22c 
tHE ORCHID WOkLt). 
CCELOGYNE ASPERATA. 
THE illustration depicts a marvellous 
specimen of this species with more than 
thirty flower spikes, averaging twelve 
to fourteen flowers on each. It has been 
grown by Mr. E. H. Andriesse of Java, who 
kindly sends four photographs of it, one of 
which is reproduced below. In an accompany- 
mg letter he says: — "'This species grows in 
Borneo and 
Sumatra. At 
an elevation 
of 1,500 to 
2,000 feet it is 
found growing 
as an epiphyte, 
but a remark- 
able thing to 
be noticed is 
that in Suma- 
tra, near the 
town of Fort- 
de-Kock, in a 
valley named 
K a r b o uwen- 
gat, which is 
a volcanic 
s i n k i n g i n, 
more than one 
hundred miles 
in length, it 
grows, as a 
terrestrial, in 
the volcanic 
sand." 
The flowers 
are a pale 
creamy-yellow, the lip marked with brownish- 
yellow veins springing from a rugged, bright- 
orange ridge. In some districts the in- 
habitants regard this plant as sacred and 
believe their very existence is dependant on 
it. It is also used to bless the crops, and the 
following account by an old collector is taken 
from the Journal des Orchidees : — 
" At the time of the flowering of Coelogyne 
asperata I was on the banks of the River 
Amboan, where this Orchid grows in 
Ccelogyne c^perala, a Wonderful specimen. 
abundance. I had put up the evening before 
in a native house where I proposed to pass 
the night, and I ordered my men to watch 
over the arms and make preparations for 
supper. 
" The Dayaks were occupied in picking over 
the rice for sowing, the men, women, and 
children were gathered together and worked 
with ardour, 
for the grains 
were to be 
sown the ne.xt 
day. They 
received me, 
n e V e rtheless, 
and I installed 
myself to take 
the rest that I 
needed. 
Towards ten 
o'clock in the 
e \' e n i n g a 
frightful noise 
awoke me ; it 
seemed that a 
crowd had 
assembled be- 
fore the house, 
and tried to 
make the 
greatest noise 
possible. After 
a few moments 
I saw ten old 
women who 
struck enor- 
mous gongs in the shape of saucepans. They 
were followed by fifteen or twenty young 
girls carrying in their hands large sprays of 
Coelogyne asperata and having in their hair 
garlands of this flower. 
" This singular procession entered the house 
without stopping for a moment their brassy, 
clanging sound. The chests of rice were 
placed before the women, and the young girls 
laid down their bouquets to the left, and the 
flowers from their hair to the rig-ht. Two 
