1874 . ] 
ODONTOGLOSSUM PULCHBLLUM.—FICUS PAECELLII. 
183 
The fungus grows on the stems or branches of trees, and seems to be bred from 
spores floating in the air, and which adhere to the decayed bark, and work their 
spores under it among the rotten wood. All such rotten wood should be shaved 
off close into the quick or live wood, in order to prevent the spawn affecting a 
lodgment, and thus destroying the whole of the stem. I have known instances 
of Birch trees being so affected with fungus-spawn, that the annual rings of wood 
were separated by the silvery-whitish spawn, somewhat like tissue-paper. Upon 
such trees large fungi have been produced of the same kind as Badham recom¬ 
mends for razor-strops. Such are of slow growth, nay, sometimes years before 
they come to perfection, and are porous underneath, where are situated the 
receptacles of the spores or seed.—J. Wighton, Cossey Park, 
ODONTOGLOSSUM PULCHELLUM. 
® HIS modest and lovely white Odontoglot has a perfume so delicate as to 
warrant our designating it the orchidaceous “Lily of the Valley.” Doubt- 
less, it would be far more common than it is, were it not for the very 
“ practical drawback, that a somewhat large price is required for the 
purchase of even a small plant of it. The very nomQ pulchellum indicates its 
prettiness, and the rich yellow marking upon the lip materially enhances the 
beauty of the chaste and fragrant flower. For a wedding bouquet no more 
lovely or appropriate flower could be used, while for any kind of bouquet or 
floral decoration its charming flowers come in most usefully, and with good effect. 
The flowers, moreover, are very durable, which is another great recommendation, 
materially enhancing their value for use in the cut state. Those who do not 
possess the plant, and boast a collection of exotic orchids, should, where the 
price is no obstacle, possess themselves of it.— William Eaeley, Valentines. 
FICUS PARCELLII. 
(^^NE of the most effective variegated plants introduced to our gardens of late 
years is the Fimis Parcellii.^ represented in the accompanying reduced figure, 
fS for the use of which we have to thank Messrs. Veitch and Sons, of Ohel- 
sea. The plant, which is a native of the South Sea Islands, was discovered, 
by Mr. Parcell, the enterprising collector to the Messrs. Baptist and Son, of 
Sydney, and was by them sent to Messrs. Veitch. It is of remarkably free 
growth, and strikingly bold and distinct in its variegation, so that it will become 
a most effective and useful plant for general cultivation. 
The accompanying woodcut gives a general idea of the manner of growth 
and marking of the plant, which is of shrubby habit. The leaves are from 9 in. 
to 10 in. or more in length, of an oblong-obovate figure, cordate at the base, 
serrated on the margin, acuminate at the apex, of a thin, soft, herbaceous texture, 
very freely mottled and blotched with creamy-white, on a ground-colour of bright 
deep green. The marking is said to be very constant, and has certainly been so 
in all the many plants which have been exhibited freely during the past spring, 
