Orchids Part 7

~Anoectochilus.~--A dwarf genus with fleshy, creeping stems and very handsomely marked leaves. The plants should be grown in shallow Orchid pots, using a mixture of one-third peat, and loam and leaves in equal parts well mixed together, adding some finely broken crocks. The plants should be placed in a moist corner, or suspended in a shady part of a warm, moist house. They root along the stems, and may be increased by cutting the leading portions with a root or two and leaving the bases to break into new growth.

With the Anoectochili, and often under the same generic t.i.tle, are usually a.s.sociated _Dossinia marmorata_ (_A. Lowii_), with broadly ovate, olive-green, veined leaves; _Macodes Petola_, emerald-green veined with gold; _Haemaria discolor_, dark bronzy-red veined with copper colour, often named _Goodyera Dawsoniana_, and plants of similar character. The flowers of most of the species are white. They are sometimes grown in plant cases, or under bell gla.s.ses, but if the proper position in a warm, moist house can be found, they are better without these coverings. Propagation renews the vigour of the plants and prevents them degenerating, as they often do in cultivation if left undisturbed for too long a period.

~Ansellia.~--A fine genus of some half-dozen species peculiar to Natal and Tropical Africa, and growing from one to six feet in height, the leafy pseudo-bulbs having at the top fine, branched spikes of yellow flowers, more or less barred or spotted with purple. Pot as for epiphytal Orchids, and grow in the intermediate house. Water the roots liberally until the flowering is past, and then rest the plants in cool and dry conditions.

_A. africana_ is not only most commonly grown, but it is one of the finest species. Others, some of which are mere varieties of _A.

africana_, are _A. confusa_, _A. gigantea_, _A. nilotica_, and _A.

congoensis_.

~Arachnanthe.~--This is a small genus of warm-house plants possessing extraordinary habits, and including the Bornean _A. Lowii_ (_Vanda Lowii_), a very strong-growing species which bears drooping racemes of greenish-white flowers barred with red. The two basal blooms are dissimilar or dimorphic both in shape and colour, being tawny yellow spotted with purple. The plants should be grown in pots or baskets as Aerides. Other species are _A. Cathcartii_ (Himalaya) and _A.

moschifera_ (Malaya). _A. Cathcartii_ will thrive in the intermediate house.

~Barkeria.~--The Barkerias form a section of Epidendrums. They should be grown in baskets or suspending pans in the cool intermediate house. They require a dry and cool resting period.

~Bartholina.~--The Bartholinas are dwarf, terrestrial Orchids of South Africa. They should be potted in loam, peat, and sand, and cultivated on a greenhouse shelf. Rest dry and cool. _B. pectinata_ is the only species in gardens.

~Batemannia~ and ~Bollea~. _See_ ~Zygopetalum~.

~Bifrenaria.~--Pot these as recommended for epiphytal Orchids, and grow them in the intermediate house. _B. Harrisoniae_ is the finest species.

Others worthy of cultivation are _B. aurantiaca_, _B. bicornaria_, _B.

inodora_, _B. tyrianthina_, and _B. vitellina_.

~Bra.s.sia.~--The Bra.s.sias are epiphytal Orchids of South America, and may be grown in the intermediate house. The most familiar species are _B.

brachiata_, _B. caudata_, _B. Lawrenceana_, and _B. verrucosa_.

~Broughtonia.~--_B. sanguinea_ is a pretty, crimson-flowered species from Jamaica. _B. lilacina_ is also a fine species, though rarely seen in gardens. Broughtonias should be grown on bare rafts suspended in the warm or intermediate house.

~Bra.s.savola.~--A small genus with white, fragrant flowers. _B. Digbyana_, a species with large, fringed-lipped flowers, has been much used by the hybridist. Bra.s.savolas may be grown with the Cattleyas.

~Bulbophyllum.~--A widely distributed genus which may be divided into two sections--the deciduous, chiefly Burmese, requiring a dry resting season; and the evergreen, which should not be strictly dried off. All the species thrive in a warm, intermediate house, with cooler rest for the deciduous and highland species. The genus is one of the most varied and remarkable, and full collections of them are grown by some amateurs.

