78 
CYAXOTIS AXILLARIS. 
of the warm parts of Brazil, they delight in a moderately high temperature, and, during 
the time the plants are in a state of grow'th, a very humid atmosphere. 
They will grow fastened to a block of wood suspended from the roof of the Orchid- 
house ; hut they thrive far better if planted in a moderate-sized pot, filled three parts full 
of broken potsherds, or other drainage, and the remainder with pieces of rough peat, mixed 
with chopped sphagnum and potsherds. They will not admit of very copious watering at 
the roots at any time ; and during the time of their torpidity they require a considerable 
degree of drought. The flowers are produced at the close of the autumn, and continue 
through much of the early winter. During the summer they require well shading from 
the sun’s rays. 
Both the present variety, and also the old Miltonia spectabilis, have generally a very 
yellow appearance, which might at first sight be mistaken for sickliness, arising from 
mismanagement ; this colour, however, is not that morbid colour which indicates that the 
plant is in a state of suffering, but a rich golden yellow, which is too natural to be otherwise 
than attractive. . 
Propagation is effected in the usual way. 
CYANOTIS AXILLARIS— AXILLARY CYANOTIS. 
The genus Cyanotis was founded by Mr. David Don ; it is nearly allied to Tradescantia, 
but differs from it in several important parti- 
culars. The name is derived from kyanos, blue ; 
and ous, otos, an ear — from the ear-like form 
of the segments of the flower. 
The perianth consists of a double series, 
and is six-parted : outer series , constituting, 
what may be called the calyx, is small and per- 
sistent; inner series tender, coloured equal, 
clawed, the whole six connate at the base. 
Stamens six, homogeneous ; filaments loose, 
slender, and covered with a soft long down or 
beard. Style above dilated, and also bearded 
like the filaments. Stigma tubulose. 
The present little species has a fibrous, 
biennial root. Stems numerous, procumbent, 
rooting from the joints, obtusely-angular, 
smooth, growing about a foot high. Leaves 
linear-lanceolate, obtuse, slightly villous on the 
under side. Involucre two-leaved, ovate-oblong, 
acute, lunate. Flowers axillary, on short 
peduncles, solitary, or two together, azure- 
blue. Perianth six-parted, three outer ones, 
slightly rusty, membranous, oval-oblong, acute, 
equal ; inner series oval-obtuse, azure-blue, 
connate at the base, equal. Stamens six, fer- 
tile, filaments slender, equal, covered with a 
soft pale blue beard. Style shorter than the 
stamens, and bearded on the upper part like 
the filaments. Stigma simple. 
Three species of this pretty genus are 
known, and have been introduced to this 
country : the Cyanotis barbata , a native of 
Nepaul, introduced in 1824, and described by 
Don in his Prod. Flor. Nepalen ., 45 ; C. cris- 
