378 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GAEDENING. 



ornamented with two large spots of deep erimson. 

 May to Jul}'. Northern India. 



D. demiflonon. — An erect evergreen species, with 

 claA^ate pseudo-bulbs, a foot or more high, bearing- 

 near the summit three or four coriaceous, oblong- 

 acute, deep green leaves ; racemes lateral from below 

 the leaves, x)endulous, many-flowered, resembling a 

 bunch of grapes in outline ; the sei^als and petals 

 spreading, rich clear amber colour throughout ; lip 

 darker. Spring and early summer. Widely distri- 

 buted in India. 



1). demijiorum^ var. albo-lutea. — A grand form of 

 the original species ; it varies considerably, and thus 

 it is to be found in gardens under the name of 

 J). 8chro'derii, 1). densifloriim album, and D. tJiyrsi- 

 iioriim ; there is, however, little doubt that they are 

 forms of the same plant, and any of them are worthy 

 of a place in the best collection. This variety pro- 

 duces more slender pseudo-bulbs than the normal 

 form ; the raceme of bloom is usually longer, and the 

 flowers are more laxly set ; sepals and petals equal, 

 eomewhat oblong and blunt at the points, pure 

 while ; lip lai'ge, orbicular, rich amber, shading to 

 orange, and prettily fringed in front. Sx^^i^^^ ^^^^ 

 early summer. Moulmein. 



J), densijlontm, var. Griffithii. — This is a mag- 

 nificent form of the species, being a much stronger 

 grower, and the inflorescence is about double the 

 size in all its pai'ts ; the large drooping raceme is of 

 a uniform rich golden-yellow. Spring and early 

 summer. Northern India. 



J>. demtjlorum, var. Gniherti. — A very strong- 

 growing variety ; the pseudo-brdbs stout, producing 

 towards the ai)ex three to four coriaceous and in- 

 tense deep green leaves ; the pendulous raceme of 

 bloom is nearl}' eighteen inches long, and very 

 broad; sepals and petals soft amber; lip deep 

 orange at the base, lich amber in front, whei-e it is 

 prettily fringed. India. 



D. Bevonicmvm. — A quarter of a century ago this 

 species bore the title of the King of the Den- 

 drobes ; and although an immense number of rivals 

 have been introduced since, it may still hold its 

 gi-ound, the only objection being the short-lived 

 properties of its flowers, as they seldom last many 

 days. This plant should be grown in a hanging- 

 basket, as its pseudo-bulbs are long and slender ; the 

 leaves are deciduous, and the flowers are produced 

 on the naked stem. Flowers usually in pairs ; 

 sepals and petals soft creamy -white, tinged with 

 pink, and tipped with purple; lip large, white, 

 tipped with rosy-purple, with two orange-coloured 

 spots at the base, the margin being beautifullj^ 

 fringed. Spring and early summer. Khasia Hills, 

 at an elevation of 4,500 feet. 



D. eh(rnnim. — A stout and erect-growing plant of 



dwarf habit, belonging to the I), formosum group ; 

 the flowers are produced on the young shoots about 

 the time growth is complete. Racemes erect, bear- 

 ing three to seven flowers, which resemble polished 

 ivory in their purity, saving the base of the lip,, 

 which is streaked with lines of deep i-ed. Spring 

 months. Moulmein. 



D. Falconerii. — This fine species is a slender, pen- 

 dulous plant, and it should be grown either on a 

 block of wood or in a hanging basket. It has ob- 

 tained the character of being a shy bloomer ; this, 

 however, is rather the fault of the cultivator through 

 not drying it sufficiently, and although the plant will 

 suffer if allowed to get very dry, a thorough rest 

 can be given to it by lowering the temperature. 

 Pseudo-bulbs slender, with swollen nodes, pendulous. 

 Leaves few and very small ; peduncle short, one- 

 flowered ; flowers large, and of good substance ;, 

 sepals and petals white, tipj)ed with a broad patch of 

 rich deep purple ; lip cucullate, spreading in front ; 

 ground colour white, tipped with purple ; the disc 

 is rich orange, and the base is covered with a rich 

 dark pm-ple blotch. May and June. Bootan, at an 

 elevation of 4,000 feet. 



D. Farmerii. — An erect evergreen species of great 

 beauty. Pseudo-bulbs club-shaped, about a foot 

 high, bearing near the summit several thick ovate- 

 acute coriaceous leaves, which are deep green above, 

 slightly paler below. Racemes pendulous, as long 

 or longer than the stems. Flowers numerous ; in 

 one variety the sepals and petals are pale straw- 

 colour tinged with pink, in another they are soft 

 rose ; lip white, the disc being rich golden-yellow. 

 May and June. Assam and Moulmein. 



I). Farmerii, var. aureo-fuhnm. — This form re- 

 sembles the specie^ in habit of growth, but the 

 flowers differ in having blight yellow sepals, and a 

 deep golden lip. May and June. Moulmein. 



B. f rahr latum. — An old inhabitant of our plant- 

 houses, consequently common, and thus within the 

 reach of those even with limited means. It is a very 

 handsome erect-growing species, bearing its flowers 

 in pendulous racemes on the previous years' growth, 

 which are destitute of leaves. Racemes many- 

 flowered, sepals and petals spreading, and with the 

 lip of a rich deep orange, the front margin of the 

 Yv^ being beautiful^ fringed. In the variety ocu- 

 latum, the base of the lip is covered with a large 

 dark purplish blotch. Spring and early summer. 

 Nepaul. 



I>. formomm, var. giganteum. — A bold-growing 

 form of the species ; it belongs to the nigro-hirsute 

 section ; the pseudo-bulbs are erect, bearing numerous 

 stout bright green leaves, from whence the racemes 

 arise, which bear four to five flowers, five inches 

 across, and of the purest white, saving the disc of 



