CULTURE OF STANHOPEA. 
151 
pale colour, with large dark stripes ; it flowers in June and July, 
and begins to grow in August; has from two to three flowers on 
a spike. It may be considered the very finest of the genus : it 
requires a pot or basket. 
Stanhopea Martiana. —This is a species very nearly related to 
tigrina. I know nothing further of this “ species” than having- 
seen the drawing ; but I could see nothing in it to distinguish it 
from the preceding species. It is about to be described and 
figured ; so that it will soon be seen whether it is distinct or not: 
it will require the same treatment as the others. 
Stanhopea oculata. —A pleasing and very interesting species. 
The lower portion of the lip has a yellow cast, and has a dark spot 
resembling an eye ; hence the name. The upper portion is like 
white ivory, and beautifully spotted with purple ; the vessels and 
petals are of a pale straw colour, finely spotted with dark purple. 
Stanhopea Devoniensis. —This is a very splendid species, some¬ 
what like tigrina, but not so large, and has a very differently formed 
lip, and the vessels and petals of a much darker colour. It 
comes into flower in June and July ; it requires either a basket 
or pot. 
Stanhopea insignis. This is another beautiful species ; the 
vessels and petals of this species are pale yellow with purple spots ; 
the lip of it is very curiously formed, and of a thick and fleshy 
nature. It is impossible for me to compare the flowers of these 
plants to any thing I know, as they have a form peculiar to them¬ 
selves, widely different from that of all other known plants. 
I do not consider the roots of these plants the principal recipients 
of food. I think the leaves and pseudo bulbs the proper absorbents 
of moisture ; and that the roots are merely necessary to attach 
the plants to the places where they are destined to grow. I have 
seen many of this tribe of plants grow without roots, when these 
have been cut off, or have died,—though they have not grown so 
fine, or flowered so well, as those that had roots; but I do not 
believe that this was because the plants could not absorb suf¬ 
ficient moisture, but because they could not firmly attach them¬ 
selves to the places where they were growing. The great 
point in the growing of these plants is to get them firmly 
rooted to the place where they are to grow. Hence it is abso¬ 
lutely necessary that the peat in which they are grown should be 
of the most fibrous nature, so that when water is given, it may 
