6o THE BOOK OF ORCHIDS 



almost amounting to crimson ; C. macroplectron, magenta 

 rose ; and C. speciosa, bright orange scarlet. Com- 

 parettias are pretty dwarf epiphytes, their chief character 

 being that the lateral sepals end in a long spur, which 

 contains two other spurs formed by the lip. C. falcata, 

 the type of the species, was discovered about the year 

 1835, and is nearly always found growing on oaks 

 and oranges in its native habitat. Comparettias require 

 similar culture to that given to Burlingtonias, which grow 

 under much the same conditions in their native country. 



Colax 



C. jugosus is a very distinct Orchid, and the only 

 Colax with which I am acquainted, although I am told 

 that there is one named C. viridi. The flowers of 

 C. jugosus are about three inches across transversely, the 

 sepals being of a French white, the petals densely 

 spotted and barred with violet purple, and the front 

 lobe streaked and blotched with dark violet purple. 

 It is nearly allied to Zygopetalum, with which it has 

 been crossed, and several interesting bigeneric hybrids 

 raised from them, as Zygocolax Amesiana, Z. C. leopard- 

 inus, and Z. C. Veitchii. Colax jugosus and the hybrids 

 mentioned should be cultivated in pots well drained ; 

 they will root freely in a mixture of peat and moss, 

 with a little leaf soil and coarse silver sand mixed with 

 it. The cool house is the proper place for them the 

 whole year round, and, if they can be placed on a dry 

 shelf in the house, some protection will be afforded 

 from damp 66 spot" to which they are subjected. These 

 plants require plenty of water at the root whilst grow- 

 ing ; but, when growth is finished, they should be 

 kept dry. They should always be shaded from strong 

 sunshine. 



