159 
contained 100 known species, the zealous researches of modern 
botanists have extended the number to 2000; and from the 
success attending the exertions of numerous botanists who are 
travelling the wildest parts of Asia, Africa, and America, in 
(juest of these and other plants, no just estimate can be made 
of the magnitude to which ultimately the Flora of the globe may 
be found to extend. 
As the Hotanic Garden is intended to. interest and assist 
those who cultivate flowers in the open ground of our own 
climate, so the Botani.st is intended to carry out the science 
still further, and to pourtray, chiefly, those plants of the 
most surprising forms, which demand of us the protection of 
the greenhouse or the stove. Here we have, and intend still 
further to delineate some of the choicest specimens of orchi- 
daceous plants, to which the above observations refer. Mr. 
Bateman, in reference to their geographical distril)ution, obser- 
ving that “Asia, Africa, and America will, perhaps, be found 
to divide the sj)ecies of the order amongst them into three 
nearly equal proportions (for the few which Europe produces 
need scarcely be taken into the account) ; and the closer we 
approach the tropics, the more numerous and beautiful they 
become. Arrived, at length, within the precincts of the torrid 
zone, we find them no longer ‘ prone on the ground ’ as hereto- 
fore, but conspicuous on the branches of the most rugged trees 
of the dampest and wildest forests, attracting the eye of the 
naturalist from afar, by the dazzling brilliancy of their colours, 
or arresting his attention by their delicious fragrance. And, 
here, we must take occasion to observe, that, although plants 
of this description are not unfrequently termed ‘parasitic,’ the 
epithet is altogether misapplied ; for while the parasites prey 
upon the vital juices of their victims, and perish with them, the 
‘epiphytes’ derive nothing but their stay, or local habitation, 
from the plants on which they have established themselves; 
and continue to flourish and flower, indifferent whether their 
sui)porters live or die. The great majority of the Orchidacea; 
of the tropics belong to the latter, or epij)hytic, class ; there are 
however, a few that do not, as was long ago observed by the 
same ingenious Rumphius, to whom we have already liad occa- 
sion to advert. After noticing, in terms of due commendation, 
the dignified habits of most of the tribe, he proceeds with a sigh 
IW (VDCTARIOM. 
