102 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
HOTHOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
EXOTIC ORCHID ACErE. 
plants that thrive well in pots.—( Continued from 
page 163). 
Onotdium luridum (Lurid 0.); Jamaica.—Sepals 
and petals brownish green, barred with deep brown ; lip, 
the same colours, with pink spots in the centre. This is 
I one of the thick, long-leaved species of this extensive 
genus, and though not so handsome or showy as some, 
yet, on account of its fine foliage and long branching 
flower stems, which are produced freely and easily, it is 
a plant desirable to cultivate. Strong plants may be 
had for 15s. 
0. luridum var. guttatum (Speckled var. of O. luri¬ 
dum) ; Jamaica.—The whole flower is of the richest 
brown, beautifully stained and spotted with dark red. 
If the species is rather dingy in the colour of its flowers, 
this variety is really as rich and beautiful. The flowers 
are produced thickly on stems, four or five feet long, 
much branched. They are above the average size, and 
present, when in flower, as fine an appearance as any 
orchid in the whole tribe. This fine variety ought to he 
in every collection. It is rather scarce. 42s. 
O. microchylum (Small-lipped O.); Guatemala.— 
Sepals greenish red edged with pale yellow ; petals, dark 
red edged with bright yellow; lip white, bordered with 
orange. It is, contrary to the usual habit of the flowers 
of this genus, very small, hence its specific name. The 
leaves are short, thick, and keel shaped, without any 
spots on them. A very distinct, handsome species. 20s. 
Mr. Skinner remarks on this plant, “ I first found it 
growing on the top of the Cuesta of Peunlezuelas, about 
thirteen leagues from the city of Guatemala. It was 
growing on a bare rock, with a quantity of dead leaves 
and grasses about its bulbs, and its roots woven into the 
interstices of the rocks, and mould about it very much 
exposed to the sun, except during the middle of the day, 
when a ledge of the rock seemed to afford it a little shade. 
I afterwards found it in great numbers on the rocky 
banks of the river Michatayal. I never saw it except 
in such situations, generally exposed, and always 
amongst rocks. It is very fragrant, and in its native 
habitat I have always observed the sepals and petals 
darker and more marked than when flowered in our 
stoves here. The temperature generally of the above 
habitats is 68° to 70°, and from being so high and ex¬ 
posed, cold at nights.” Such observations as these are 
invaluable to cultivators, and it would be well if all col¬ 
lectors were to give similar descriptions of the peculiar 
situations and temperatures of the different habitats of 
the plants they collect and send home. It would pre¬ 
vent numberless mistakes and misfortunes to which 
cultivators are liable, when totally ignorant of the 
circumstances the plants are subject to in their native 
homes. 
O. nehulosum (Clouded O.); Guatemala.—Elowers 
pale yellow, blotched with faint spots of rich brown. 
Flowers large and handsome; they are produced upon 
short stems, rising from the base of the pseudo bulbs. 
A desirable species. 42s. 
O. orntthorynchum (Bird-billed 0.); Guatemala.— 
Flowers pale lilac pink, the centre of the lip is spotted 
with white. There is a variety with the colour very 
many shades deeper. The flowers are individually 
small, but they are numerously placed on the stems, which 
are eighteen inches long, slender, and gracefully curved 
downwards. They are so fragrant that they are deno¬ 
minated “ the mignonette of Mexico.” The ladies wear 
them in tlicir hair, and a graceful ornament they must 
certainly be. 21s. 
0. paptlio (The butterfly O.); Trinidad.—Upper 
sepals, long and narrow, standing upright; the ground 
colour is a dark rich brown, barred with yellow; petals 
[June 26. 
broad and curved ; lip almost round, with a dark edge, 
and large yellow blotch in the centre; the column has a 
curious form, like the head of an insect. The whole 
flower has much the appearance of a large butterfly, just 
alighted upon the long slender stem ; the sepals form¬ 
ing the antennae or feelers; the petals, the wings; the 
lip, the body; and the column, the head; hence, the 
very appropriate name—the butterfly plant. This, 
above all others, ought to be in every collection; the 
flowers being so large and attractive, and the foliage 
being also handsome. There are several varieties dis¬ 
tinguished by the size, and more distinct markings of 
the flowers. 10s 6d. for small plants, and 2 Is. for strong 
ones. The finest varieties are double the value. 
O. pulvinatum (Cushion O.); Brazil.—Flowers pale 
yellow, blotched with pale brown. There is a curious 
tuft like wool at the base of the lip. Individually, the 
flowers are not of a showy character, but they are so 
numerously placed on the long stems (often eight or 
nine feet in length), that they form a pleasing ornament, 
when in flower, to any collection. The leaves are a foot 
long, and three inches broad, and the pseudo bidbs are 
short and broad. A desirable species. 31s. 6d. 
O. sanguineum (Bloody O.) ; La Guayra.—Flowers 
dark crimson, spotted with red. The leaves of this 
species are more than a foot long, and beautifully 
spotted. Botanists arc not agreed whether this is a 
distinct species or not, but for the ordinary cultivator 
there are sufficient differences to distinguish it from any 
other. Perhaps O. rosemi comes nearest to it, but even 
then, the flowers of 0 . sanguineum are much more 
curled, of a darker hue, with a much smaller lip. 
T. Appleby. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
MR. GLENNY ON FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
National Floricultural Society. —The seedlings 
here were, for the most part, the same as were shown to 
the Royal Botanical Gardens. In Pelargoniums, Mag¬ 
net came in this time for a certificate, as they said, on 
account of its colour and bloom. Elise, a bright scarlety- 
pink flower, with a white eye, bad a first class certificate; 
the upper petals dark, with a faded-looking border, but 
showy. Ganymede, already noticed by us, had also a 
certificate. These three flowers may be grown with 
satisfaction; but first class certificates ought to mean 
more than they evidently do mean when they are awarded 
to second-rate flowers. We should grow these flowers 
for some good points, but not without seeing that they 
also have some blemishes. Magnet, the most popular, 
because of its colour and its lasting bloom, is not with¬ 
out its fault. Elise is as good in its way, but there is 
not so much novelty; and Ganymede's fault is, that it is 
too much like many we have, although a degree better 
than some, being very smooth ; these were all Mr. Hoyle’s. 
Mr. Beck’s Incomparable was commended for colour. 
The bright scarlet of this flower is striking, but before 
the last flowers of a truss are open the first have 
decayed: it wants permanence; and it is also a rare 
thing to see three flowers open upon one truss. Are- 
thusa, rather a striking flower, had a certificate. A fine, 
dark top and salmony under petals gave it some claim 
to notice, but it is not first-rate. Purple Standard, a 
fine, dark flower, was entitled to some notice for its 
general average qualities and somewhat new colour. 
This had a certificate. It was raised by Mr. Foster, of 
Clewer. Ariadne was similarly honoured, and was, per¬ 
haps, equally deserving. Enchantress, also, bad the 
same distinction, though not so good. Mr. Ayres had 
a first class certificate for a well-named fancy geranium, 
called Advancer, and, inasmuch as it is a fair advance 
upon all we have in form, texture, and habit, though 
