R> A. Rolfe. 



This species is extremely rare in cultivation, and to a great number of orchidists is scarcely known. It will probably 

 be more readily recognised under the name of D. Macfarlanei — a name given to it by the late Professor Reichenbach in 

 compliment to the Rev. S. M. Macfarlane, of the Papuan Institute, Torres Straits. The learned Professor, in this 

 instance, appears not to have been aware of the fact that the plant had already been described in "Wing's Southern 

 Science Record " by the very able pen of Baron Ferd. von Mueller, who obtained his information from material furnished 

 by the Rev. J. Chalmers. This happened in May, 1882, and Reichenbach's description appeared in October of the same 

 year in the Gardeners Chronicle. Not much escaped the eagle eye of the learned Professor, but in this case it is easily 

 accounted for. Baron Ferd. von Mueller's publication, issued so many thousands of miles away, did not come under the 

 notice of Professor Reichenbach. We hesitated somewhat before accepting the name given by Baron von Mueller in 

 preference to that given by Reichenbach ; but as no doubt exists as to the priority of publication, it is but right that the 

 original name should stand good. The specimen described by Baron Mueller was collected in the Eastern peninsula 

 of New Guinea, and was named after the daughter of the Rev. Mr. Johnson, of New South Wales. The actual 

 discoverer of the plant, in the first instance, was Mr. Hartman, Toowomba, Queensland. The flowers are pure white, 

 with the exception of some slight purple stains on the side lobes of the lip; but these do not exist in all cases, for a 

 plant also in the collection of Admiral Fairfax, at Melrose, has pure white blossoms. The variety was introduced by 

 Admiral Fairfax from New Guinea in 1890, and was described by Mr. R. A. Rolfe in the Gardeners Chronicle of 

 January 24, 1891, under the name of Dendrobium niveum. This species has also been known under the name of D. 

 Broomfieldi, having been several times sent to Europe by this zealous amateur. There is no doubt that the habitat of 

 this Dendrobe is widely spread. 



Dendrobium johnsoniae must be grown with its North Australian congeners, and when making its new pseudo- 

 bulbs a high temperature is necessary to bring them to the greatest degree of perfection ; light is also an essential 

 condition in thoroughly maturing the growths. We have grown this and nearly allied evergreen species of the genus in 

 a house, part of which is devoted to Phalaenopsis, the sunny part being occupied with heat-loving Dendrobes. The plants 

 are never taken from their quarters, and are not allowed to shrivel when resting. At the time of writing (February) 

 we have the handsome D. atro-violaceum loaded with its lovely blue and buff-coloured flowers, the plants having been 

 grown side by side with D. Johnsoniae, and under the conditions above described. 



Our plate was taken from a plant in the collection of Admiral Fairfax, C.B., Ravenswood, Melrose, N.B. 



