Orchids Part 8

The _D. graminifolia_ or Blue Disa section do not increase by stolons.

They are heath plants, and should be potted in sandy peat, and kept quite dry when they lose their leaves.

~Epidendrum.~--There are over 400 known species of this genus. _E.

vitellinum_ is a fine orange-coloured, cool-house species. All may be grown in the intermediate house. _E. O'Brienianum_, _E. radicans_, and _E. Boundii_ are fine plants for covering the ends of houses and back walls.

~Eria.~--An interesting genus, comprising many curious, and some very pretty species. They are epiphytes, and should be grown in the intermediate house. The deciduous species need to be kept dry when at rest.

~Eriopsis.~--These are epiphytal Orchids from South America. They should be grown in the intermediate house, and they need moisture and shade.

_E. biloba_ and _E. rutidobulbon_ are the best-known species.

~Eulophia.~--A large genus in which both evergreen and terrestrial plants are represented. Grow them in the intermediate house.

~Eulophiella.~--The genus includes two species from Madagascar, _E.

Elisabethae_, white, and _E. Peetersiana_, rose. Grow them in a moist position of the warm house, giving them a liberal supply of rain-water.

~Galeandra.~--These are deciduous epiphytes, needing similar cultivation to Catasetum.

~Gomeza.~--Allied to Odontoglossum. The flowers are yellowish, and are produced in racemes. Intermediate-house plants.

~Gongora.~--Intermediate-house Orchids, which should be grown in baskets or suspending pans to allow of the full production of their long flower-spikes.

~Grammatophyllum.~--A genus of strong-growing epiphytal Orchids for the warm house. _G. speciosum_ is a gigantic Malayan species.

~Grobya.~--Brazilian Orchids represented by _G. galeata_ and _G.

Amherstiae_. Intermediate house.

~Habenaria.~--Terrestrial Orchids. _H. militaris_ and _H. rhodocheila_ are bright scarlet; _H. carnea_, flesh colour; _H. Susannae_, _H. Bonatea_, and _H. Ugandae_, tall-growing, green and white. The two latter species will grow in a cool house; the others need greater warmth. The North American species are nearly hardy, and may be grown in a frame.

~Houlletia.~--Fragrant epiphytal Orchids from South America. Intermediate house.

~Ionopsis.~--Pretty, slender, white and lilac species. Grow in small baskets in the intermediate house.

~Laelia.~--One of the largest and showiest genera, great favourites in gardens, and fine subjects in the hands of the hybridiser. The Mexican species _L. anceps_, _L. autumnalis_, _L. albida_, &c., used to be allotted a special dryish intermediate house, but they are now usually grown in the intermediate or Cattleya house, and rested in a cooler vinery or corridor. All the species require the same treatment as Cattleya.

~Liparis.~--A genus of dwarf Orchids chiefly of botanical interest.

Intermediate house.

~Lissochilus.~--Showy terrestrial Orchids, chiefly from South and Tropical Africa. They should be grown in warm or cool conditions according to their habitats. _L. Krebsii_ and _L. speciosus_ are two handsome, cool-house species; _L. giganteus_, _L. Horsfallii_, and others of this cla.s.s require a warm house. Being marshy plants, they need weak, liquid manure when growing.

~Lueddemannia.~--A fine genus of strong, Acineta-like growth and pendulous racemes of bronzy-orange coloured flowers. The growths are three to five feet in length. The best species are _L. Lehmannii_, _L. Pescatorei_, and _L. triloba_. Grow in baskets suspended in intermediate house.

~Luisia.~--Terete-leafed Orchids that may be grown in the warm house with the Aerides.

~Lycaste.~--Most of the species thrive in the cool end of the intermediate house. They have been grown successfully in a compost in which decayed leaves formed the princ.i.p.al ingredient, the remainder being either Sphagnum-moss, loam fibre, or peat, with a little sand or fine crocks added. In some collections _L. Skinneri_ and some of the other species are grown in the cool house. All the species require to be kept as cool as possible in summer.

~Masdevallia.~--Dwarf, tufted plants, with pretty and varied flowers, from high ranges in South America. They should be grown in the cool or Odontoglossum house. Pot them in equal proportions of Sphagnum-moss and peat, with a little sand and fine crocks. The species of _M. chimaera_ section should be grown in suspending baskets or pans, and given a rather warmer situation than those of the showier _M. Harryana_ (_coccinea_) and _M. Veitchiana_ sections, being placed in the cool end of the intermediate house in winter. _M. tridactylites_, _M.

O'Brieniana_, _M. ionocharis_, and many others form an interesting section of dwarf Orchids, with singular, insect-like flowers. The Masdevallias require to be kept moist all the year, and are benefited by occasional division when being repotted in spring or late summer.

~Maxillaria.~--An extensive genus, widely distributed in South America, and extending to the West Indies. All the species are intermediate-house plants, requiring the ordinary potting material for epiphytes. The flowers are varied in form and colour from the white _M. grandiflora_ and _M. venusta_ to the large claret-blotched _M. Sanderiana_. Many of the species have fragrant flowers.

~Megaclinium.~--A singular genus from Tropical Africa, closely allied to Bulbophyllum, their chief characteristic being the singular flat rachis of the inflorescence, which bears a single row of insect-like, brownish flowers on each side. _M. Bufo_, the type species, is probably not now in gardens. _M. falcatum_ is the commonest, and _M. purpureorachis_, _M.

triste_, and several other species are sometimes seen. They should be grown in the warm house in baskets or pans.

~Microstylis.~--The species of Microstylis should be grown as terrestrial Orchids in Sphagnum-moss and peat, with fine crocks added. Rest the deciduous species in dry and cooler conditions.

