A('t  R I C U L'r  URAL  BULLETIN 
OK  mi-: 
STRAITS 
AND 
F F L)  F R A T F D M A LAV  S T A T F S . 
No.  8.]  AUGUST,  1903.  [\'OL.  II. 
CULTIVATION  OF  RENANTHERAS. 
There  are  few  orchids  more  easy  of  cultivation  and  more  flori- 
ferous  than  the  Renantheras,  commonly  known  as  spider  or  scorpion 
orchids,  and  no  tropical  garden  can  be  considered  at  all  complete 
without  them.  There  are  eleven  species  known,  all  natives  of  the 
Malav  and  Chinese  regions.  The  plants  have  terete  woody  stems 
usually  about  as  thick  as  a pencil,  emitting  long  grey  terete  roots 
from  the  joints,  and  attaining  a length  of  20  or  30  feet  or  even  more. 
The  leaves  are  leathery  oblong  distichous  rather  far  apart  and  the 
flowers  are  produced  in  large  panicles,  of  several  branches  usually 
spreading  horizontally  and  covered  with  flowers,  often  of  large  size 
and  brilliant  colour. 
The  Renantheras  are  propagated  by  cuttings  which  grow  readily 
when  merely  stuck  in  the  ground.  To  grow  them  it  i.s  best  to  dig 
a round  bed,  in  which  is  put  leaf  mould  mixed  with  broken  crocks 
and  charcoal,  and  fairly  stout  poles,  seven  to  ten  feet  tall  are  put 
in  the  beds  up  which  the  Renantheras  will  grow.  I'he  beds  are 
made  in  full  sun,  and  from  time  to  time  a little  cut  grass  should  be 
thrown  on  the  base  of  the  plants.  Grown  in  this  manner  most  of 
the  Renantheras  will  thrive  and  flower  several  times  a year. 
The  Vandas,  U.  teres  and  V.  H ookeriana,  and  the  hybrid  K. 
Miss  yoaquun,  are  best  grown  in  the  same  way  as  Renantheras, 
and  in  good  damp  .soil  are  very  floriferous.  Renantheras  may  also 
be  grown  on  trees  but  as  they  do  not  flower  till  they  get  to  the 
light  this  is  rather  a slow  method.  Light  being  what  these  plants 
require  cultivation  in  Europe  has  not  been  very  successful  on  the 
whole,  though  several  species  have  flowered  in  hot  houses.  Kenan- 
theras  are  seldom  attacked  by  any  pests,  but  I have  seen  them 
injured  by  the  small  black  orchid  weevil  in  Penang. 
The  following  species  have  been  cultivated  in  Singapore: — 
R.  arachnites,  Lindl.  I'he  scorpion  orchid,  native  of  Perak. 
R.  maingayi,  Ridl.  Native  of  the  Malay  Peninsula. 
R.  alba,  Ridl.  Native  of  the  Peninsula  and  Borneo. 
R.  mntutina,  Lindl.  Native  of  Borneo  and  Malay  Peninsula. 
R.  nitcrantha,  Lindl.  Native  of  the  Peninsula. 
R.  storiei,  Rchh.  lil.  Native  of  tlu‘  Phi!i[)piiu  s. 
