268 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[Nov. -Dec, igi6. 



PHAL/ENOPSIS CORNU-CERVl. 



THE following interesting account of 

 Phalaenopsis Cornu-cervi, sent to the 

 Gardeners Chronicle by Major-Gen. 

 E. S. Berkeley, describes Orchid life in a 

 tropical jungle: — 



" This curious Orchid is found in abund- 

 ance on the stunted bushes m the swampy 

 islands at the mouth of the river Irawaddy. 

 In this situation, being exposed to the sun 

 during the dry season, it loses its leaves, its 

 roots being kept plump by the night dews, 

 and it consequently has a distinct resting 

 season. When growing m the shade it has 

 no resting season, loses none of its leaves, 

 and continues in flower throughout the year. 



" Phalaenopsis Cornu-cervi is found from 

 Akyab (lat. 19 degrees N.) throughout the 

 whole of Lower Burmah, and southwards 

 down to Tavoy, Mergui, and Perak, also m 

 Java, occasionally on the hills, abounding in 

 the plains, flourishing luxuriantly m the dense 

 shade of the forest, where it is protected from 

 dry winds. In 1870 the bamboos m the 

 jungle between Pegu and Shoagun flowered, 

 and, as is the habit of many bamboos, the 

 clumps died and rotted down, thus rendering 

 it possible to penetrate into a forest which 

 had been closed for years. The few scattered 

 trees growing in the bamboo jungle were 

 mango trees ; the trunks of these trees were 

 found covered with huge masses of P. Cornu- 

 cervi, growing m the densest shade, where 

 they had been unmolested for many years. 

 The plants presented masses of leaf growth 

 of extraordinary vigour, and bore such 

 quantities of flowers as would delight an 

 English orchidist ; this was the solitary 

 Orchid found in this shady forest. Unfor- 

 tunately, the deciduous variety, which bears 

 comparatively very poor flowers, is that which 

 survives the journey to England, the large 

 evergreen form found in the jungle being too 

 soft to travel." 



Phal.^:N0PSIS Lowii. — A lovely species 

 discovered by the Rev. C. S. Parish, in Moul- 

 mein, Burmah, through whom it was introduced 



Phalanopsis Lowii. 



by Messrs. Low and Co. in 1862. Major- 

 General E. S. Berkeley, who has seen 

 Phalaenopsis Lowii in its native home, writes 

 in the Gardeners' Chronicle of 1887 (I. s. 2» 

 p. 279): — "This plant loses all its leaves in 

 its native habitat immediately after flowering. 

 It grows on limestone rocks, and on the 

 branches of small bushes growing in the 

 crevices of the rocks. The surrounding 

 country is under water the greater part of the 

 year, and the rainfall is excessive ; by the end 

 of November the country dries up, and in 

 January the flower stems and leaves have 

 withered, nothing remaining but the roots ; 

 these cease to grow, but are kept plump by 

 the heavy dew that falls at night. The resting 

 season is short, as showers fall in March when 

 the plants at once begin to put forth fresh 

 leaves. This species grows on the north-east 

 side of the limestone hills, and is thence 

 protected from the effects of the afternoon 

 heat of a tropical sun. During the rains the 

 limestone rocks are covered with many 

 beautiful annual balsams and tuberous 

 begonias ; this will give a hint to the 

 gardeners of the kind of moist heat required 

 to grow Phalaenopsis Lowii in perfection." 

 Flowers white flushed with amethyst-purple. 



Manchester Orchid Society.— Meet- 

 ings will be held on November i6th, Decem- 

 ber 7th, 2ist, 1916; January 4th, i8th, 

 February ist, 15th, March ist, 15th, April 

 5th, 19th, and May loth, 191 7. 



