F 1,0 R IC U LT U RE—EXT R A CT S. 
85 
Geography .—The genera of this order are found in almost all parts of the 
world, except the verge of the frozen zone, and in climes remarkable for dryness. 
In Europe, Asia, and North America, they are found growing every where, in 
groves, in marshes, and in meadows; in the driest parts of Africa, they are ei¬ 
ther rare or unknown ; at the Cape of Good Hope, they abound in similar situ¬ 
ations as in Europe; but in hot damp parts of the West and East Indies, in 
Madagascar, and the neighbouring islands, in the damp and humid forests of 
Brazil, and on the lower mountains of Nepal, they flourish in the greatest varie¬ 
ty and profusion, no longer seeking their nutriment from the soil, but clinging 
to the trunks and limbs of trees, to stones and bare rocks, where they vegetate 
among ferns and other shade-loving plants, in countless thousands. 
Properties. —Orchideae, beyond their beauty, can scarcely be said to be of 
known utility, with a few exceptions. The nutritive substance called salop is 
prepared from the subterraneous succulent roots of Orchis mascula and others : 
it consists almost entirely of a chemical principle called Bassorin. (See Vol. 1. 
p. 811.) The root of Bletia verecunda is said to be Stomachic. Some of the 
South America species as Catasetums Cyrtopodiums, &c. contain a viscid juice, 
which being inspissated by boiling, becomes a kind of vegetable glue, used for 
economical purposes in Brazil. And the Aromatic substance called Vanilla is 
the succulent fruit of a climbing West India plant of the same name. 
Maxillahia atropurpure a. —Darkrpurple Maxillaria. The beauty of this 
flower, and its singularity in form and colour, render it a most valuable addition 
to the number of Orchideous plants, to which if we enter its delicious fragrance, 
there will be few more desirable. It was introduced from Brazil through the 
means of F. Warre, Esq. who discovered it at some distance from Rio Janeiro. 
Culture.—It requires the stove, and seems to flourish when potted in a mixture 
of saw dust, leaf mould, and peat; like most of the species, it will sometimes ad¬ 
mit of increase by separating the roots.— Loci. Bot. Cab. 
Maxillaria decolor. —Pale yellow Maxillaria. A native of Jamaica, whence 
it was lately introduced.— Bot. Reg. Culture.—It grows best in a damp stove, 
potted in peat and rotten wood, and may be increased by division of the roots. 
Oncidium cornigerum. —Horned Oncidium. A pretty species. Flowers 
yellow, spotted with brown. Native of Brazil. Introduced by the Rev. W. 
Herbert. Culture.—It should be kept in a damp stove, potted in peat and rot¬ 
ten wood, and may be propagated by division of the roots. 
Nanodes discolor. —Purple Nanodes. A very curious Epiphyte possessing 
a habit entirely its own. Its flowers are a dull purple, and are so like the leaves 
from among which they spring, and by which they are embossed, that it can 
scarcely be discovered to be in flower, when every branch is blossoming. It is 
a native of Rio Janeiro. Culture.—We presume its culture should be the same 
as that applied to the more delicate plants of the same tribe, namely, plenty of 
heat and atmospheric moisture, with no watering upon the soil and stem. It is 
a very shy growing plant, and appears difficult to increase. 
