28 
NEW FLOWERS AND PLANTS. 
spike of small whitish flowers, the sepals 
clothed, and the petals ciliated, with hairs. 
Native of the East Indies, where it grows on 
trees. Introduced about 1846. Flowers in 
autumn. It is the Stelis hirta (Smith); and 
Tribrachia hirta (Lindley). Culture. — Re- 
quires a stove ; turfy peat soil ; division of 
the plant. 
Cymeididm eburneum, Lindley (ivory 
Cymbid). — Orchidacea3 § Vandese-Brassidaa. 
— A large and very handsome perennial 
herbaceous plant. The leaves are long, narrow, 
swordshaped, and are bilobed at the end ; 
from their axils are produced the flowers, about 
two together, at the extremity of a long droop- 
ing scape ; they are very large, pure ivory- 
white, with one broad yellow stripe along the 
middle of the lip ; moreover, they are deli- 
ciously fragrant. Native of the East Indies. 
Introduced about 1846. Flowers in August 
and September. Culture. — Requires a hot 
moist stove ; turfy peat soil ; propagated by 
division of the plant. 
Sobralia macrantha, var. splendens 
(splendid large-flowered Sobralia). — Orchi- 
daceoe § Arethuseas-Vanillidaa. — The Sobra- 
lias have a reedy habit, stiff plaited leaves, 
and for the most part large splendid blossoms; 
this is the case with S. macrantha. The 
present variety differs chiefly in stature, and 
in the colour of its blossoms ; being dwarfer, 
not growing more than from two to three feet 
high, and producing large deep rich crimson- 
purple blossoms, which have a slender curved 
neck, elliptic reflexed sepals and petals, and a 
prominent rolled up (so as to appear funnel- 
shaped) lip, the lower edge of which is ex- 
panded and frilled, and the inside yellowish. 
Culture. — Requires a stove ; turfy peat and 
turfy loam; propagated by division of the plant; 
young plants are also to be obtained by enve- 
loping one of the joints of the stem with moss, 
which is to be kept constantly damp ; in this 
case the stem should be slightly cut through 
below where the moss is applied. 
Barkeria Skinneri, var. major (large- 
flowered Skinner's Barkeria). — Orchidaceaa § 
Epidendreas-Laeliadas. — This variety is much 
superior to that generally cultivated ; the 
flower scape grows nearly two feet high, bear- 
ing upwards of thirty blossoms, which are of 
a deep reddish purple-lilac colour. It is, we 
presume, a native of Mexico. Introduced 
about 1845. Flowers in autumn. Culture. — 
Requires a stove ; turfy peat soil, or to be 
fixed on a block of wood ; propagated by divi- 
sion of the plant. 
Ctpripedium Lowei, Lindley (Mr. Lowe's 
Lady's Slipper). — Orchidacese § Cypripedeoe. — 
A very beautiful addition to the epiphytal 
section of Lady's Slippers. The leaves, which 
are all produced from the root, are strap- 
shaped ; the flower-stem produces a raceme 
of from four to eight blossoms, most beautiful 
in their way ; the sepals are green, with a 
purple tinge near the base ; the petals spa- 
thulate, nearly three inches long (much longer 
than the lip), gracefully curving inwards and 
downwards, near the base of a pale greenish- 
yellow, with numerous well-defined purple 
blotches, rich violet -purple at the apex, and 
having a few stiff marginal hairs ; the oblong 
pouch-shaped lip is purplish-green, shining as 
if varnished. The cut blooms — of course 
those on the plant also — continue long in per- 
fection. Native of Borneo, where it grows on 
high trees in thick jungle, flowering in April 
and May. Introduced, in 1846, by Mr. Lowe. 
In cultivation it has flowered in October and 
November. Culture. — Requires a hot moist 
stove, and a degree of shade ; turfy peat soil, 
or to be fixed to a block of wood ; propagated 
by division of the plant. 
Dipladenia nobilis, Morren (noble Di- 
pladene). — Apocynaceas § Wrighteae. — This is 
a distinct species, and promises to make a very 
ornamental subject for cultivation ; the blos- 
soms are themselves very beautiful. It has a 
largish tuberous -like corm, from which issue 
the stems ; apparently several stems may be 
induced, and on this will depend in great 
measure the ornamental aspect of the plants ; 
these stems appear to grow from two to three 
feet long. The leaves are opposite, oblong 
acute, on very short stalks. The flowers grow 
in one-sided racemes, and are large and dis- 
tinct, the corolla being between tubular and 
campanulate, with roundish ovate spreading 
lobes. There are two distinct varieties, — one 
with a whitish limb and pink throat, the other 
entirely pink. Native of Brazil. Introduced 
in 1847. Flowers in summer and autumn. 
Culture. — Requires a stove, and bears expo- 
sure to sun ; coarse peat and sand ; pro- 
pagated by cuttings. 
Dendrobium tortile, Lindley (twisted 
Dendrobe). — Orchidacete § Malaxeae-Dendro- 
bidae. — A very beautiful species, with erect 
furrowed stems, which protrude from the 
joints a profusion of large showy flowers 
growing in threes ; the sepals are linear 
oblong, blunt, reflexed and twisted; the petals 
broader, wavy and twisted, spreading but not 
reflexed ; the lip is rolled up at the base, 
roundish, slightly rhomboidal, and finely 
notched ; these flowers are of a pale clear 
lilac, with a lemon-yellow lip, veined at the 
bottom with rich purple. It is allied to D. 
nobile. The foliage is not described. Native 
of Java. Introduced, in 1846, by Messrs. 
Veitch. Flowers in autumn. Culture. — 
Requires a stove ; turfy peat soil ; propagated 
by division of the plant. 
Agalmyla staminea, Blume (long-sta- 
