276 TH1-: ORCHID WORLD. 



Peristeria elala. 



PERISTERIA ELATA. 



THIS stately Orchid has long been 

 known as the Dove plant from the 

 fancied resemblance of the column 

 and its beaked anther, combined with the 

 ascending side lobes of the lip to the figure 

 of a dove ; characters which also obtained for 

 it from the Spanish settlers in Central 

 America the name El Espiritu Santo, or Holy 

 Ghost plant. It is a native of Panama, 

 whence it was first communicated in 1826 by 

 Mr. Barnard, a Peruvian merchant, to Mr. 

 Harrison, of Liverpool, in whose hothouse it 

 flowered for the first time in 183 i. 



The comparatively immense pseudo-bulbs 

 carry leaves of 3 feet or more in height ; the 

 strong erect flower-spikes often 5 feet high, 

 the individual wax-Hke blooms being nearly 

 3 inches in diameter and very fragrant, the 

 only colour being some purple spotting on the 

 side lobes of the labellum. The flowers are 

 produced during the months of July, August 

 and September, and last a long time in 

 perfection. 



Messrs. Veitch and Sons give the following 

 cultural directions: — Peristeria elata is 

 usually potted early in spring in a compost 

 of two-thirds well-rotted turfy loam and 

 one-third fibrous peat or other fibre, with the 

 addition of some thoroughly decomposed cow 

 manure. Ample drainage should be secured 

 by broken crocks to about half the depth of 



[September, 1915. 



the pot, and the compost filled in above this 

 to within an inch of the rim. The pseudo- 

 bulbs should be placed on the surface of the 

 compost which should then be covered with 

 sphagnum moss. When growth commences 

 the plants should receive a liberal supply of 

 water, which should be continued till the large 

 new pseudo-bulbs are mature ; the supply 

 may then be diminished to so much as is 

 sufficient to prevent the pseudo-bulbs from 

 shrinking during the winter months. As 

 much air and light as is safely practicable 

 should be afforded at all seasons, shading 

 being used only during the earliest stages of 

 growth and on hot bright days to prevent the 

 foliage being scorched. 



ODONTIODA L/EVETZLIANA. 



(Od. lasve X Cochlioda Noetzliana.) 



One of the very few remaining primary 

 Odontiodas proves what is called interesting, 

 another and more euphemious term for 

 " rubbish " in the eyes of the hybridist. 



The bulbs are smooth and glabrous, much 

 like those of lasve the ? parent, but thicker 

 in proportion ; the leaves are long and 

 narrow, also more like those of the seed 

 bearer. 



Spike 22 inches long, divided by strong 

 three-quarter inch bracts into nodal lengths, 

 those at the base being 2 inches long, 

 gradually reducing, the one at the apex being 

 but half an inch. Flowers 8, in form 

 extremely like laeve, but entirely light 

 venetian-red, slightly darker at edges and 

 tips. The lip alone varies in colour, being a 

 light yellow, tinted at edges with rose ; it is 

 intermediate in form, the column short and 

 similarly tinted, having the stigma almost 

 divided into two parts by a projection of the 

 ridge under the caudicle of the pollinia. 



A remarkable feature is a thread-like 

 filament on the back of the base of the lower 

 sepals ; on two flowers there are two, on 

 three only one. The flowers were crossed 

 May 2r)th, 1907, but the first plant did not 

 flower until June 2f)th, IQI S.- dc B.Crawshay, 

 Roscficld, Sevcnoaks, July 22nd, igiS- 



