ORCHIDS. 



131 



point of distinction being the gland which bears its 

 four pollen-masses. "Warmest end of Brazilian 

 House. 



S. Steelii. — The whole plant is pendulous. Pseudo- 

 bulbs very small and short, bearing a terete thong- 

 like leaf, three to four feet long, and deep green. 

 Scape short, springing from the base of the pseudo- 

 bulb, one to two-flowered. Flowers thick and fleshy, 

 very fragrant. Sepals and petals pale yellow, 

 spotted and blotched with purple. The lip small, 

 and somewhat deeper in colour. Autumn months. 

 Demerara. 



Sobralia. — This name commemorates the services 

 to science of M. J. M. Sobral, a celebrated Spanish 

 botanist. The plants belonging to this family are 

 all terrestrial, with long reed-like stems in the place 

 of pseudo-bulbs, bearing large strongly-ribbed or 

 plicate leaves. The flowers are terminal, large and 

 showy ; they are, however, for the most part very 

 fugacious, which has caused them to lose favour 

 with many cultivators of this order of plants. 



The species for which the genus was established 

 (S. dichotoma), we are told, forms thick and almost 

 impenetrable jungles or thickets in Peru, forming 

 stout stems like Bamboo, and reaching a height of 

 ten to twenty feet. Jf all attained such gigantic 

 proportions, our modern Orchid-houses could not 

 accommodate them. There are, however, numerous 

 species of dwarf habit, for which it is easy to find 

 space, and their large and brilliant- coloured flowers 

 will amply repay for any attention bestowed upon 

 them; for although the blooms of Sobralias are 

 fugitive, there are several developed in each terminal 

 spathe, and as soon as one fades another is at hand 

 to take its place. 



Sobralias make large masses of roots, and there- 

 fore require plenty of pot-room, and an abund- 

 ance of water during the growing season ; during 

 the winter months less will be required, but it is not 

 conducive to health to allow them to feel drought at 

 any time. The pots must be drained well. For 

 soil use loam, leaf-mould, and peat, in equal parts. 

 Mexican division of Brazilian House. 



S. Cattleya. — In stating that the stems are reed- 

 like for this species, the same may be understood for 

 all. Stems stouter than usual, leaves shining bright 

 green. Flowers large and persistent, deep purplish- 

 brown, with three yellow lines traversing the centre 

 of the lip ; the column white. Summer months. 

 Columbia. 



S. chlorantha. — Stems dwarf, leaves fleshy and not 

 plaited. Flowers upwards of four inches in length, 

 clear yellow. Summer months. Brazil. 



S. chrysantha. — Leaves slightly fleshy. Flowers 

 rich yellow. This is distinguished by having no 



appendage at its base, although it is crested along* 

 the centre. Summer months. New Grenada. 



S. decora.— X small plant with smooth stems. 

 Sepals and petals overlapping, white. Lip rose- 

 colour. Various times during summer. Guatemala. 



S. liliaslrum. — Leaves lanceolate, light green. 

 Flowers large, very fugacious, produced on many- 

 flowered racemes. Sepals and petals rose-coloured, 

 waved at the edges. Lip rich deep rose, crested 

 with white. Summer months. Demerara. 



S. Uliastrum, var. alba. — Leaves scarcely so robust 

 as in the species. Flowers pure white, the lip 

 crested with yellow. Summer months. Demerara. 



S. macrantha. — Stems about six feet high. 

 Flowers large, upwards of six inches in length, rich 

 purple, and very fragrant. It continues to flower 

 throughout the summer months. 



S. .mucrantka, var. nana. — This is usually called 

 " Wolley's variety," as it appears he was the first 

 to obtain it. The stems seldom exceed three feet in 

 height, and therefore it is easily accommodated. 

 Flowers large, six to eight inches in length, rich 

 deep purple and crimson. Summer months. Gua- 

 temala. 



S. macrantha, var. pallida. — About the same height 

 as the species. Flowers large and very fragrant, six 

 to seven inches long. Sepals and petals delicate pale 

 rose; lip white. Summer months. Guatemala. 



S. Rucherii. — A dwarf species, which produces its 

 flowers in racemes, several being open at the same 

 time, and they are very persistent. Flowers large 

 and somewhat fleshy. Sepals and petals beautiful 

 dark rose. Lip large and spreading in front, rich 

 crimson, white on the disc, and three-ribbed, but 

 destitute of any protuberance at the base. It blooms 

 throughout the summer months. New Grenada. 



S. sessilis. — This is a dwarf plant, somewhat in 

 the way of S. decora, but differs from it in having 

 its stems clothed with short black hairs, and in 

 its flowers being destitute of a foot- stalk (sessile). 

 Flowers, in the sepals and petals, rich rose-colour, 

 lip white, stained with yellow at the base. Autumn 

 months. Demerara. 



S. violacea. — A dwarf species, with imbricating 

 leafy bracts. Flowers large, light violet in the 

 sepals and petals. Lip deeper-coloured. In the 

 variety lutto-alba the flowers are pure white, with 

 a stain of yellow on the lip. Summer months. New 

 Grenada. 



Sophronitis — A genus of small compact-grow- 

 ing epiphytes, with, for the most part, large and 

 showy flowers, and as these are produced during the 

 winter months they are very highly appreciated. 

 The name comes from sophrona, "modest," which was 

 applicable to the first species discovered (S. cernua) t 



