February 23, 1893.] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
153 
Maxii.laria porphyrostele. 
Though inferior to M. grandiflora and M. venusta the above 
species is by no means unattractive. It is a free-growing plant, 
resembling M. picta in general appearance ; but the flowers are 
smaller, and lack the purple and chocolate spots on the petals and 
sepals. The pseudo-bulbs are orbicular-ovoid, and bear each a pair 
of dark green leaves about 5 to 7 inches in length and half an inch 
broad. The flowers are produced in profusion in early spring ; 
they are about 1 1 inch broad, of a uniform greenish-yellow colour 
with a purple column and streaks of the same colour on the lip 
and at the base of the petals. It is a native of Brazil, from whence 
it was introduced by Mr. Bull of Chelsea about 1873. It is figured 
in the “ Botanical Magazine,” t. 6477. A large plant is now flower¬ 
ing at Kew. 
SOBRALIA SESSILIS. 
Plant of this uncommon, but exceedingly pretty Sobralia are 
now flowering at Kew. Though it is an old species, having been 
introduced from British Guiana by Schomburgk about 1840, it is 
still but rarely met with. This is no doubt due in a large measure 
to the short duration of the individual flowers, a circumstance 
which unfortunately militates strongly against the popularity of 
all Sobralias. It is a comparatively dwarf species, the stems 
being only about 2 feet in height. The flowers are 
produced from the top of the stem singly, but in quick 
succession. Unlike the well known S. macrantha, the 
stems of S. sessilis continue to grow and flower for 
several years. The flowers, though not so large as 
those of S, macrantha, are no whit less beautiful. The 
sepals and petals are white slightly tinged with rose ; 
the funnel-shaped lip is rosy-pink with a faint touch 
of yellow. It is a free-flowering species, and possesses 
the further merit of blooming during the winter months. 
CcELOGYNE FLACCIDA. 
The specific name of this Coelogyne refers to the 
drooping character of the inflorescence. The racemes 
are many-flowered and of considerable length, the flowers 
being set rather widely apart. The flowers are white, 
except the lip, which has the yellow blotch common 
to most Coelogynes. The pseudo-bulbs are 4 to 5 inches 
in length, the dark green lanceolate leaves which are 
produced in pairs are from 8 to 10 inches long. The 
plant has an erect habit of growth, and when in flower 
is very attractive. The flowers are produced very freely 
in winter and early spring, and last a long time in full 
beauty. C. flaccida requires an intermediate tempera¬ 
ture—the Cattleya house suits it very well—and should 
be well rested. It was introduced from Nepal by Dr. 
Wallich, and first flowered at Wentworth in 1833. A 
plant is now in flower in the warm Orchid house at 
Kew. 
CCELOGYNE ODORATISSIMA. 
This graceful little Orchid was introduced to culti¬ 
vation about the year 1863, and first flowered in this 
country in the Kew collection. It is a native of the 
Nilgiri Hills, where it is found growing on the trunks 
and branches of trees, or among stones and wet moss 
on the northern side of the hills. It is also found in 
Ceylon. It is a very dwarf species, the pseudo-bulbs 
being only about 1 inch high. The leaves are about 
4 inches in length, and of a light green colour. The 
raceme, which is produced from the top of the pseudo-bulb 
between the young leaves, is slender and drooping, and bears 
about three flowers. The latter are pure white, except for a 
blotch of yellow on the lip, and are very sweetly scented. It is 
figured in the “ Botanical Magazine,” t. 5462.—A. B. 
PhAL.EXOPSIS X INTERMEDIA, VAR. VeSTA. 
In the hybridisation of Orchids the unexpected frequently 
happens, and, says “ The Orchid Review,” especially has it been 
so in the present case. The beautiful Phalaenopsis X intermedia 
was long suspected to be a natural hybrid between P. Aphrodite 
and P. rosea, and this was at length proved by Mr. Seden by 
artificial crossing. He afterwards fertilised P. rosea var. leucaspis 
with the pollen of P. Aphrodite, and the result is quite a distinct 
form of P. intermedia. P. rosea leucaspis differs from the type lu 
having smaller flowers with shorter and broader segments, and the 
petals darker in colour than the sepals, and these characters are 
impressed on the hybrid, which differs from P. intermedia in much 
the same way. The flowers are smaller, the petals more distinctly 
rhomboidal, and the two teeth at the apex of the lip are straight, 
not curved inwards. The whole flower is of a lovely rose-purple, 
and as regards colour exceptionally distinct. This new acquisition 
was exhibited by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons at the meeting of 
the Royal Horticultural Society on January 17th last. 
Selenipedium X Ph^dra. 
This is a new hybrid, raised by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons of 
Chelsea, and the first to flower, in which the stately S. Lindley- 
anum of Mount Roraima is connected by hybridisation with its 
congeners of the Andean Cordilleras. S. X Sedeni candidulum 
was the seed parent, and therefore three distinct species are con¬ 
cerned in the parentage ■ and the resulting progeny is one of the 
handsomest hybrids in the genus. The leaves are nearly as broad 
as in S. Lindleyanum and shorter than in S. X Sedeni, and the 
flowers larger than in either parent. Dorsal sepal IJ inch long, 
I oblong, obtuse, undulated at the margin, cream white, mottled 
j with light rose to two-thirds of its length ; lower sepal very broad, 
nearly sub-orbicular, concave, yellowish white ; petals broadly 
linear, deflexed and undulated, about 3 inches long, light rose-pink 
i with a white median line ; lip helmet-shaped, bright rose-pink, the 
unfolded lobes yellowish white with a few crimson dots. Stami- 
; node yellowish white, fringed with crimson hairs at the back. It 
FIG. 27.—CYMBIDIUM GRANDIFLORUll. 
is a decided acquisition It was awarded a first-class Certificate by 
the Royal Horticultural Society on January 17th last.—(T/ic 
Orchid Review.) 
CYiMBIDIUM grandiflorum. 
When exhibited at the Drill Hall on February 14th by Messrs. 
F. Ross & Co., Cymbidium grandiflorum (which fig. 27 represents) 
caused considerable comment and awakened much admiration. It 
has large size combined with pleasing colouring. The sepals and 
petals are of a dull pea-green with brownish dots towards the 
base. The lip is white, spotted with brown and clearly, although 
not deeply, margined with green. It is alike distinct and 
beautiful. 
