90 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GAEDENING. 



Angrsecum. — This is a large family of epiphytes, 

 but many of the species produce such small flowers 

 that, judging them from a decorative point of view, 

 they are not worth the trouhle and expense entailed 

 in their cultivation, v/hilst others produce larger 

 flowers than any family in the order. 



Angrjecums have their leaves arranged in a two- 

 ranked (distichous) manner, and are quite destitute 

 of pseudo-hulhs to 

 support them, so 

 that it is necessary 

 to exercise care in 

 carrying them 

 through the resting 

 season ; for if not 

 subjected to a 

 period of rest, very 

 few flowers will he 

 produced, whilst if 

 it is carried to ex- 

 cess the leaves will 

 shrivel and fall oft', 

 thus rendering the 

 plants naked and 

 unsightly. 



These plants ai-o 

 all natives of vari- 

 ous parts of Africa 

 or the African 

 Islands, and are all 

 found in the hottest 

 latitudes, saving- 

 one or two excep- 

 tions, such as A. 

 falcatum, from 

 China and Japan, 

 and A. fnnale, from 

 the West Indies. 

 The latter is a 

 very curious and 

 interesting plant, 

 being both stem- 

 less and leafless, the entire organism consisting of a 

 mass of cord-like roots, from the centre of which 

 it produces flowers. They all enjoy sun, air, and 

 light to the fullest extent. The larger kinds succeed 

 best under pot culture; the smaller ones thrive 

 better in hanging baskets or on blocks of wood ; 

 indeed, the requirements of Angra?cums are about 

 the same as already laid down for the culture of 

 brides. East Indian House for all the species except 

 A. falcatum, and this thrives best in the Peruvian 

 House. 



A. Chailluamm. — This handsome and distinct 

 species is named in honour of M. du Chaillu, who 

 found it when on one of his celebrated gorilla expe- 



Plower of a. virens (nainxal size) 



ditions. The leaves are distichous, leathery in tex- 

 ture, six to eight inches long, and upw^ards of an inch 

 broad ; unequally two-lobed at the apex, and deep 

 green; racemes axillary, about the same length as 

 the leaves ; flovrers white, and bearing a very long- 

 yellowish-green spur. May and June. Gaboon 

 and Nun rivers, Western Africa . 



A. cltratum. — An elegant small-gi-owing plant. The 

 leaves are from 

 three to six inches 

 long, oblong lanceo- 

 late, with an acute 

 point and con- 

 tracted base, bright 

 shining green on 

 the upper side, jialer 

 beneath ; raceme 

 from six to twelve 

 inches long, many- 

 flowered ; flowers 

 closely set, nearly 

 an inch across, 

 white, suftused with 

 pale citron -colour; 

 spur short, pale 

 yellow. Spring- 

 months. Madagas- 

 car. 



A. ehurneum. — ■ 

 A large bold-grow- 

 ing sj^ecies, which, 

 under the name of 

 A. sxiperhum^ the 

 late Mr. Ellis de- 

 scribes as so abun- 

 dant on the out- 

 skirts of the forests 

 on his journey from 

 Tamatave to Anta- 

 nanarivo, the capi- 

 tal of Madagascar ; 

 plant erect; leaves 

 distichous, from one to two feet in length, some- 

 times more ; bright light green in colour; spike erect, 

 as long or longer than the leaves ; flowers about two 

 inches in diameter; sepals and petals light green ; lip 

 large, ivory-white, tinged with green at the base. 

 January to March. Madagascar. 



A. ehurneum, var. virens. — A plant similar inhabit, 

 but somewhat less robust than the species, from 

 which it is easily distinguished by its intense deep 

 green leaves ; sepals and petals green, as also is the 

 spur; lip white, tinged with green. January to 

 March. Madagascar. 



A. IJ/lisii. — This species was introduced by the 

 late Rev. W. Ellis, to whom we are indebted for so 



