DECEMBER. 
257 
PHAL2EN0PSIS LUDDEMANNIANA. 
WITH AH ILLUSTRATION. 
The present year has brought in several acquisitions in the genus to which 
the subject of our illustration belongs, and in which the great white-flowered 
species, known as the Indian Butterfly-plant, had till then been the most 
familiar to our Orchid growers. Now, however, types altogether different have 
made their appearance in our gardens—some minute-flowered and curious in a 
high degree, as in P. Parishii , P. Wightii , and P. amethystina ; and others 
larger and extremely ornamental, as in P. sumatrana and P. Liiddemanniana , 
the subject of our plate. 
The habit of this plant is very much like that of P. rosea (or equestris , as it is 
more correctly called), so much so, indeed, that it was distributed under that 
name before its flowers were produced. It is, however, far more beautiful than 
that small-flowered species, and has been named in compliment to M. Ludde- 
mann, of Paris, in consequence of his having been the first amongst European 
cultivators to bring the plant into blossom. The leaves are from 4 to 6 inches 
long, leathery and polished, of a deep green colour, and disposed in two ranks. 
The flowering stem is comparatively short, and bears but few blossoms. These, 
however, are of considerable size, and very beautifully coloured, the oblong 
spreading sepals and petals having a pale, almost white, ground colour, and 
being marked all over with crowded transverse bars, which in one variety are 
of a deep cinnamon brown, and in another are of a delicate purple. These 
coloured bars show also on the outer surface of the flower. The lip is three- 
lobed, the larger and prominent middle lobe of an intense violet, the lateral 
ones whitish with yellow markings. 
This plant is a native of the Philippine Islands, and was introduced to this 
country by Messrs. Low & Co., of Clapton. It seems to be of easy culture, but 
of course requires a considerable amount of heat. 
We add a brief notice of the newly introduced species to which reference 
has been made :— 
Phalcenopsis sumatrana. —A beautiful dwarf stove epiphyte, with oblong 
spathulate acute leaves, and short spikes of white flowers, in which the sepals 
and petals are marked by a few distant transverse brownish red bars, and the 
lip is marked with a few longitudinal streaks, and is densely pilose towards the 
tip. This comes from Sumatra. 
Phalcenopsis amethystina. —A curious little epiphyte, with oblong leaves 
tapered to the base, and small cream-coloured flowers, having an amethyst- 
coloured lip. It is supposed to come from the Isle of Sunda. 
Phalcenopsis Parishii. —A curious little epiphyte with oblong, ligulate, bluntisli 
leaves, and short spikes of diminutive cream-coloured flowers having a purple 
lip. It is a Moulmein species. 
Phalcenopsis Wightii. —A curious little epliiphyte, with ligulate, elliptic, or 
ovate leaves, and yellowish white flowers spotted with purple, the lip being 
amethyst-coloured. This comes both from Burmah and Southern India. 
When to these we add P. amabilis, grandijlora , Schilleriana, intermedia , 
Portei, rosea , and Lowii , it will be seen that the Plialsenopsids now constitute a 
very interesting and extensive, as well as beautiful, group in our Orchid-houses. 
M. 
CHRONICLES OF A TOWN GARDEN.—No. XXIII. 
For the past two years I have endeavoured to furnish for the pages of the 
Florist and Pomologist, in the form of some light gossipping papers, a kind 
N 