~Calanthe.~--These are terrestrial Orchids, which may be divided into two sections--the evergreen of the _C. veratrifolia_ cla.s.s; and the deciduous, comprising _C. vest.i.ta_, _C. Veitchii_, and numerous other species and hybrids which are extensively grown for flowering in winter.

Pot them in a compost of one-half fibrous loam, one-fourth Sphagnum-moss, and one-fourth leaves, with a sprinkling of sand. Rest the deciduous section dry after flowering, and repot them when growth commences in spring. Water liberally with occasional applications of liquid manure, which should be withheld when the growth is completed.

~Catasetum.~--The Catasetums are curious, epiphytal Orchids, which should be grown in baskets, or Orchid pans, suspended in the intermediate house, and treated in a similar manner to the deciduous Dendrobiums.

They require a long, dry rest after the growths are completed. All the species are worthy of cultivation, _C. Bungerothii_, _C. splendens_, and _C. macrocarpa_ being the more showy kinds.

~Cattleya.~--One of the largest, most varied, and florally beautiful genera of Orchids. The plants should be potted as recommended for epiphytal Orchids, and they should be grown in the intermediate house.

The _C. l.a.b.i.ata_ section, including _C. Gaskelliana_, _C. Mossiae_, _C.

Mendelii_, _C. Dowiana_ and its variety _aurea_, _C Warscewiczii_, _C.

Warneri_, and _C. Schroderae_ in succession, produce flowers for the greater part of the year. _C. citrina_ should be grown in the cool house, suspended from the roof. Cattleyas and Laelias are impatient of a close atmosphere, and therefore the proper ventilation of the house in which they are grown is an important matter. _C. Trianae_, var Hydra, is ill.u.s.trated in Plate IV.

~Chysis.~--A small genus of intermediate-house epiphytes, comprising _C.

bractescens_, white; _C. aurea_ and _C. laevis_, yellow and red; _C.

Limminghei_, and several hybrids.

~Cirrhopetalum.~--A section of Bulbophyllum, of similar habit, and requiring similar treatment. The curiously formed flowers frequently have the upper segments fringed, and the lateral ones approached and continued into slender tails.

~Cirrhaea.~--Allied to Gongora, and requiring similar treatment.

~Cochlioda.~--A compact-growing genus to be grown with the Odontoglossums.

_C. Noezliana_, scarlet, has been a fine species in the hands of the hybridiser, and in the future may give us "Scarlet Odontoglossums." _C.

vulcanica_ has deep rose-coloured flowers.

~Coelia.~--There are several species of Coelia, and they require to be grown in the intermediate house.

~Coelogyne.~--A very large genus of two distinct sections, that represented by _C. cristata_ being evergreen; the Pleione or Indian crocus section deciduous, and requiring to be treated as terrestrial Orchids, while the larger section are epiphytal. The epiphytal sections are warm and intermediate house plants. The Pleiones should be grown in a cool house, and rested quite dry after the leaves fade and until growth again commences.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLATE VII

ONCIDIUM MARSHALLIANUM]

~Comparettia.~--These are small-growing epiphytes. Grow in small baskets or hanging pans in the intermediate house. _C. falcata_, red, _C.

macroplectron_, pale rose; spotted; and _C. speciosa_, scarlet, are the best species.

~Colax.~--A small genus of cool-house Orchids allied to Lycaste, and requiring similar treatment. _C. jugosus_ has been crossed with Zygopetalums with good results.

~Coryanthes.~--These are similar in habit to Stanhopea. The plants should be grown in baskets suspended in the intermediate house. The structure of the large, fleshy flowers is most remarkable, and some interesting particulars relating to their fertilisation by insect aid have been recorded in the _Gardeners' Chronicle_ (July 17, 1897, p. 31).

~Cycnoches.~--Of similar habit and requirements to Catasetum. The plants are best grown in baskets and suspended. They should be rested cool and dry with the deciduous Dendrobiums. _C. chlorochilon_ (Swan Orchid), _C.

Egertonianum_, _C. Loddigesii_, _C. maculatum_, _C. peruvianum_, and _C.

pentadactylon_ are fine species.

