68 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



on strong plants ; good spikes carry a dozen or more flowers, \\ inch across, golden 

 yellow with a few bright red spots, chiefly about the lip. Mexico, 1837 («'). A. Hum- 

 boldti. — A beautiful species, bearing fine spikes of flower, 10 inches in length ; sepals 

 chocolate purple, petals rosy red, lip having a large deep purple crest. Venezuela, 

 1841 (*). 



ada aurantiaca.— The only generally cultivated species. A bright and showy 

 orchid, bearing, in late winter and spring, semi-erect racemes of orange -scarlet flowers. 



These are small individually, and 

 do not open fully, but are very 

 effective in a mass or mixed with 

 Odontoglossums. The plants thrive 

 in the coolest house, in a compost 

 of two-thirds peat fibre and one of 

 sphagnum moss, and must be well 

 watered all the year round. The 

 routine is much the same as will 

 be found advised for Odontoglos- 

 sums. New Grenada, 1853 (<?). 



AERIDES. 



This is a noble genus of orchids, 

 highly worthy of cultivation for 

 their beauty and grace. The plants 

 are all distichous-leaved evergreens, 

 and thrive well with ordinary care, 

 except in a few instances. Small 

 plants should be placed in baskets 

 suspended from the roof; large 

 ones may be grown in pots on the 

 stage, when the heads will be at a 

 considerable distance from the glass, 

 yet in a light position. Shading is 

 necessary, but only so far as to prevent the leaves being damaged. A good plan is 



Fig. 34. Aekides vandarum. 



