August 11, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
117 
L^elia monophylla. 
Although long known this plant has only been in general 
cultivation about ten years, it having been reintroduced about 1881. 
In growth it is unlike Laelias generally. It grows in tufts about 
6 inches high, the growths bearing a single leaf about 3 inches long, 
narrow and deep green. The flowers are borne singly, and are 
1|- to 2 inches across. The colour is a bright orange scarlet with a 
purple anther cap. L. monophylla is a a native of Jamaica, and is 
found on St. Andrew’s Mountain at an elevation varying from 
3000 to 5000 feet. It flowers in late summer and autumn. Though 
not one of the easiest Orchids to cultivate, this little gem merfts 
attention. If grown in baskets in peat and sphagnum and 
suspended near the glass at the coolest end of the Cattleya house, 
it should succeed. It does not require an abundance of water at 
any time, but a sharp look-out must be kept for thrips, which seem 
to have a particular liking for it. It may be grown in the cool or 
Odontoglossum house, but I should prefer slightly warmer treat¬ 
ment. A well flowered plant may be seen at the present time in 
the cool Orchid house at Kew. 
Cattleya superba. 
• 
The present is about the time for this fine Cattleya to produce 
its flowers. Many growers used to seldom have the pleasure of 
flowering it, but now that it is better known it can be grown and 
flowered with greater certainty. Being a native of British Guiana, 
and found growing on trees along the banks of the swampy rivers 
of that hot country, it naturally requires heat and moisture the 
whole year round. It succeeds best in baskets or on blocks with 
sphagnum and very little peat, and to be grown in the East Indian 
house near the glass. The flowers are sweetiy scented, and of a rosy 
purple colour, often 5 inches across, and borne from two to six on 
a spike ; the lip is deep purple, and the column whitish. As 
C. superba is never at rest, it should never be allowed to become 
dry. It was introduced to British cultivation about 1840, but was 
first discovered by Humboldt in the early part of this century. 
An example of C. superba is flowering in the warm Orchid house 
at the Royal Gardens, Kew.—C. Iv. 
Sacciolabiums. 
Saccolabiums form a group as little homogeneous from a horti¬ 
cultural as from a botanical point of view. Botanists separate the 
Saccolabiums, such as we admit them, into several genera. The 
S. guttatum of our culture become Rhyncost.ylis, the S. giganteum 
are ranged under Yanda. The species with erect inflorescence are 
classed either under Rhyncostylis (S. coeleste) or under Saccolabium 
(S. curvifolium and others). From a horticultural point of view 
I prefer to divide the Saccolabiums into two groups, one the 
species with flowers in pendent clusters, the other the species with 
erect inflorescence. 
To the first group belong S. guttatum, prgemorsum, and retusum, 
all three considered as varieties of the same species. S. retusum, 
S. Blumei would only be a synonym of retusum, S. giganteum 
(Yanda densiflora) and S. illustre. To the second group belong 
S. coeleste, ampullaceum, curvifolium, Hendersonianum, and 
miniatum. Finally, I would range in a third group S. bellinum 
and bigibbum, two plants having a quite secondary horticultural 
interest. 
The two great sections referred to afford very different interest 
from a horticultural point of view. The species with flowers in dense 
and drooping clusters miy be ranged among the most splendid, the 
richest, and the most aristocratic of Orchids. The houses of 
M. Linden should have been seen in 1871, at the time when the 
plants of the Schiller collection were associated there, to gain an 
idea oE the aspect of these plants and of the part which they may 
be made to play. 
As soon as we become masters of the culture of cool house 
plants, or of Cattleyas, we appear to have forgotten the wants of 
hothouse plants. It is rarely that specimens of the beautiful and 
brilliant species which our fathers grew figure at present day 
exhibitions. Saccolabiums seem to be no longer desired. Yandas 
are ignored by many amateurs. Aerides are neglected, and 
Phalsenopsis hardly find favour even with those who know how to 
cultivate them. People speak of the progress made in Orchid 
growing. It is an eiror. Our fathers did not know, or knew little 
of, Odontoglossums and Masdevallias ; but on the other hand they 
cultivated all the other plants as well as, if not better than, we do 
I ask to see the large specimens that Thibaut, Linden, Pescatore, 
Veitch, Williams, Leroy, and Chenu showed with pride. Are 
there no amateurs among us desirous of reviving that great period ? 
I have myself seen in 1877 a Saccolabium retusum giganteum from 
®®^j^i*hment of Thibaut & Keteleer, cultivated by 
M. Chevrier at Rosey par Saint-Desert, having a cluster of more 
than a yard. 
® acco ^ a k’ ums erect flowers are far from producing an 
equal effect to the species with pendent inflorescence. The most 
beautiful of them is undoubtedly S. coeleste. This delightful 
species was not originally introduced by Roebelen, as indicated in 
FIG. 17. —SACCOLABIUM AMPULLACEUM. 
Yeitch’s Manual, but by Auguste Regnier, a sagacious explorer in 
Jndo-China. It was in going in search of this plant, of which he 
had only sent a few examples, that he was killed in the province of 
Pursat, in the Cambodge. It was probably from this province that 
Roebelen introduced it in his turn, as well as the attractive Phoenix 
Roebeleni, which is as common there as Chamserops humilis is in 
Algeria. Saccolabium miniatum is also Indo-Chinese. It is found 
in Cochin China, in the Cambodge, and in Siam, and I have intro¬ 
duced it on several occasions. S. ampullaceum is also represented 
by a form which I have not introduced for a long time, but which 
Regnier possessed. Generally considered, all these erect-flowered 
species are charming, occupy little room, and merit attention. 
—( L’Orchidophile.) _ 
In connection with the above interesting remarks on Sacco¬ 
labiums, is represented (fig. 17) a prominent member of the erect- 
