INCONSPICUOUS AND RARELY CULTIVATED ORCHIDS. 143 



Another curious and interesting section of "inconspicuous " Orchids 

 are the Megacliniums (fig. 73), which are closely allied to theBulbophyllums. 

 The strong growing M. triste produces an erect spike, the rhachis at its 

 apex having the appearance of a snake in the act of striking, on each side 

 of which are borne small blackish flowers in alternate pairs. As regards 

 M. Bufo the late Dr. Lindley made the following remarks : " Let us 

 imagine a green snake to be pressed flat like a dried flower, and then 

 to have a row of toads, or some such speckled reptile, drawn up along the 

 middle in single file, their backs set up, their four legs sprawling right 

 and left, and their mouths wide open, with a large purple tongue wagging 

 about convulsively, and a pretty considerable approach will be gained to 

 an idea of this strange plant, which, if Pythagoras had but known of 

 it, would have rendered all arguments about the transmigration of souls 

 superfluous." 



In Australia there are many epiphytal and terrestrial Orchids well 

 worth growing, "inconspicuous " it may be, but of much interest. Few 

 of these have, I believe, ever been seen in this country under cultivation. 

 The terrestrial genera Caladenia, Diuris, Pterostylis, &c., and the epiphytal 

 genus of Sarcochilus, of which S. Fitzgemldii and S. Hartmannii (fig. 74) 

 only are known to most of us, are strangers in European collections. 

 There are also in Australia several very pretty Dendrobiums which may 

 also easily be sent home by post, as D. teretifolium, D. linguiforme, 

 D. monophyllum, D. tetragojium, and D. canaliculatum. When well 

 cultivated, these species produce small but interesting flowers in great 

 profusion. 



When we come to our South African Colonies, how many Disas are 

 there which have never been seen in cultivation ? Mr. Bolus, in his 

 " Orchids of the Cape Peninsula," and in his " Orchids of South Africa," 

 Vol. I., states that there are 109 admitted species of Disa, of many of 

 which he gives plates in the volumes referred to. 



The now well-known volumes " A Century of Indian Orchids," by 

 our distinguished Fellow, Sir Joseph Hooker, and the " Orchids of the 

 Sikkim Himalaya," in five parts, by Sir George King and Mr. Eobert 

 Pantling, are perfect mines of wealth for the seeker after curious, beauti- 

 ful, and little known Orchids, very many of which have never been seen 

 in cultivation in Great Britain. The " Century " contains plates of 

 eighteen Dendrobiums, of which only a few (D. candiduin, D. stuposum, 

 D. ericeflorum, and D. Williamsonii) are known to Orchid growers in the 

 living state. Altogether there are 101 plates in this remarkable work, 

 consisting chiefly of rare " inconspicuous " Orchids. These include varieties 

 of such well-known genera as Aerides, Calanthe, Coelogyne, Cleisostoma, 

 Eulophia, Eria, Habenaria, Liparis, Luisia, Pogonia, Saccolabium, 

 Sarcanthus, and many others which, although long known to Science, are 

 practically unknown to us, and would undoubtedly, if obtainable, prove 

 valuable and interesting additions to a varied collection. One Orchid 

 figured therein I may mention as being particularly applicable to 

 my subject, e.g., Saccolabiuni " inconspicuiwi." The other work, 

 " The Orchids of the Sikkim Himalaya," contains plates of many 

 species of Dendrobium which are strangers to us. and among other 

 genera there are beautiful and interesting species^ of the following : 



