So 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



that they produce some of the most useful and beautiful flowers in existence, though, 

 naturally, many are very rare and costly. 



Kepresentative Species. 



C. vestita. — A lovely species, bearing tall spikes 

 of pure white flowers, with the exception of a 

 yellow blotch on the lip. This is known as 0. v. 

 luteo-oculata, while var. rubro-oculata has a red 

 eye. Moulmein, 1848 (A). 



"C. vestita gigantea (syn. C. oculata gigantea). — 

 Larger than the type ; the flowers white, with a 

 red eye. Not strictly deciduous, and as the roots 

 are generally alive at potting time more care is 

 necessary than with the other kinds. 



C. vestita nivalis. — A pure white form of the type. 

 C. vestita Kegnieri. — Flowers white or very pale 

 rose on the sepals and petals, the lip purple. 



| C. vestita Turneri. — Late flowering, in the way 

 of var. rubro oculata. 

 C. Veitchi. — A garden hybrid, raised in 1856, by 

 crossing C. vestita and Limatodes (Calanthe) 

 rosea. It is stronger growing than C. vestita, 

 and produces very large spikes of most useful and 

 beautiful rosy-pink flowers. It has now become 

 thoroughly well-known, and there are many fine 

 varieties, including C. V. alba, pure white ; C. V. 

 Sandhurstiana, deep crimson; C. V. Eangemore 

 variety, Fig. 38, and many others (h). 

 C. Williamsi.— A lovely plant, with tall spikes of 

 white flowers with a deep crimson lip. Cochin 



| China, 1885 (/i). 



camorotis purpurea. — Only this species is generally cultivated, though others are 

 known. The plants should be grown in small baskets or pots in a mixture of sphagnum 

 moss and charcoal, making this fairly firm and setting the plants rather low, as they 

 produce many stem-roots. A good light is necessary, affording shade only during the 

 hottest part of the day in summer. Give abundance of water when growth is most 

 active, and never let the roots be absolutely dry. It is an erect-growing, distichous- 

 leaved plant, producing from the upper part of the stems loose racemes of rosy-tinted 

 flowers, with a deeper coloured lip. Khasia Hills, 1837 (h). 



catasetum. — As a general rule these are more interesting than showy, but two or 

 three should be included in all collections. They are marked for the warmest house, but 

 it is only fair to add that some cultivators have had good results by growing the plants 

 in an intermediate temperature. They like plenty of light when growing, a moist 

 atmosphere and abundance of water at the roots. While at rest they must be kept quite 

 dry unless signs of shrivelling are apparent, when water must be given to remedy this. 

 Care is necessary that water does not find its way into the heart of the young growth or 

 damping ensues. The plants lose their foliage while at rest. For further cultural 

 instructions see Dendrobiums. The following are generally grown : C. Bungerothi. — 

 Pseudo-bulbs 8 or 9 inches high ; flowers white, when fully developed, about 4 inches 

 across. Tropical America, 1885 (h). C. Christy anum. — A stout grower with large 

 pseudo-bulbs ; spikes containing about 1 flowers, dull brown on the sepals, lip purple 



