22 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GAEDENIXa. 



Feristeria. The name comes from akineta, im- 

 movatle, and refers to the lip, which is jointless. 



Acinetas are characterised by their angular 

 pyriform pseudo-bulbs, from the summit of which 

 are produced two or three large, erect, membranous- 

 plaited, dark green leaves. The racemes spring 

 from the base of the pseudo-bulbs, and grow straight 

 downwards, bearing numerous globose, thick, and 

 fleshy flowers. The lip is three-lobed, united to the 

 column, and furnished with a peculiar fleshy process 

 in the shape of a spur or horn. 



The whole of the species are found in the dense 

 forests of Tropical America, chiefly in deep and 

 dark ravines. Cultivators may, therefore, learn 

 from this that these plants delight in shade, and 

 should not be so placed as to receive the full in- 

 fluence of the sun. 



These plants are extremely ornamental when 

 in bloom, but from their peculiar habit of flowering, 

 it is absolutely necessary to grow them in open 

 baskets suspended from the roof. These baskets 

 should be filled with rough peat fibre and Sphag-- 

 num. Some pieces of charcoal mixed with this will 

 be found most advantageous, for although Acinetas 

 require an abundant supply of water during the 

 growing season, the compost should be suflSciently 

 open to allow it to pass away freely. After growth 

 is completed, a moderate season of rest should be 

 given by withholding the water supply, but this 

 must not be carried to such an extent as to shrivel 

 the pseudo-bulbs, or the plants may be permanently 

 injured in health. Brazilian House. 



A. BarJcerii. — Pseudo-bulbs large, deeply furrowed; 

 leaves one to two feet high, racemes bearing numerous 

 sub-globose, waxy flowers ; sepals and petals rich 

 orange-yellow ; Hp deeply three-lobed, full orange, 

 spotted with crimson. May to July. Xalapa. 



A. chrysantha. — Pseudo-bulbs ovate, furrowed, 

 bearing large, plaited, dark green leaves. The 

 pendulous racemes are somewhat laxly set, with 

 rich golden-yellow flowers ; lip white, furnished 

 with a curious blunt spur-like process ; column 

 crimson. May to July. Mexico. 



A. Humboldtii. — This is the Anguloa siiperha of 

 Humboldt. Like the preceding, the leaves are large 

 and plaited. The racemes are some two feet long, 

 and densely crowded with thick, fleshy, globose 

 flowers ; sepals bright purplish-chocolate, spotted 

 and blotched with purplish- crimson ; petals deep 

 claret-colour, spotted like the sepals; lip yellow, 

 column winged. April and May. La Guayra. 



A. Humboldtii, var. fulva. — This variety produces 

 flowers of a tawny-yellow, spotted with purplish- 

 brown ; lip bright yellow. May to July. Central 

 America. 



A. Humboldtii, var. straminea. — Flowers light 



yellow or straw-coloured, sparingly spotted ia the 

 interior with purplish-brown. June and July. New 

 Grenada. 



Acropera. — A small genus of curious epiphytal 

 plants, having much the habit of growth of 

 Maxillaria, now merged into Gongora. The name 

 is derived from akros, the end, and pera, a pouch, 

 from the curious pouch-like terminations of the 

 labeUum. 



Acroperas are not very showy, but their singular 

 flowers are very charming, and will well repay any 

 space which may be devoted to them, more especially 

 as one species bears the name of such a great 

 enthusiast ia all relating to plants and plant-lore 

 as the late Mr. George Loddiges, proprietor of the 

 once famous nursery at Hackney. 



These plants produce pendidous racemes of flowers 

 from the base of the pseudo-bulbs, which hang 

 round them in dense clusters. They may be grown 

 equally well in pots or baskets, but in either case 

 the base of the pseudo-bulbs should be well elevated 

 above the soil, which should be rough fibrous peat 

 and Sphagnum Moss. Mexican House. 



A. armeniaca. — Pseudo-bulbs ovate, obtusely 

 furrowed, bearing two broad, plaited, dark green 

 leaves, some ten inches in length; racemes pendulous, 

 as long or longer than the leaves, many-flowered ; 

 sepals and petals clear apricot-yellow, dotted with 

 reddish-brown. May to July. Nicaragua. 



A. Loddigesii. — In habit this species resembles the 

 preceding, but it is not so large a grower, and the 

 pendulous racemes do not bear so many flowers ; 

 sepals and petals brownish-yellow; lip reddish- 

 brown. May to July. Xalapa. 



Ada. — As a genus, this is characterised by the 

 sepals spreading at their apices only, nearly equal 

 acuminate, the lateral ones somewhat oblique at the 

 base ; petals similar, but smaller ; lip elongate, 

 undivided, parallel with and adnate to the base of 

 the column, crested with two membranous plates, 

 which are afterwards confluent; column wing- 

 less. One species only has hitherto been intro- 

 duced of this genus. It should be potted in peat 

 and Sphagnum Moss in about equal parts ; drain well, 

 and water freely during the summer months, and 

 even in winter it must be supplied in moderation, 

 and never be allowed to suffer from drought. 



A. aurantlaca. — An epiphyte with the habit of 

 Brassia. The pseudo-bulbs are narrow, nearly 

 cylindrical, about four inches long, and bearing 

 one to three leaves, which are about six inches 

 long and sheathing at the base ; racemes terminal, 

 drooping, nearly twice as long as the leaves ; flowers 

 somewhat two-ranked, bright reddish -orange colour. 



