CYCNOCHES LODDIGE8II. 



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though we may at present be ignorant of the virtues of these plants, how can we 

 view their strange and fantastic forms, their rich and varied colours, or inhale 

 their delicious odours, without feelings of the deepest reverence and gi*atitude to 

 their great Creator, who in his goodness has thus contrived to delight the senses 

 of his creatures ? Who would not be incited to exclaim with the poet — 



Almighty Being, 

 Cause and support of all things, can I view 

 These objects of my wonder ; can I feel 

 These fine sensations, and not think of thee ? 



We shall take this opportunity of making a few observations (in addition to 

 what we have said in a former number) on the classification of these plants. 

 There is no difficulty in ascertaining whether a plant belong to Orchidacece. If its 

 structure be gynandrous, that is, if its stamens and pistil be united so as to form 

 that peculiar body called the column ; and if, at the same time, that column be 

 surmounted by a single fertile anther, the plant may be at once referred to 

 Orchidacese. There are, in fact, two genera, Vanilla and Epistephium, which 

 differ so little from Orchidacece, that they formerly belonged to the order ; but 

 from which they have recently been separated and formed into a distinct order 

 (Fanillacece) by Dr. Lindley, on account of their succulent, valveless fruit, and a 

 few other peculiarities, upon which it is unnecessary to dwell at this time. 

 Having ascertained that a plant belongs to Orchidacece, the next thing is to 

 determine to which tribe or section it may be referred ; this is done by the 

 removal of the anther, and an examination of the pollen-masses, which in some 

 cases are exceedingly minute, and require very close and accurate observation. 

 In our present plant they are unusually large, as well as the caudicula and gland 

 to which they are attached, and are well represented by the dissections in our 

 plate. Among the various genera which are characterised by this peculiarity of 

 structure, is the genus Vanda ; which has accordingly been selected as the type 

 of this particular tribe, now generally known among botanists as the tribe Vandece. 

 The other modifications of structure by which the different tribes of orchideous 

 plants are characterised, will be particularly explained in future numbers. 



In the examination of orchideous plants, it is necessary for the student to 

 recollect that the parts of fructification consist of 3 sepals (the exterior parts of 

 the flower) of which the odd one is superior, and the other two lateral ; 3 petals, 

 one of which (the lip) is inferior, and the other two lateral ; and 3 stamens united, 

 as already observed, to a single style, and forming the column. This ternary 

 division of the flower is not, however, peculiar to orchideous plants, but prevails 

 usually in Monocotyledons, as does the quinary division in Dicotyledons ; a subject 

 to which we shall take an early opportunity of returning. 



With regard to cultivation, Cycnoches requires the same treatment as the 

 Catasetums, with which it agrees in habit, but differs from them in having a 

 lateral, not a radical scape. During the last few years the cultivation of the 



