Aiig-ust, igi6.] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



to the cultivation of large plants, but where 

 opportunities exist some attempt should be 

 made to produce specimens, for many of our 

 old-time species are really handsome jilants 

 when brought to the fine state of perfection 

 seen in Mr. Ogilvie's exhibit. E. prismato- 

 carpum is a native of Central America, where 

 it was discovered by Warscewicz in 1849 at 

 an altitude of 4 — 5,000 feet. The specific 

 name is said to refer to the three sharp angles 

 of the short ovary. The sepals and petals 

 are pale greenish-yellow, spotted with dark 

 purple, the lip yellow and rose. 



Oncidium varicosum. 



Oncidium varicosum. — This popular 

 plant first became known to Lindley about 

 the year 1837, through a specimen in the 

 herbarium of Martius, which had been 

 gathered in Brazil by Prince Maximilian. It 

 was introduced to European gardens by M. 

 de Jonghe, through Libon, who had redis- 

 covered it in 1846 growing on the trunks of 

 large trees in the neighbourhood of Yta, in 

 the province of Sao Paulo. M. de Jonghe, 

 in 1848, presented a plant to the Plorticultural 

 Society of London, which flowered in the 

 Society's garden at Chiswick m the following 

 year, the first occasion of its flowering in this 

 country. The variety Rogersii first appeared 

 in the collection of Dr. Rogers, of East Grin- 

 stead, who exhibited it at a meeting of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society, November, 1868, 

 when it was generally recognised as one of 

 the finest Oncidiums then seen. The specific 

 name, from varex, a swollen vein, was 

 suggested by the ring of varicose veins around 

 the crest of the labellum. 



Cypripedium debile. 



CyPRIPEDIUM debile. — This curious 

 Cypripedium is so unlike the plants we are 

 accustomed to see under this familiar generic 

 name that it might at first sight be regarded 

 as a monstrosity. The above photograph 

 shows C. debile flowering m the collection of 

 Mr. W. H. St. Ouintm, Scampston Hall, 

 Rillington, York, who makes a special stud)' 

 of these rare, but nevertheless interesting, 

 plants. A native of Japan, this species has an 

 erect glabrous stem, on the summit of which 

 are two subcordate leaves, while the flower- 

 stalk is produced in a feeble drooping style, 

 from which the specific name is derived. A 

 noteworthy feature is the long linear bract 

 springing from near the base of the ovary. 

 Some idea of the necessary treatment may be 

 gained from the fact that this plant is growing 

 in a pot filled with sandy peat, while another 

 has done well for the last two years in a cold 

 greenhouse border composed of sand and 

 leaf-soil, and would apparently have flowered 

 had it not been accidentally injured. 



Orchid Lecture. — An Orchid lecture, 

 illustrated by lantern slides, will be given by 

 Mr. Gurney Wilson at the Royal Horticul- 

 tural Society, Tuesday, August 15th, igi6. 



