ORCHIDS. 



21 



the disease. In the case of slugs or snails, these 

 oftentimes get brought in with the Sphagnum Moss. 

 This is frequently the case with the little Onion- 

 snail {Zonites allairia). These must be watched for 

 at night after dark, traps of Lettuce-leaves, sliced 

 Turnips, Potatoes, and such-like things being also 

 laid about for them. The cock-roach [Blatta orien- 

 talis) is the great destroyer of the roots of Orchids. 

 There is, however, 

 no reason why this 

 beetle should be 

 more plentiful 

 amongst these 

 plants than any 

 others, and if 

 almost any of the 

 numerous pastes, 

 which are offered 

 for sale to destroy 

 them, be used per- 

 sistently, the house 

 can easily and 

 speedily be cleared. 



Acanthephip- 

 pium.— The name 

 signifies " Spiny- 

 horse," but how it 

 bears upon the 

 plants comprising 

 this genus we are 

 unable to say. 

 They are terrestrial 

 in habit and love 

 the Shade, and 

 although not ap- 

 preciated by Or- 

 chidologists of the 

 first water, they 

 are sufficiently in- 

 teresting to deserve 

 a place in the most 

 recherche collection. 



As a genus, Acanthephippium is nearly allied to 

 Bletia, and is characterised by its short stout pseudo- 

 bulbs, and large broad-plaited leaves. The flower- 

 spikes seldom exceed the pseudo-bulbs in height, 

 but are very numerous. These bear from three to 

 seven or eight large, fleshy, ventricose flowers, 

 which are more or less bluntly spurred at the 

 base. They thrive best when planted in a some- 

 what closer soil than is usually considered suitable 

 for members of this order. Pot in rough peat, 

 leaf - mould, and loam. During the period of 

 growth water abundantly, but afterwards a good 

 season of rest will tend to the production of an 



ACINETA HUMBOLDTII. 



abundant supply of their curious flowers. East 

 Indian House. 



A. bieolor. — Pseudo-bulbs ovate, leaves oblong- 

 lanceolate, ten to eighteen inches long, and two to 

 four inches broad, sharply tapering to a point at 

 both ends; flowers three to seven, yellow, streaked 

 and spotted . with red near the mouth ; petals 

 narrowly oblong, acute ; middle lobe of lip bluntly 



tongue-shaped, fur- 

 nished with three 

 fleshy, warty pro- 

 tuberances along 

 the centre ; side 

 lobes obtuse, in- 

 curved. May and 

 June. Central Pro- 

 vinces of Ceylon. 



A. javaniciim. — 

 This species is 

 easily distinguished 

 by its obtusely f our- 

 angled pseudo- 

 bulbs. Flowers 

 three to six, yel- 

 low, stained and 

 spotted with pur- 

 ple ; petals some- 

 what spathulate ; 

 middle lobe of lip 

 ornamented with 

 four fleshy plates 

 on the centre ; side 

 lobes truncate. 

 April and May. 

 Java. 



A. striatum. — 

 Pseudo-bulbs slen- 

 der ; the flowers 

 bluntly spurred at 

 the base, white, 

 slightly streaked 

 with red ; petals 

 oblong, acute ; the 

 middle lobe of lip small, fleshy, and acute, furnished 

 with numerous rough protuberances along the centre, 

 side lobes bluntly oblong. April and May. Nepaul. 



A. sijlhetense. — The flowers of this species are 

 creamy -white, streaked with purple inside; petals 

 oblong-lanceolate, acute ; middle lobe of lip thick 

 and fleshy, tongue -shaped, ornamented on the centre 

 with three toothed protuberances ; side lobes very 

 narrow, April and May. Sylhet, Sikkim, and. 

 Khasia. 



Acineta. — A genus of singular and most in- 

 teresting epiphytal Orchids, originally included with 