~Miltonia.~--The Miltonias are compact-growing South American epiphytes, to be grown in pans elevated in a sheltered corner of the intermediate house. Pot the plants in ordinary material for epiphytal Orchids, and surface the compost with living Sphagnum-moss. _M. vexillaria_, _M.

Roezlii_, _M. Warscewiczii_, formerly included in Odontoglossum, form a section requiring to be grown like Odontoglossums, but rather warmer.

This section has been found to thrive well with a good proportion of leaves in the compost. _Miltonia vexillaria_, "Empress Victoria," is ill.u.s.trated in Plate II.

~Mormodes.~--Grow these with the Catasetum and Cycnoches, and treat them similarly by resting them dry. The genus is a singular one, the curiously formed, generally fragrant flowers being very attractive.

~Neobenthamia.~--_N. gracilis_ is an elegant, white-flowered, slender species from Tropical Africa, and it should be grown in warm-intermediate temperature.

~Nephelaphyllum.~--Dwarf, terrestrial species for the warm house. Grow with Anoectochilus.

~Notylia.~--Graceful epiphytes for baskets and suspending pans.

Intermediate house.

~Octomeria.~--A genus allied to Pleurothallis. The flowers are usually white and rather small.

~Odontoglossum.~--The Odontoglossums are deservedly the most extensively grown genus of cool-house Orchids, the larger proportion of those in gardens being represented by _O. crispum_ (ill.u.s.trated in Plate VIII.), one of the most beautiful of Orchids. The spotted forms often realise very high prices. Cool, moist houses are provided for _O. crispum_ and its section of Odontoglossum; in some gardens several houses are allotted to the species. Given a suitable house and careful treatment, the Odontoglossums are among the easiest Orchids to grow, and the most certain to flower. All the species generally cla.s.sed with _O. crispum_ should be grown in well-drained pots. The compost in which they are grown used to be formed exclusively of Orchid peat and Sphagnum-moss, and, where these materials can be obtained of good quality they have never been improved upon. There came a craze in some collections for putting the Odontoglossums in leaf-soil, which ended in disaster, although it indicated that a proportion of dry leaves (not leaf-soil) may be used in the compost with advantage. Scarcity of good Orchid peat brought about the introduction of Polypodium fibre and Osmunda fibre, both excellent materials when prepared as recommended in the chapters on Potting Epiphytal Orchids, and Hybrid Orchids. For the general repotting of those requiring it September is the best month, but in early spring the plants should be examined in order to repot those which need immediate attention. The Odontoglossum house must be kept cool at all seasons, and the necessity to have lower night temperatures must be strictly recognised. Free ventilation should be provided, but at all seasons when drying, east winds prevail, especially in winter and early spring, the bottom ventilators should be only opened slightly, the top ones being kept closed; the laps of the gla.s.s of the roof will admit sufficient air. Moisture should be freely distributed about the house by syringing beneath the staging and between the pots in summer, but in winter the houses, if kept at the prescribed low temperature, will be moist without much water being distributed. _Odontoglossum citrosmum_, _O. Rossii_, _O. membranaceum_, and some other Mexican species should be grown in baskets or pans; _O. coronarium_ and its varieties in oblong baskets; _O. Londesboroughianum_ on rafts. Odontoglossums require abundance of water, but are easily injured if allowed to get soddened.

Water should therefore be given systematically--a thorough watering, and no more until the effect of it is pa.s.sing and the still moist material is sufficiently near the dry point. After flowering, a lessened supply should also be given for a time, but the plants must not be dried off.

At this stage it is a good time to repot any requiring to be repotted.

In the cool houses, and indeed all the Orchid houses, observation should be made as to the rapidity of evaporation of water from the floors and staging. If the moisture evaporates too quickly and the floors and stages become dry rapidly, it must be remembered that the conditions are not favourable to sustaining the vitality of the plants in the house, for, where rapid evaporation takes place, a similar process affects the tissues of the plants. Means should be taken, either by lowering the temperature or checking the ventilation, to sustain a lasting humidity in the houses.

~Oncidium.~--This is a large genus, most of the members being suitable for cultivation in the intermediate house. _O. macranthum_ is a cool-house plant, and _O. crispum_, _O. Forbesii_, _O. concolor_, _O.

Marshallianum_ (ill.u.s.trated in Plate VII.), _O. varicosum_, and others also do well in the cool house in baskets or suspended pans. _O.

Papilio_, _O. Kramerianum_, _O. Lanceanum_, and _O. ampliatum_ should have a position in the warmest end of the intermediate house. Pot the plants as epiphytal Orchids. Withhold water for a time after growth is completed.

~Paphinia.~--Small-growing epiphytes. Grow in baskets or pans in a warm, moist house.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLATE VIII

ODONTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM]

~Phaius.~--Strong-growing, terrestrial Orchids for the intermediate house.

Pot them according to the directions in the chapter on the potting of terrestrial Orchids. The species are evergreen, and require but a short resting season. They require shade.

~Phalaenopsis.~--These are warm-house species from the Philippines, Java, Borneo, India, and other places. Pot the plants in Sphagnum-moss. They succeed best when suspended, but if they are grown on the stage they should be elevated on inverted pots. A moist atmosphere is essential.

_P. amabilis Rimestadiana_ will grow in the intermediate house; so will also most of the other species, if placed in a moist corner.

~Peristeria.~--The genus is best known in gardens by _P. elata_ (Dove Orchid). The cultivation is similar to that for Phaius.

~Physosiphon.~--A small genus allied to Stelis. _P. Loddigesii_ has racemes of orange-coloured flowers.

~Platyclinis.~--These are pretty, intermediate-house Orchids, with pendulous racemes of white or yellow flowers, generally fragrant.

~Pleione.~ _See_ ~Coelogyne~.