THE ORCHID GENERA 85 



M. venusta, have short rhizomes, and clustering pseudo 

 bulbs. Maxillarias are easy to cultivate ; the plants 

 should be potted when new roots begin to appear in a 

 compost of three parts sphagnum moss to one of peat. 

 The section with scandent rhizomes are better tied up 

 to teak rods, or on pieces of tree fern. M. Sanderiana, 

 which is unquestionably the finest of the genus, M. 

 Amesiana and M. prastans should be placed in teak wood 

 baskets, as their flower spikes are frequently pendulous, 

 and come through the sides and bottom of the basket. 

 A cool part of the intermediate house is the best place 

 for them \ the atmosphere surrounding them should 

 always be moist, and the plants should never be allowed 

 to become really dry. Maxillarias are shade-loving 

 plants, and therefore should at all seasons be carefully 

 protected from the sun's rays. 



Megaclinium 



Megaclinium is closely allied to Bulbophyllum and 

 Cirrhopetalum, but all the species at present known are 

 confined to Africa. They require similar culture to that 

 given to Bulbophyllums. They are very curious and 

 interesting, and are distinguished chiefly by the flowers 

 being borne on each side of a flattened rhachis. The chief 

 species are M. bufo, M. Clarkei, M. falcatum, M. minutum, 

 M. purpuratum, M. scaberulum, and M. triste. The 

 last-named species is a strong grower, and produces an 

 erect spike, the rhachis at its apex having the appearance 

 of a snake in the act of striking, on each side being small 

 blackish flowers, in alternate pairs, like the eyes of some 

 reptile. Of the extraordinary M. bufo, the late Dr 

 Lindley made the following remarks: "Let us imagine 

 a green snake to be pressed flat like a dried flower, and 

 then to have a row of toads, or some such speckled 

 reptile, drawn up along the middle in single file, their 



