[8 3 



THUNIA BRYMERIANA 



Rolfe. 



Pseudobulbis cylindricis elongatis foliatis, foliis sessilibus oblongo-linearibus acutis v. acuminatis 5 — 8 poll, longis glaucis, racemis terminalibus 

 arcuatis paucifloris, floribus speciosis, sepalis oblongo-lanceolatis subacutis 2% poll, longis 6—7 lin. latis, petalis similibus paullo minoribus, labello convoluto 

 integro elliptico obtuso undulato fimbriato, venis fronte fimbriato-cristatis, calcare clavato 3—4 lin. longo, columna clavata apice alata. 



Thunia Brymeriana, Rolfe in Kew Bulletin, 1894. 



This is a distinct and handsome species of Thunia, which was introduced by W. E. Brymer, Esq., M.P., Ilsington House, Dorchester, some 

 time ago, and has since flowered with us, also at Kew, and in one or two other collections. Its nearest ally is T. Marshalliana, Rchb. f, to which it bears 

 a considerable resemblance in the structure of its flowers and shape of the spur. The present one, however, has slightly smaller flowers, and the sides and 

 front part of the lip are beautifully variegated with radiating crimson-purple veins. The disc of the lip is yellow, and the sepals, petals, and bracts white. 

 Its flowers are larger than those of T. alba, Rchb. f., while the colour and shape of the spur are so markedly different as to preclude the possibility of their 

 being confused. In its general habit and the character of the vegetative organs it shows no marked deviation from other species of the genus, which in this 

 respect are much alike. In the "Genera Plantarum " of Bentham and Hooker, Thunia is considered to be synonymous with Phaius, though the two have 

 certainly little in common which does not apply to various other terrestrial genera. Reichenbach removed Thunia far away, considering it as belonging to 

 the group Arethuseae. Whether this view is correct or not, it is certain that it is a genus quite distinct from Phaius, and the two are so well known in 

 gardens that it is unnecessary to detail the various differences betw 



confused is best accounted for by the fact tha 





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R. A. Rolfe. 



The beauty of these elegant flowers, and their adaptability for the purposes of decoration when cut, was never so well 

 displayed or so generally admired as in the great trophy of orchids presented by us to H.I.M. the Empress of Germany 

 at Buckingham Palace, on July 10, 1891, and in which T. Brymeriana and T. Mastersiana were the varieties used. The 

 specimens we used on that occasion were cut with the greater part of the leafy pseudo-bulbs attached, and the charming 

 effect of the fine terminal heads of drooping flowers proceeding from their graceful stems and soft, green foliage around 

 the lower part of the design, did much to help us out of our difficulty in getting true artistic beauty out of the Cattleyas 

 and other more formal looking flowers. 



Thunia Brymeriana, in common with the rest of the genus, has much to recommend it to the cultivator. Grown 

 with a proper regard to its resting and its growing season, it is very easy to cultivate. If its old stems are cut into 

 lengths of 2 or 3 inches, and a number placed together in ordinary cutting pots, they will give young plants almost as 

 freely as a Pelargonium, and when its flowers are matured it is not in the least injured by cutting whatever growths are 

 required for decoration in the manner we have described. In spring the plants should be re-potted, each stem being 

 securely fastened to keep it upright, and turfy yellow loam mixed with a little chopped sphagnum moss and sand being a 

 suitable material in which to pot them. 



On the young growths starting from the base of the old ones, the plants must be placed in a warm, moist, 

 growing house, where they should remain until the growths are perfected and the flower heads are fully formed. ' When 

 the first bud is about to burst, the plant should be removed to a cooler and drier house, or to the cool vestibule for 

 orchids in flower, which is to be found in most places where a collection of orchids is grown. 



The stock we placed into commerce came into our hands through the kindness of W. E. Brymer, Esq., M.P., 

 Ilsington House, Dorchester. It is undoubtedly the showiest and most beautiful of the genus, and the species possesses 

 the great advantage of remaining in flower much longer than any of its congeners. 



Our plate was taken from a plant in the collection of W. E. Brymer, Esq., Ilsington House, Dorchester. 