~Cymbidium.~--These are showy, large-growing Orchids for the intermediate house or warm conservatory. Pot the plants in equal proportions of fibrous loam, peat, and Sphagnum-moss. _C. giganteum_, _C. Lowianum_, _C. grandiflorum_, and _C. Tracyanum_ are the most commonly grown. _C.

eburneum_, _C. Mastersii_, _C. insigne_, and _C. erythrostylum_ are fine, white species, the latter two with rose markings on the lip. There are numerous hybrids. _C. Lowio-eburneum_, a cross from _C. Lowianum_, and _C. eburneum_ is ill.u.s.trated in Plate VI.

~Cynorchis.~--Terrestrial Orchids from Tropical Africa and Madagascar, requiring to be grown in the warm house in moist and shady conditions.

The flowers are generally of rose colour.

~Cypripedium.~--This is one of the largest, most useful, and most prolific genera, which, although commonly known in gardens as Cypripedium, may be divided into several distinct cla.s.ses. Most of those generally known in gardens as Cypripediums have been termed Paphiopedilum, including _C.

barbatum_, and _C. Rothschildianum_, and the green-leafed cla.s.s, more commonly known in gardens as Selenipedium, are now termed Phragmopedilum. The name Cypripedium, however, has so firm a hold on cultivators that it is convenient to retain it in gardening handbooks.

The Cypripediums have very numerous hybrids, and their numbers increase annually. An enumeration is therefore impossible within the scope of this work. All require to be treated as terrestrial Orchids, a proportion of fibrous loam (see the chapter on potting terrestrial Orchids) being added in proportion to the strength of the subject, the largest proportion being given to the strongest growers. The Selenipedium, or green-leafed section, should be potted in fibrous loam, with a sprinkling of leaves and Sphagnum-moss. _C. insigne_, _C.

Spicerianum_, _C. Charlesworthii_, and others of the cla.s.s, also hybrids of them, may be grown in the cool house. _C. Rothschildianum_, _C.

Stonei_, and the whole of that section require the highest temperature, but all may be grown successfully in an intermediate house. _C. insigne Sanderae_ is ill.u.s.trated in Plate I.

~Cyrtopodium.~--A strong-growing genus needing to be grown in the intermediate house. The plants should be potted as terrestrial Orchids.

_C. punctatum_ is the showiest and most easily grown species.

~Dendrobium.~--One of the largest and most decorative genera of epiphytal Orchids, comprising several hundred species and a large number of hybrids. Primarily the genus may be divided into two cla.s.ses--the evergreen; and the deciduous, which lose their leaves after the completion of the growths, and should have a protracted dry resting season. The evergreen species have a shorter and less rigorous resting season accorded them. The deciduous cla.s.s is exemplified by _D. n.o.bile_, _D. Wardianum_, _D. cra.s.sinode_, and the plants a.s.sociated with them, and their hybrids; and the evergreen species by _D. densiflorum_, _D.

Farmeri_, and _D. chrysotoxum_. _D. Wardianum_, with 264 flowers, is ill.u.s.trated in Plate III.

Next, the genus may be divided into two further cla.s.ses--those requiring a high temperature, such as _D. Phalaenopsis_, _D. superb.u.m_, _D.

atro-violaceum_, &c.; and those which may be grown comparatively cool, which include _D. speciosum_ (an excellent plant for a sunny conservatory), _D. moniliforme_ from j.a.pan, _D. aggregatum_, _D.

Jenkinsii_, and many others. All the species require a high temperature, moist atmosphere, and an abundance of water during the growing season, but should be kept drier and cooler after the growth is completed to prepare them for flowering. The species with pendulous growths should be grown in baskets or suspended pans.

~Diacrium.~--A section of Epidendrum, with hollow pseudo-bulbs, and white, wax-like flowers. _D. bicornutum_ is a very fine species for the warm house.

~Disa.~--A genus of terrestrial Orchids from Africa, best represented in gardens by the fine Scarlet _Disa grandiflora_, which, with the others of its section, _D. racemosa_ and _D. tripetaloides_, have produced many beautiful hybrids. These are cool-house plants, and should be potted in a mixture of peat, Sphagnum-moss, sand, and loam fibre. They are increased by offsets, and, when repotted soon after the flowering season, the strong growths should be potted on for flowering, and the smaller ones placed together in store pans. Free drainage should be provided, and the plants liberally watered until they flower. After this stage, cultivation in a cold frame for a few weeks before repotting and returning the plants to the cool house will benefit them.