OKCHIDS. 



179 



cultivation nearly fifty years ; it is decidedly the 

 smallest of the kinds here enumerated. The growth 

 and habit is similar to the others, but the spike 

 seldom exceeds eight or nine inches in height ; 

 flowers dense, deep rosy-purple. Winter and early 

 spring. It is found growing on the Oak-trees in 

 Mexico, at an elevation of 7,000 to 8,000 feet, 



Barkeria. — These plants are nearly allied to 

 Epidendrum, from which they differ only in having 

 a broadly-winged column ; they, however, form a 

 very natural section, and are all beautiful plants of 

 slender growth, well deserving the attention of 

 Orchid-lovers. Barkerias are best grown upon bare 

 blocks of wood, or at least with a very little sphagnum 

 bound on to fasten them. They make large fleshy 

 roots, and during the growing season must have a 

 bountiful supply of water. When growth is com- 

 plete, withhold the water to a great extent, only 

 giving sufficient to keep the slender, terete pseudo- 

 bulbs from shiivelling, but avoid starting the young 

 growth prematurely. The Mexican division is be.^t 

 suited for these plants during the season of growth, 

 shading them somewhat, but keeping plenty of 

 moisture in the atmosphere for the roots to absorb. 

 After growth is finished, keep them somewhat cooler. 

 Barkerias are deciduous. 



B. elegans. — This is perhaps the most beautiful 

 species yet introduced to cultivation. Pseudo-bulbs 

 slender, fusiform, six to eight inches high, bearing 

 two or three narrow-lanceolate leaves ; peduncles 

 slender, erect ; flowers drooping ; sepals and petals 

 spreading, nearly equal, deep rose; lip large, flat, 

 creamy- white, with a large deep crimson blotch in 

 front ; the raised disk yellow, ornamented with spots 

 and dots of crimson. September, October, and 

 November. Mexico. 



B. Lindleyannm. — A somewhat taller and more 

 robust plant than elegans, the stem-like pseudo-bulbs 

 attaining a height of a foot or more, and bearing 

 numerous sheathing, oblong-lanceolate, deep green 

 leaves some three to five inches long; scape slender, 

 terminal ; flowers lax ; sepals and petals similar, the 

 latter slightly the larger, of a uniform soft rich 

 purple; lip broad and flat, with a little point in 

 front (apiculate), same colour as the petals, except 

 the disk, which is white, with three narrow purple 

 lines. September and October. Costa Rica. 



B, S/cinnerii. — This very fine species is found in 

 quite cool places in its native country. The stem- 

 like pseudo-bulbs are about twelve inches high, bear- 

 ing numerous lanceolate - acuminate leaves ; scape 

 terminal, many-flowered, sometimes twenty to thirty ; 

 flowers large, flat, and spreading ; sepals and petals 

 nearly alike, the latter slightly broader, and all deep 

 rose-colour; lip ovate-acuminate, deep rosy-purpie, 



with a few yellow lines towards the base. Winter 

 months. Costa Rica. 



B. spectabilis. — In its native country this is called 

 " Flor de Isabel ; " the stem-like growths bear two 

 to three oblong leaves ; raceme terminal, lax, many- 

 flowered ; sepals lanceolate-acuminate; petals broadt-r, 

 rosy-pink ; lip ovate, deep lose, dotted with crimson. 

 June and July. Guatemala. 



Batemannia. — Originally established to include 

 a plant from Demerara [B. Colleyi) with inconspicuous 

 flowers, but latterly several fine species have been 

 assigned to it, and in some instances different genera 

 have been mixed up with the Batemannias. The 

 majority of the species are cool-house plants, which 

 require an abundant supply of water : indeed, they 

 should never be allowed to get dry ; they are also 

 lovers of shade. Pot in fibrous peat and sphagnum 

 moss, and never allow any stagnant water or decay- 

 ing vegetable matter to remain about the roots. 

 Peruvian House, except when otherwise named. 



B. Burtii. — The leaves of this plant are two- 

 ranked, oblong, ligulate, and tapering to a point, 

 about one foot in length, upwards of two inches in 

 breadth, and intense green; peduncles about six 

 inches long, bearing a single large flower on the 

 summit ; flowers nearly three inches in diameter, 

 thick and waxy in texture ; sepals and petals about 

 equal, spreading, oblong, tapering upwards, the lower 

 part bright yellow, terminating suddenly, and the 

 upper portion being rich cinnamon, with a few 

 regularly arranged spots of yellow on each; the 

 petals, in addition, have a large dark brown blotch 

 radiating from the base ; lip three-lobed, the middle 

 one much the largest, white at the base, but same 

 colour in front as the sepals ; the column is curved 

 over like a hood, white, tipped with green. This is 

 a very showy species, which should be placed in the 

 Brazilian House. Spring and summer. Costa Rica. 



B. grandiflora. — Although a very handsome plant, 

 this species does not produce such conspicuous 

 flowers ; pseudo-bulbs ovate, furrowed, supporting a 

 pair of large leathery leaves, which are broadly- 

 lanceolate and acute ; the scape is short, bearing 

 several flowers ; the petals are rather smaller than 

 the sepals, all are spreading, olive- green, streaked 

 with bright brown ; lip three-lobed, middle lobe the 

 largest, acute, and prettily fringed, white, streaked 

 with reddish-purple, rich orange at base ; column 

 arching, winged at the sides. Spring and early 

 summer. New Grenada, about 4,000 feet elevation. 



Bletia. — These are terrestrial Orchids, with de- 

 ciduous leaves. They have much the appearance of 

 Phnjm to the casual observer, but differ from the 

 members of that genus in having a lip which is 



