[ i>3] 



VAN DA PARISH 1 1 rm./. 



VAR. MARRIOTTIANA rm. f. 



VANDA Parisiiii, foliis rccurvis lineari-oblongis in.nequaliter bilobis carnosis, pcdunculo arrecto pauci-multifloro, bracteis ovato-oblongis subobtusis, 

 scpalis late elliptico-oblongis subobtusis subunclulatis, petalis orbicularibus, labello trilobo, lobis latcralibus oblongis obtusis, intermedio rhomboideo-obovato 

 carinato infra sub apice gibboso, callo conico in basi lamina;, calcare parvo gibboso, columna brcvi. Scpala ct pctala flava maculis multis rotundis brunneis 



' VANDA Parisiiii, Rchb. f. Xcn. Orch., II., p. 138 ; id. in Gard. Chron., 1870, p. 890 ; Warn. & Will. Orchid Album, I., t. 15 ; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind., 

 VI., p. 51 ; Vcitch Man. Orch., VII., p. 101. 



VAR. MARRIOTTIANA, floribus saturate purpureis. 



VAR. MARRIOTTIANA, Rchb. f. in Gard. Chron., 1880, 1, p. 743 ; id., 1881, i., p. 726; id., 1883, i., p. 340 ; Warn. & Will. Orchid Album, II., t. 61 ; 

 Veitch Man. Orch, VII., p. 101, with fig. 



VAR. PURPUREA, N. E. Br. in Gard. Chron, 1883, i, p. 307. 



Vanda Parishii is a very distinct species, of which a single plant was discovered by the Rev. C. S. P. Parish, in Moulmein, in 1862, But afterwards 

 lost, though rediscovered a few years later, when it was found more abundantly. It flowered for the first time in cultivation in 1X70, having been introduced 

 to cultivation by Messrs. Hugh Low & Co, of Clapton. The flowers were yellow, spotted with brown on the sepals and petals, the front lobe of the lip being 

 purple. The discoverer records them as smelling like Elecampane. In 1880 the very remarkable variety figured in the annexed plate appeared in the collec- 

 tion of Monsieur le Marquis de Wavrin, Chateau de Ronsele, near Somerghem, Ghent, Belgium, in which the flowers are wholly suffused with bright purple. 

 It was described by Reichenbach as a very unexpected surprise, which even the discoverer of the species had never seen. Shortly afterwards it appeared in 

 two or three other collections, apparently in an equally unexpected manner, having been purchased as ordinary V. Parishii. In 1883 it was again described as 

 variety purpurea, from a plant which flowered in the collection of a friend of Mr. Parish's, and the latter pronounced the plant to be V. Parishii, though the 

 flower was such as he had never seen before. The fact is neither the habit of the plant nor the structure of the flowers present any obvious difference from 

 the typical form, though the colour is so markedly different, and far more attractive. It is one of the most remarkable colour deviations known, not being 

 connected with the type by a number of intermediate forms, as is usually the case. Such forms, however, may yet appear, as the species becomes better 

 known. It is very distinct, and there is no other Vanda with which it can be readily confused. R. A. Rolfe. 



It will be well to record for the first time the history of the introduction of this beautiful and distinct plant, which it 

 may be presumed all came from one importation, acquired in a very singular manner. 



Some time previously to its first flowering in 1880, H. J. Ross, Esq., now of Poggio Gherardo, Italy, received a 

 large quantity of plants, sent as typical Vanda Parishii from a friend in India, with the information that they were 

 collected for him by a well-known plant collector in consideration of facilities given for collecting Vanda Parishii and 

 other orchids. The collector did send to Europe a large number of plants of typical Vanda Parishii, which, so far as has 

 been ascertained, all flowered with the usual yellowish, brown-barred flowers. But with those sent to H. J. Ross, Esq., 

 the matter was quite different, for every plant which flowered out of that consignment were of the rose-crimson 

 V. Parishii Marriottiana. The inference, therefore, is that they were not collected on the same ground as the typical 

 V. Parishii, and it is doubtful if the exact locality is known or has again been visited. 



The quantity of plants received by Mr. Ross in the manner described being far in excess of his wants for the 

 purposes of his own collection, they were entrusted to Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son for distribution, and they sold 

 them at Mr. J. C. Steven's rooms. It is tolerably certain that all which have flowered since came directly or indirectly 

 from the source named. 



These facts, taken in conjunction with the remarkable difference in colour, the slight difference in form, and the 

 much fainter odour in the variety Marriottiana, which is often actually scentless, go a long way to prove that in the 

 absence of intermediate forms it would not be a very grave error to make the two forms here mentioned distinct 

 species. V. Parishii does not require great heat at any season of the year, but, like most of the orchids from the same 

 region, its active growing time is throughout the late spring and early part of the summer, when moisture, heat, and 

 shade is required. Its coolest and driest time is throughout the winter, and much harm is likely to ensue if it is kept too 

 hot at that season. 



Our plate was taken from a plant in the collection of Monsieur le Marquis de Wavrin, Chateau de Ronsele, near Somerghem, Ghent, Belgium. 



