EPIDENDRUM NUTANS. NODDING EPIDENDRUM. 
Class XX. GYNANDRIA.— Order I. MONANDRIA. 
Natural Order, ORCHIDACE^E. — THE ORCHIS TRIBE. 
Character of the Genus, Epidendrum. External folioles of the perigone spreading, nearly equal; 
j the internal equal, or narrower, very seldom broader. The Labellum, by means of its claws, either entirely 
or partly cohering to the margins of the column, the limb entire or divided, the disc generally callous, 
[ ribbed, or tuberculated; the limb is also occasionally prolonged into a spur, adhering to the ovary. Column 
elongated, clinandrium margined, often fimbriated. Anther fleshy, two-four-celled. Pollen-masses four, 
with a similar number of double tails. 
Description of the Species, Epidendrum Nutans. Epiphyte. Stem simple, round, leaves 
distichous, undulating, obtuse. Inflorescence racemose, nodding, many-flowered. Flowers of a greenish 
colour, the external folioles oblong-lanceolate, the internal linear-lanceolate, obtuse, spreading; labellum 
three-lobed, lateral lobes cordate and ovate, the central lobe truncated, apiculate, having two callous points 
at the base, and three elevated veins. Ovary cohering with the prolonged spur of the labellum, so as to 
form a cuniculus. 
Popular and Geographical Notice. The very extensive genus Epidendrum, containing nearly 
one hundred species, is peculiar to the New World, more especially the Southern part of America, and the 
West Indian Islands; several are natives of Mexico, but scarcely any extend farther North; yet the only 
epiphyte in the United States belongs to this genus, viz : Epidendrum conopseum (Robert Brown), which 
is found on the Magnolias of Carolina and Georgia, and hence sometimes called Epidendrum Magnolise. 
The species now figured grows on trees among the mountains of the Western side of the island of Jamaica. 
Many species of Epidendrum are remarkable for the exquisite odour of their flowers, which they are most 
apt to diffuse in the evening or during the night. Of such is the one now before us, which is thus among 
the number of the plants 
“That keep 
Their odour to themselves all day, 
But when the sun-light dies away, 
Let the delicious secret out, 
To every breeze that roams about.” 
Moore. 
Introduction; where Grown; Culture. Brought to England in 1793. It grows in a pot on 
the stage of the stove, and requires sandy loam, with a large quantity of potsherds at the bottom, to ensure 
free drainage, which is the great requisite of these plants; or it may be suspended from the roof, attached 
to a branch.* 
Prognostics of Weather and Horologe of Flora. — For Spring and Summer .f 
Chickweed. — When the flower expands boldly and fully, no rain will happen for four hours or upwards: 
if it continues in that open state, no rain will disturb the summer’s day: when it half conceals its miniature 
flower, the day is generally showery; but if it entirely shuts up, or veils the white flower with its green 
mantle, let the traveller put on his great coat, and the ploughman, with his beasts of drought, expect rest 
from their labour. 
Siberian Sowthistle. — If the flowers of this plant keep open all night, rain will certainly fall the next day. 
Trefoil. — The different species of trefoil always contract their leaves at the approach of a storm : hence 
these plants have been termed the husbandman’s barometer. 
African Marygold.— If this plant opens not its flowers in the morning about seven o’clQck, you may be 
sure it will rain that day, unless it thunders. 
The convolvulus also, and the pimpernel anagalis arvensis, fold up their leaves on the approach of 
rain: the last in particular is termed the poor man’s weather-glass. 
White thorns and dog-rosebushes. — Wet summers are generally attended with an uncommon quantity 
of seed on these shrubs; whence their unusual fruitfulness is a sign of a severe winter. 
The Botanist. 
f From the “ Perennial Calendar.” 
