86 THE BOOK OF ORCHIDS 



backs set up, their four legs sprawling right and left, 

 and their mouths wide open, with a large purple tongue 

 wagging about convulsively, and a pretty considerable 

 approach will be gained to an idea of this strange plant, 

 which if Pythagoras had but known of it, would have 

 rendered all arguments about the transmigration of 

 souls superfluous." 



Microstylis 



Usually terrestrial Orchids, widely distributed in the 

 East. The genus is remarkable for the curiously con- 

 structed flowers, and the charmingly coloured foliage. 

 The plants are deciduous and require a decided rest 

 such as is given to the deciduous Calanthes. They 

 require potting in a compost of peat and sphagnum 

 moss, and when growing a liberal supply of water should 

 be afforded them, thorough drainage being essential. 

 The East Indian house is the proper place for them. 



Miltonia 



The geographical distribution of Miltonias is peculiar. 

 They occur in two regions of South America, separated 

 from each other by an interval of upwards of 3000 miles. 

 One group composed of such species as M. Binotii, M. 

 Bluntii, M. Candida, M. C/owesii, M. cuneata, M. f estiva, 

 M. Jlavescens, M. Joiceyana, M. Lamar chiana, M. 

 Peetersiana, M. Regnelii, M. Russelliana, and M. specta- 

 bilis is confined to a limited area in Brazil, in the 

 neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro. All of these have 

 pseudo bulbs and leaves of an ochreous yellow tint. 

 Another group containing such species as M. phalanopsis, 

 M. Roezlii, M. Warscewiczii, M. vexil/aria, and its 

 numerous distinct varieties is restricted to Northern 

 Ecuador and Columbia. These species have pseudo 



