September, 1912.J 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



ANCECTOCHILI AND THEIR CULTURE. 



THE genus Anoectochilus was founded 

 by Blume in 1825, the principal 

 characteristics of the flowers being 

 the spreading apex of the lip, from which the 

 generic name is derived. The genus Zeuxine 

 is very closely allied, but differs in not having 

 the long toothed or comb-like mesochile of 

 the lip. 



The flowers, although very interesting so 

 far as their construction is concerned, do not 

 equal in beauty or floral effect those of other 

 Orchids. The chief attraction is the beauty 

 of their leaves, the wonderful colour and 

 tracery of which rival the glowing colours of 

 an autumn sunset. Well may the poet have 

 written, " Who can paint like Nature." Some 

 species have foliage of the richest olive 

 colour, or of purple velvet, and covered with a 

 network of gold. In others, the leaf is vivid 

 green with silver tracery, while a few have 

 varied tints which seem to mock the rainbow 

 of the sky, or attempt to blend its many tints 

 in even more artistic style. 



Why do we not see more of these little 

 treasures? .Surely there are a few amateurs 

 who could reserve a place for their care. Of 

 late years all attention has been paid to our 

 showy flowering Orchids, while those with 

 ornamental foliage have been quite forgotten, 

 and to many are even still unknown. 



Many of the best Anoectochili are found in 

 Eastern India, consequently a warm temj>era- 

 ture is required for their cultivation, from 

 70-75 degrees F. in summer and from 60-65 

 degrees F. in winter. They should never be 

 exposed to the sun's rays, but must be kept 

 rather heavily shaded. The atmosphere must 

 be well supplied with moisture, and reason- 

 able ventilation should be given whenever 

 circumstances admit. 



Formerly the custom was to place the 

 plants under bell-glasses, with but little venti- 

 lation ; this method frequently made the plants 

 too tender, and the slightest sudden change of 

 atmosphere often gave them a check and 

 resulted in their death. A better method is to 

 place the pots in a small frame, surrounding 

 vol.. n. 



them with living sphagnum moss, and 

 cover them with loose panes of glass which 

 may be more or less arranged to allow of 

 sufficient ventilation being given. 



About the end of February, or as soon as 

 weather conditions will allow, propagation 

 may be effected by means of cuttings. The 

 stem should be cut about half-way through, 

 just below a joint, and be covered with sharp 

 sand and sphagnum moss, when it will 

 speedily send out new roots. The young 

 plant may then be carefully severed and 

 placed in a small pot or pan, using a compost 

 composed of fibrous peat, sharp sand, and 

 chopped sphagnum moss. The surface may 

 be entirely covered with moss only, thus 

 adding to the effect given by the brightly 

 coloured leaves. During the following few 

 weeks a moist, somewhat close atmosphere 

 will greatly assist the young plant. 



Moisture, although \'ery essential to the 

 welfare of the plant, should not be allowed to 

 settle on the leaves in the form of drops, more 

 especially is damage likely to occur when 

 water remains for any length of time on the 

 young, unfolded leaves. In order to obtain 

 specimen plants the flower spikes should not 

 be allowed to remain on the plant for more 

 than a few days ; some growers advise their 

 removal when in the early stage of formation, 

 while others are of opinion that the plant 

 should be allowed to take its natural course. 

 But whichever way is considered correct, the 

 fact remains that the chief point of attraction 

 is the beautiful foliage, and not the flowers, 

 however interesting they may be to the 

 botanist. 



The cultivation of Anoectochili is certainly 

 difficult. The plants may grow luxuriantly in 

 one collection and fail altogether in another. 

 A successful cultivator may find, much to his 

 dismay, that what he could grow in one part 

 of the country he is quite unable to in 

 another. All these difficulties, great or small, 

 only encourage many of us to go on and 

 persevere, for success when gained too easily 

 can never be regarded as truly prai.seworth)-. 



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