196 
^SCHYNANTHUS RAMOSISSIMUS. 
but tlie principal distinctive test will be found in the peculiarly branching nature of 
the stems of the plant now more immediately under examination. Before any specimen 
has grown a foot in height, this character will be easily discerned. Within a few 
inches of the soil, it will begin to send forth a number of lateral shoots,' and as these 
usually take an ascending direction, the plant becomes particularly dense about this 
part of its stem. This affords an unerring criterion for the determination of its 
specific name, as the term itself applies to that feature alone. 
At the same time, and through the same medium as the finer species already 
noticed, this beautiful plant Vfas introduced to Chatsworth, where the sample of 
our drawing flowered in J une last. On the trunks and branches of trees, in moist 
shady woods, it was found by Mr. Gibson, near the summit of the Khoseea hills, 
at an elevation of about four thousand feet. Messrs. Loddiges and other cultivators 
have had thriving specimens for several years, but the plant at Chatsworth was, 
we presume, the first to unfold its flowers. 
A reference to the great height of the tract it inhabits, would seem to favour the 
opinion that the extreme heat of many orchidaceous houses must be unfavourable 
to the development of its flowers, and that in a somewhat lower temperature it would 
succeed better. But we imagine the best means of inducing it to flower are to re- 
frain from stimulating it too much through the winter season, by diminishing very 
greatly the supplies of both heat and water. Doubtless a trifling degree of cautious 
exposure to the sun would also accelerate the production of blossoms. 
It may be cultivated and propagated precisely as M. grandiflorus^ succeeding 
quite as well as that species, if potted in moss, or some very light material of a 
similar kind, with the stems attached to a block of wood ; around which, if assisted 
by a little sphagnum, they will speedily form roots, and by this means may be 
increased. Soil, especially such as is calculated to retain much moisture, should 
never be made use of in its cultivation, for it is to the employment of this, and not 
to its natural constitution, that the character it has obtained of not flowerirg freely 
is to be entirely ascribed. 
