l'\>l)riiai-y, igid.] 



THli ORCIIIl) WORLD. 



1 1 1 



RHYNCHOSTYLIS RETUSA. 



THIS species is one of the most widely 

 distributed of Indian Orchids ; the 

 geographical area over which it is 

 spread is probably as great or even greater 

 than that occupied by any other epiphytal 

 species. It is found in nearly all parts of 

 Hindostan where the climatic conditions are 

 such as to allow it to live and thrive ; also in 

 Ceylon. It is scarcely less abundant in the 

 British provinces in the eastern peninsula, 

 especially in the plains of Lower Burmah, 

 whence it spreads southwards into Java, where 

 it is common, and where it has established 

 itself in immense numbers in the Teak 

 plantations formed by the Dutch in that 

 colony. Over so extensive a region the plant is 

 found to preserve a remarkable uniformity in 

 the size and colour of its flowers, while in 

 habit its variability is more pronounced. 



The following graphic account of this 

 Orchid as seen m the south of India is 

 communicated by " J. L." to The Garden, 

 XXXVIII. (i8go), p. 60;:— "In Malabar it 

 mostly affects the jungle and marshy banks of 

 sluggish-flowing rivers thick with trees of low 

 stature and thorny undergrowth composed of 

 Solanum ferox, spiny Acacias, and the like, 

 where croak innumerable frogs, speaking 

 eloquently of malaria, ague, and fever, and 

 where crawls the deadly cobra, and where 

 other reptiles and insects of strange appear- 

 ance are abundant. In the midst of such 

 surroundings, pendent from the branches of 

 trees, may be seen the charming blooms of 

 the Saccolabium (Rhynchostylis) spreading a 

 fragrance around which compels the explorer 

 to linger in the locality, even at the risk of 

 subsequent attacks of jungle fever. Curiously 

 enough the plants are never found in groups, 

 h)ut singly, with long distances between the 

 individual plants. They come into flower 

 during September and October, or imme- 

 diately after the south-west monsoon rains 

 cease, and from that date till the first spring 

 showers fall in March or April these epiphytes 

 enjoy complete rest. They are throughout 

 nearly the whole of this period of rest more or 

 less protected from the east winds that prevail 



Rhynchostylis retusa alha. 



for so many months, and they are under the 

 influence of dense fogs during the night and 

 early morning. During the prevalence of the 

 south-west monsoon, which is their growing 

 season, the tempeniture rarely falls below 

 21" C. (70" F.), that is, when the sky is cloudy 

 and the rain is pouring in torrents, perhaps 

 for three and four weeks at a time. From 

 the end of October till the end of April, the 

 season of rest, the thermometer frequently 

 falls in the night and early morning to g" C. 

 (48° F.), so that the range of temperature 

 under which they live in southern India is 

 considerable." 



The form now recognised as the type was 

 detected by Dr. Blume during a journey 

 tlirough Java in 1823 -4, a short time 

 previous to the publication of his " Contri- 

 butions " (Bijdragen) to the flora of that 

 island, in which it was first described under 

 the now accepted name of Rhynchost)'lis 

 retusa. It was introduced from Java by 

 Messrs. Loddiges in 1838 — 9, and was figured 



