NovcmbLi-, 1915.] I 111: OKCllIl) WORLD. 31 



Trichopilia suavis. 



TRICHOPILIA SUAVIS. 



THE origin of Trichopilia suavis appears 

 to have been but vaguely known till 

 the late M. Morren, of Liege, 

 published the following particulars of its 

 habitat in the Bclgiquc horticolc of 1874: — 

 " It was discovered m 1848 by Warscewicz 

 in Costa Rica, on the Cordillera, at an altitude 

 of 5,000-8,000 feet. He met with the finest 

 specimens on the volcano of Chiriqui, at an 

 altitude of 8,000 feet, in a region where 

 the thermometer ranged from io°-i5° C. 

 (50°-6o° F.). Warscewicz found the plants 

 growing on oaks at from 20 to 40 feet above 

 the ground, never lower down ; if the trees to 

 which they affix themselves are thrown down 

 by any accident or fall from old age the 

 l nchopilias upon them languish and die. On 

 Chiriqui at this altitude there is a dry season 



lasting from November till April, when there 

 is neither rain nor dew and the wind is often 

 \ cry violent ; but throughout the remainder 

 of the year 'both rains and dews are copious 

 and frequent." 



T. suavis flowered for the first time in this 

 country in 185 1 simultaneously m the collec- 

 tions of Mrs. Lawrence, at Ealing, and Mr. 

 R. S. Holford, at Westonbirt, and m the 

 nursery of Messrs. Loddiges at Hackney. 

 The sweetly-scented flowers are creamy- 

 white, the crisped labellum more or less 

 spotted with rose-pink, and with some orange 

 spots and markings on the disc. In the 

 \'ariety alba the rose-pink sjiots are absent, 

 while the yellow spots are much reduced. 



The months of March and April see this 

 si)ecies at its best. The cool house is usually 

 utilised for its cultn'ation, selecting the 

 warmest end during winter. 



