[95] 



SPATHOGLOTTIS KIMBALLIANA Sander. 



Pscudobulbis subglobosis, foliis ligulato-lanceolati 

 v. subspathulatis obtusis concavis, floribus magnis spec: 

 lateralibus oblongis apice oblique dilatatis obtusis incurvis, intei 

 callo erecto bilamellato, columna clavata incurva. 



SPATHOGLOTTIS Kimballiana, Sander ; Gard. Chron., 

 SPATHOGLOTTIS AUREA, Rchb. f. in Gard. Chron., 1888, 



ninatis plicatis basi in petiolum attenuatis, scapis erectis multifloris, bracteis obovato-oblongis 

 sepalis patentibus elliptico-oblongis obtusis, petalis paullo majoribus, labello trilobo, lobis 

 ermedio lineari-oblongo apice obcordato v. obovato-dilatato basi auriculato auriculis glabris, 



, p. 629. 



, 92, 93 (in part), fig. 9 ; Veitch Man. Orch., VI., 



(in part), p. 5, with fig. (n 



The history of this handsome species is, unfortunately, rather confused. It was introduced from Borneo in 1886, by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. 

 Albans, through their collector, Forstermann, and was sold at Stevens' Rooms on September 30th of that year, under the above name. It was exhibited by 

 Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford, Dorking, at a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on March 27, 1888, when it was awarded a First-class Certifi- 

 cate. Soon afterwards it was figured in the Gardeners Chronicle, when Reichenbach reduced it as a synonym of S. aurea, Lindl. The two, however, are 

 certainly distinct. S. Kimballiana has larger flowers, the back of the sepals are reddish, or copper-coloured, and all the lobes of the lip are much broader, 

 the front lobe being obovately or obcordately dilated at the apex. S. aurea, Lindl., has the back of the sepals yellow, like the rest of the flower, the side 

 lobes of the lip quite narrow, and the front lobe narrowly spathulate-lanceolate and acute. It was introduced from Mount Ophir, Malacca, by Messrs. Veitch, 

 in 1849, but was very soon afterwards lost. It is also a native of Perak, Borneo, and the Philippines. It is doubtful whether it is in cultivation at the 

 present time, though another Bornean species, S. gracilis, Rolfe, which was introduced at the same time as S. Kimballiana, is sometimes cultivated as S. 

 aurea. Of this analytical drawings are also given. It differs from S. Kimballiana in having a much more slender front lobe to the lip, very hairy basal 

 auricles, and in wanting the reddish colour on the back of the sepals, and from S. aurea in having much broader side lobes and a much dilated apex to the 

 front lobe. The three are, of course, nearly allied, but, according to the numerous specimens seen, quite constant in their differences. S. Kimballiana is the 

 finest species of the three, its large yellow flowers bearing much resemblance to those of a Phalaenopsis. The crest and base of each lobe of the lip are 

 spotted with red. It remains in beauty for a considerable time, as the flowers are borne in succession on the raceme. R. A. Rolfe. 



r-s^-^- — ?■ ^ 



The flowers of this showy species have not inaptly been likened to a bright yellow Phalaenopsis, and in beauty and in 

 their elegant arrangement they take a prominent place among yellow-flowered orchids. 



Spathoglottis Kimballiana, the white and rose S. Vieillardii, and the typical S. aurea are the handsomest members 

 of the genus, and not difficult to grow if the cultivator is fortunate enough to get a really healthy and stout plant to 

 begin with. These being terrestrial orchids, and very difficult to import in good condition, it has generally happened 

 that the grower, taking fresh imported plants in bad condition, or plants which have only temporarily assumed an appear- 

 ance of vitality, has failed to get them to establish, and from that reason chiefly the Spathoglottis have gained the 

 reputation of being difficult to grow, although the greater part of those who have imputed to them such a character have 

 never had a fair opportunity of judging how a sound plant would behave with them. 



They are best grown in orchid pans, in a compost made up of equal proportions of fibrous loam, good peat, and 

 living sphagnum moss, with a little silver sand. The plants should be suspended within three feet of the glass of the 

 roof, in a moist house, where a temperature ranges between 65 deg. and 75 deg. Fahr., and kept there the greater part of 

 the year, being liberally supplied with water at the root. 



But it will be seen that after the plants have fully made up, and perfected the tissues of their last made growths, 

 the leaves will turn yellow, and at that season the plants are much benefited by being removed to a cooler and more airy 

 house, where they may be kept comparatively dry for a month or so, and when so treated the succeeding growth will be 

 strong and healthy and their flowering satisfactory. It is the neglect of this brief resting season which chiefly causes the 

 decline of Spathoglottis Kimballiana and its congeners when really healthy plants are tried and fail. 



We have imported both species from Borneo, where S. aurea grows actually together with S. Kimballiana in one 

 and the same mass. 



Our plate was taken from a j 



1 the collection of W. S. Kimball, Esq., Rochester, New York. 



