Plate 177. 



LJELIA JONGHEANA. 



The subject of our illustration will commend itself to all lovers of Orchidaceous plants, 

 from its being very distinct from any other species of the beautiful genus which comes 

 so near the Cattleyas. The plant here figured is of dwarf habit (not exceeding eight to ten 

 inches in height), and is very similar in aspect to Cattleya bulbosa ; but it can readily be 

 distinguished from that species by its olive-green pseudo-bulbs, which are without any of 

 the stripes or markings which are always present in C. bulbosa. The flowers are also borne 

 in a different manner, for in Lcelia Jongheana the blossom appears upon a natural-shaped 

 pseudo-bulb, whereas in C. bulbosa the plant makes a sort of half stem, half bulb, whenever 

 it flowers. Lcelia Jongheana flowers from the top of the young bulb, and is very lovely both 

 in form and colour; the cresting at the base of the lip is especially conspicuous and 

 beautiful. It would seem to have a more robust constitution than most of the dwarf species, 

 as it grows very freely in small pots filled with sphagnum, and placed not too far from the 

 glass, with a heat of about 60 deg. in winter and 75 deg. in summer ; and it must not be kept 

 too wet at any time. This plant was first described as a new species by Professor Keichenbach,, 

 in the Gardeners 1 Chronicle for March 30th, 1872, where a woodcut illustration of a single 

 bloom is given. At that time it was sent to the Professor by M. Liiddemann ; but the 

 merit of its introduction is due to M. de Jonghe, of Brussels, after whom the plant has 

 received its specific name. It was discovered by the ill-fated traveller, poor Libon, who fell 

 a victim to his zeal in the Brazils. 



Plate 178. 



POTHOS VIOLACEA. 



This is the name by which the plant here illustrated is best known in gardens ; it is 

 also commonly known as Anthurium violaceum, whilst Messrs. Veitch and Sons, to whom we 

 are indebted for the opportunity of figuring it, describe it in their new Plant Catalogue 

 under the name of Anthurium margaretaceum. The handsome-fronted plant here figured 

 was exhibited by Messrs. Veitch and Sons, of Chelsea, before the Royal Horticultural Society, 

 on April 10th last, and received a well-merited award from that body. Pothos violacca is an old 

 stove plant, by no means so frequently grown as its great merits deserve : the plant figured 

 is a pale-fruited variety, and a very small specimen ; for in Messrs. Veitch's nurseries we 

 observed plants this spring densely covered with fruit growing in great pans, and many 

 times larger than the specimen here figured. As is common in many Aroids, the inflores- 

 cence of Pothos violacea is conspicuous ; but the minute flowers of the spadix are quickly 

 followed by brilliant violet-tinted fruits, exactly in the same way as the inconspicuous 

 flowers of the Arum maculatum of our hedges, and bears crimson-scarlet berries in the 

 autumn. Pothos violacea bears rather coriaceous, obovate lanceolate, slightly acuminate 

 deep green leaves, which are furnished with a prominent midrib ; these leaves are much 

 paler in colour underneath. The chief ornament of the plant rests in its profuse produc- 

 tion of beautiful drooping clusters of glossy purple berries, which are produced in greater 

 abundance as the plant advances in age, the lower portion of the plant being commonly 

 seen in full fruit whilst the upper part is still in flower, as shown in our Plate. As regards 

 positively new species of Aroidese, Messrs. Veitch and Sons' establishment always contains 

 such plants, and we have repeatedly referred to the Chelsea Aroids new to science and 

 gardens in these pages. 



