BRASSAVOLA 
91 
BRASSAVOLA. 
Brassavola was founded by Robert 
Brown in 1 8 1 3 , its name being in com- 
pliment to Dr. Brassavola, a Venetian 
botanist, and the first kind, Brassavola 
cucullata^ brought by Rear-Admiral 
Bligh from the West Indies in 1793. 
The group may now be divided into two 
classes, that grouped 2,xowx\^ Brassavola 
nodosa being the larger. The plants of 
this class vary a good deal, the oldest 
kind, Brassavola cucullata^ being dis- 
tinct from any other, while Brassavola 
acaulis has also marked differences in 
its long, pendulous, fleshy leaves and 
larger flowers, more like the flowers of 
B. glauca of the second class, than any 
of the others. The common features 
of this group consist in short and woody 
stems, bearing more or less rounded, 
fleshy, and channelled leaves, which are 
generally decurved or drooping, and 
with the flowers borne at their bases 
after the manner of an Epidendrum. 
The flowers have usually nearly equal, 
lanceolate-acuminate sepals and petals, 
for the most part of a greenish-white 
colour ; and a broad white lip. 
The second, or large-flowered sec- 
tion, to which the fringed Brassavola 
Dighyana belongs, contains only that 
species and Brassavola glauca. These 
plants so differ from the first group that 
the late Prof. Reichenbach removed 
them to Laelia, thereby setting up a 
serious botanical blunder which was 
continued by Bentham in the yournal 
of the Li?inean Society^ 1880, p. 314. 
Apart from their larger flowers and 
more erect Laelia-like growth, there was 
no reason for this removal from Brassa- 
Culture. 
vola, with which they otherwise per- 
fectly agree, even to the elongated beak 
of the ovary. This peculiar feature is 
remarkably developed in Brassavola 
Dighyana^ the two-inch-long seed- 
bearing base being drawn out into a 
slender beak, 5 or 6 inches long in 
the mature fruit. In both sections the 
flowers have a strong odour of the 
Tuberose, and the same white and 
greenish- white colour, scarcely another 
tint being found save a tinge of rose 
on the outside of the sepals in some 
kinds, and slight markings of purple at 
the base of the lip in others. 
All the Brassavolas thrive in 
an intermediate house, such 
as that used for Cattleyas and Laelias. 
They prefer teak-wood baskets, but 
may also be grown in pots or on rafts. 
As a compost, fibrous peat and sphag- 
num moss will be found the best and 
safest. A copious supply of rain-water 
at the roots should be given while the 
plants are in active growth, with a 
much less quantity when the growths 
are matured ; for although evergreen, 
this ripening of the plants is necessary. 
Full sunshine is commonly advised for 
these plants, but, as with other Orchids, 
such as Lcelia anceps^ which grow in 
sunny places in their own land, it is 
better to secure a good diffused light 
by a little shading during the growing 
season, to be followed by full sunlight as 
the growths are approaching maturity. 
These Orchids are wide- 
ly distributed throughout 
Mexico, Central America, Brazil, and 
the West Indies. Some kinds have also 
a very wide range and much variation 
Distribution. 
