Anguloa.—Colombian and Peruvian Orchids of strong growth, and similar in habit to Lycaste. The flowers are usually produced singly on upright stems. Pot in two-thirds peat and one-third Sphagnum-moss or Osmunda fibre. When good loam fibre can be obtained, a small proportion may be added. Intermediate house. Rest tolerably dry and cool after growth is completed. A. Clowesii, yellow; A. Ruckeri, yellow and dark-red; A. uniflora and its variety eburnea, white.
Anœctochilus.—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 Anœctochili, and often under the same generic title, are usually associated Dossinia marmorata (A. Lowii), with broadly ovate, olive-green, veined leaves; Macodes Petola, emerald-green veined with gold; Hæmaria 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 glasses, 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 Aërides. 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. Harrisoniæ is the finest species. Others worthy of cultivation are B. aurantiaca, B. bicornaria, B. inodora, B. tyrianthina, and B. vitellina.