ON THE CULTIVATION OF SACCOLABIUM. 
297 
moist; but, after the latter end of October, they should be kept 
nearly dry, and the house should range from 45° to 70°. The 
plants should be placed in the centre of the billets, so that they 
may hang in a horizontal position ; that is, that the heads of the 
plants may droop downwards, but not too much ; so that as 
little water may remain in the heart of the plant as possible. The 
number of species belonging to this genus is not many. I shall 
enumerate them as far as I know. 
Saccolabium guttatum , (beautiful spotted.) This is a noble plant; 
I shall not say the finest, but equal to any of the species. The 
leaves are in two rows, or what is called distichous. The leaves are 
long, falcate, and abruptly two-lobed at the apex. The flower spikes 
proceed out from the base of the leaves. They are long racemes 
of flowers, of pink, white, and rose. They are crowded all round 
the flower-stem, so that they form a complete wreath of pendant 
flowers, more like artificial than natural. It has generally from 
three to six pendant spikes, all open at one time, which gives to 
the plants a most splendid appearance. When I say from three 
to six spikes, I mean from one shoot; but when the plant comes 
to be strong, and having a number of shoots, it may have as many 
as one hundred spikes all open at one time. When that is the 
case, it will astonish every beholder. When with its three and 
six spikes, it is one of the most magnificent of orchideous plants. 
This is a native of India, introduced in 1831. Flowers from 
March to July. 
Saccolabium prcemorsum. Another equally as splendid as 
guttatum. The flowers are larger, and the spots are also larger, 
pink and white. The leaves are more fleshy, two rowed or dis¬ 
tichous, but more abruptly two-lobed at the apex. They appear 
as if they were torn at the apex, as the lobes are very irregular, 
which gives its name. This is a very scarce plant. There are 
not more than two plants of this splendid species in the country, 
that I am aware of. This species flowers in the same manner as 
the last, but the flowers are less crowded, and the spikes are not 
quite so long, but more stout. A native of India; introduced in 
1834. Flowers from March to June. 
Saccolabium Blumei. Another splendid species, equally as 
fine, if not finer, than the other two, which one who had not seen 
the plants could scarcely believe it possible to be finer. The 
leaves are shorter and stouter than either of the ether species. 
VOL. II. NO. XIII. Q Q 
