ORCHID CONFERENCE. 



143 



are but few species in the genus, and this is by no means the 

 finest. It came from Kew Gardens. 



Blume's genus, Dendrochilum, has been separated by Mr. 

 Bentham in the " Genera Plantarum " into Dendrochilum and 

 Platyclinis, which latter genus he refers to the neighbourhood of 

 Liparis, from which genus it is abundantly distinct. To it 

 belong the dendrochilums of cultivators, such as D. glumaceum 

 and Cobbii. Cut spikes of the former were shown by Dr. 

 Paterson with other cut flowers of Orchids. 



The true Phaii, with leafless flower stems, were but poorly 

 represented, P. Wallichii (Lindley) being the only one shown. 

 We regretted not to see P. tuber culosus (Blume), which has been 

 so successfully flowered this year by several of our best culti- 

 vators, for it is without exception the noblest of all terrestrial 

 Orchids in cultivation at present, though also, alas ! very difficult 

 to deal with. 



The genus Thunia has been reduced by Mr. Bentham to a 

 section of Phaius ; the habit, however, is so different that it 

 would seem better to keep it as a distinct genus. It is said also 

 that the thunias will not hybridize with the phaii, this, if put 

 beyond doubt, would be additional evidence against the close 

 alliance of the two genera. Two species were shown, T. Marshal- 

 liana and T. alba (Lindley), both closely-allied plants. 



Bletia hyacinthina (Brown) was the only Japanese Orchid in 

 the show. It was exhibited by Sir Trevor Lawrence, and is 

 especially interesting as being the only Asiatic species of the 

 genus, which is otherwise confined to America. It thus 

 furnishes another example of the connection of the floras of 

 North America and Eastern Asia. 



There were several representatives of the small genus Chysis. 

 Mr. Cobb, of Silverdale Lodge, Sydenham, showed C. Limminghei 

 and a fine plant of Chysis bractescens with three flower spikes. 

 The latter species was also exhibited by Mr. C. N. Wyatt, of 

 Cheltenham. Messrs. Veitch showed, in a collection of hybrids, 

 C. Chelsoni, a hybrid between C. bractescens and C. aurea, and C. 

 Sedeni, between C. bractescens and C. Limminghei. 



The genus Acanthephippium is rarely seen in collections, 

 doubtless on account of its impatience of cultivation. It is a 

 close ally of the preceding genus, as is evidenced not only by its 

 structure but also by the fact that it is has been successfully 

 hybridized with it. A. hi color (Lindley), a native of Southern 



