128 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



marbled foliage, and immense spikes of flowers 

 somewhat variable in colour, but usually some 

 sbade of purplish rose ; the lip spotted with red. 

 Philippine Islands, 1858 (/»). 



P. SPECIOSA. — Flowers pale purple, shaded with 

 yellow. Malay Archipelago, 1881 (h). 



P. Stuartiana. — Very beautiful flowers, nearly 

 white on the sepals and petals ; the lip spotted 



with red, and having two curved filaments in 



front. Mindanao, 1881 (h). (Fig. 78.) 

 P. sumatrana. — Flowers creamy- white, with bars of 



reddish-brown. Sumatra, 1804 (/<). 

 P. violacea. — A chaste small-growing species ; the 



flowers white and deep violet-purple. Sumatra, 



1859 (h). 



platyclinis (DENDrochilum). — Pretty dwarf epiphytal orchids, requiring a 

 position close to the roof-glass in the warmest house. Grow in well-drained pots or 

 baskets in a compost of peat-fibre, sphagnum, and charcoal, elevating the plants a little 

 above the rims. Ee-pot directly the flowers are past, and water freely while growth is 

 active. P. Cobbiana, P. filiformis, and P. glumacea are the best-known kinds. All are 

 natives of the Philippine Islands, and all bear arching racemes of yellow flowers, those 

 of the last-named being sweetly scented. 



pleione. — A genus of dwarf orchids, popularly known as " Indian Crocus " from the 

 brilliancy of the flowers. The plants are easily grown. The pseudo-bulbs should be 



re-potted annually in a compost of equal 

 parts peat, loam, and chopped sphagnum 

 moss. Grow in pots or pans according to 

 convenience, and in taking the plants from 

 the pans shake all the old soil from the 

 roots; cut these as advised for deciduous 

 Calanthes, and, after potting, water very 

 carefully until new roots form. Increase 

 the supply as the young growth develops, 

 but keep the compost quite dry after the 

 bulbs are complete and the foliage falls. 

 11 \ l l iMM \ % Re-pot immediately the flowers are past. 



\j£ "\ \ | Several plants are grown together in pots or 



pans near the glass for insuring sturdy 

 growth and making an effective display. 

 The following species are chiefly cultivated : 

 P. Hookeriana. — Pseudo-bulbs purplish ; 

 and petals bright-rose; the lip white, blotched red. Himalayas, 1878 (c). 

 P. humilis.— A late-flowering kind, with a very beautiful lip. The flowers are rose-lilac 



Fig. 79. Pleione lagenabia. 



sepals 



