ScpttMiibcr, 1913. 
'ini<: ORCHID woRij). 
273 
Caelogyne Sanderiana. 
CCELOGYNE SandERIANA. — This beautiful 
representative of the genus was introduced 
by Fostermann, for Messrs. Sander and Sons, 
in 1887. A native of the Sunda Isles, it has 
always remained very scarce, and appears 
to be shy-flowering, although when 
once the cultural details of the plant are 
understood, good results follow. In 1892, 
Mr. W. H. Robins, gr. to Mr. J. Vanner, of 
Chislehurst, grew a fine plant which pro- 
duced three spikes, each carrying ten flowers. 
The subject of our illustration is a strong 
specimen in the collection of Sir John 
Edwards-Moss, Bart., Roby Hall, Torquay, 
who obtained the plant some five years ago. 
It has recently flowered for the first time, 
and may be described as an exceptionally 
well-cultivated specimen. The large flowers 
have the sepals and petals snow-white, the 
lip with a bright yellow disc, bearing six 
fring-ed keels, the side lobes streaked with 
brown. 
1^ u 
Oncidium MICROCHILUM. — This pretty 
species was introduced some 70 years ago 
from Guatemala by Mr. Ure Skinner, who 
has given the following information con- 
cerning its native habitat : " The Oncidium 
microchilum I first found on the top of the 
' Cuesta ' of Puentezuelas, some thirteen 
leagues from Guatemala, and sent it to 
VOL. III. 
Mr. Bateman in 18:58. It was growing on a 
bare rock, with a quantity of dead leaves and 
grasses about its bulbs, and its roots woven 
into the interstices of the rock and mould 
about it ; very much exposed to the sun, 
except during the middle of the day, when 
a ledge of rock seemed to afford it a little 
shade. I afterwards found it in great abund- 
ance on the rocky banks of the river 
Michatayal. I never saw it except in such 
situations, generally e.xposed and always 
among rocks. It is very fragrant, and in 
its native habitat I have always observed the 
sepals and petals darker and more marked 
than when flowered in England. The 
temperature generally of the above habitats 
IS 68-70 degrees ; and, from being exposed, 
cold at nights." The glaucous flower stem 
carries numerous small flowers about an inch 
across ; the sepals and petals brown, marked 
with yellow ; the front lobe of the labellura 
very small ; the side lobes whitish, basally 
marked with purple. 
S.r ^il 
RODRIGUEZIA SECUNDA. — Of this species 
Mr. Rand, of Para, Brazil, has written in 
the New York Horticultural Society's Pro- 
ceedings as follows: — Rodriguezia secunda 
in the shape of a large plant makes a 
magnificent show. One of my plants is as 
large as a bushel measure, and had last 
winter more than 100 long spikes of bloom. 
This species is no less ornamental in seed 
than in flower, the capsules bursting and 
showing the masses of infinitesimal white 
seeds which look like woolly flowers. It is 
very common around Para, the mango trees 
being full of it, and it is in fact almost the 
only Orchid which is found in the city itself. 
There is a great difference in the plants ; 
some have thin leaves, few spikes and pale 
flowers, and others thick, fleshy leaves, and 
many spikes with rich cherry-coloured 
blossoms. The best are quite as handsome 
as Saccolabium ampullaceum. Rodriguezia 
laxiflora is a charming little plant, with long 
pendant spikes of greenish-yellow flowers 
with small white lip, which fill the whole air 
with rich spicy fragrance. 
35 
