378 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



0. varicosum. — Pseudo-bulbs ovate, deep green, 

 marked towards tlie top with black, bearing a pair 

 of short, dark green leaves. Panicle much branched, 

 twenty to forty-flowered, or more ; sepals and petals 

 small, greenish-yellow, faintly barred with brown ; 

 lip large and flat, bright golden-yellow. Autumn 

 and winter months. Sao Paulo, Brazil. 



0. varicosum, var. Rogersii. — This truly grand 

 variety is very similar in growth to the preceding, 

 but differs much in size and quantity of blooms, 

 the large branching panicles supporting from 100 

 to 170 flowers upwards of two inches across; bril- 

 liant yellow. Autumn months. Sao Paulo, Brazil. 



Orchis. — This is the genus which has given its 

 name to the order ; in it are included many of the 

 English and European Orchids, all being terrestrial. 

 There are, however, some few species which must 

 find a place in this enumeration, although they have 

 been much neglected. For soil use a mixture of 

 peat, leaf -mould, and sand ; drain well, and although 

 the plants are deciduous, do not dry them up in the 

 winter ; also bear in mind that terrestrial jDlants, 

 having their roots and bulbs in the ground, do not 

 require elevating above the rim of the pot in the 

 manner recommended for epiphytes. For general 

 treatment see Bisa. 



O.foliosa. — A remarkably handsome species, which, 

 as its name implies, is amply furnished with leaves. 

 It attains a height of about eighteen inches, and 

 bears on the apex a dense pyramidal head of rich 

 purple flowers. The leaves are broad, oblong-lan- 

 ceolate, and deep green ; the sepals and petals about 

 equal, ovate ; the lip three-lobed, broader than long. 

 Summer months. Canary Islands. 



Pachystoma. — This plant is of recent introduc- 

 tion, and has much the appearance of a Bolbo- 

 phyllimi, it is of dwarf habit, very free-growing, 

 and an abundant bloomer. It should be grown in 

 a pot, with pea»t and sphagnum. East Indian House. 



P. Thomsonianum. — This elegant plant is thus 

 described by Professor Eeichenbach : "The bulbs 

 may be likened to certain small Figs, and which are 

 alternately marked by numerous small grooves. The 

 leaf is membranous, a span high. The long peduncle 

 is velvety, with one sheath in the middle, and bears 

 two large flowers, and it may be surmised the 

 flowers by-and-by will increase in number. Sepals 

 and petals white, beautifully shining as if varnished ; 

 lip of the brightest purple, side lacenise and column 

 light green, striped and blotched with brown." 

 Autumn months. West coast of Africa. 



Palumbina. — This genus contains but a single 

 species. It is a small plant, originally named by 



Liudl, Oncidium candidiim. The appearance of the 

 flowers suggested "flying pigeons," and hence the 

 name Palumbina. The botanical differences are, how- 

 ever, insufficient to separate this as a genus, and so 

 Lindley's name is now accepted by best authorities. It 

 thrives best under the same treatment recommended 

 for Odontoglossum Alexandra:. Peruvian House. 



F. Candida. — This plant somewhat resembles a 

 small Odontogl.u!>s-((in pulchellum in habit and style of 

 growth, but the practised eye would easily detect 

 the difference. Pseudo-bulbs narrow, compressed, 

 smooth, and dark green, bearing a solitary linear 

 acuminate leaf, six to nine inches long, dark green 

 above, paler below. Scape erect, coming up with 

 the young growths, and bearing five or six flowers, 

 upwards of an inch across, which are pure waxj-- 

 w^hite, and have somewhat the appearance of flying 

 pigeons. Sepals and petals oblong, subacute ; lip 

 much longer, caudate, with a few reddish dots at the 

 base. Summer months, lasting a long time in per- 

 fection. Mexico. 



Paphinia. — The species was originally named 

 Maxillaria ; it is distinguished from that genus, how- 

 ever, in the different arrangement of its four pollen- 

 masses. The name is derived from Venus, and does not 

 refer to any part of the plant. Pot or basket culture 

 suits it, but we prefer the latter. It thiives well in a 

 mixture of peat, sphagnum, and nodules of charcoal, 

 and should be watered freely when growing, but 

 much less during the resting season. Brazilian 

 House. {Paphinia is now included under Lycaste.) 



F. cristata. — This handsome species is a dwarf 

 and compact plant, seldom exceeding ten inches in 

 height, and of very curious structure. It produces 

 oblong, or ovate, compressed pseudo-bulbs, which are 

 Slightly ribbed, and shining dark green ; leaves, two 

 or three, about six inches long, plaited and dark 

 green. The flower -stem springs from the base of 

 the mature growth, bearing one or two flowers. 

 Sepals and petals nearly equal, the latter rather 

 smaller, the ground-colour creamy- white, profusely 

 striped, spotted, and barred with chocolate. Lip 

 smaller, reddish-purple, with a fringe of slender 

 white hairs on the tip. The colours vary, however, 

 in different plants. Summer and autumn months. 

 Trinidad. 



Peristeria. — This is known in its own country 

 as the Holy Ghost or Dove Plant, and is there called 

 El Spirito Santo, from the supposed resemblance of 

 the column inside the flower to a smaU white dove 

 with expanded wings, and Peristeria comes from the 

 Greek for dove. The genus originally contained 

 several species, but most of them have now been 

 removed to Acineta. 



