In the next house were some fine plants of Odontoglossum Alexandræ; one variety in particular was very fine, having rose-coloured sepals and a very large finely spotted lip. The Bull’s-blood variety of Masdevallia Harryana was in good form; also M. Harryana læta and M. Harryana lilacina, a very pretty light-coloured variety, with rosy lilac flowers. Sobralia macrantha was also very finely in flower, as well as many other good things in bud, or making good growth for another year.—B. S. W.
PL. 56. SACCOLABIUM GIGANTEUM.
SACCOLABIUM GIGANTEUM.
[[Plate 56].]
Native of Burmah.
Epiphytal. Stem short, producing from the basal portion thick fleshy roots. Leaves subsecund, leathery, broadly lorate with the apex oblique and bilobed, about a foot long and two inches broad, channelled, the surface streaked. Racemes densely flowered, drooping, about equalling the leaves in length, axillary. Flowers very numerous, handsomely spotted, and remarkably fragrant, with broad, short, membraneous bracts at their base; sepals oblong or cuneate-ovate, obtuse, white, with a few amethyst dots; petals narrower, obovate, white, more freely spotted with amethyst; lip wedge-shaped, dilated, and trifid at the apex, the central portion short, ligulate, and slightly retuse, and the lateral parts semi-rhomboidal, all being of a beautiful mauve-violet or magenta colour, veined with darker lines; from the short conical spur two elevated hairy lines pass outwards, diverging in the middle, and reuniting at the contracted portion of the lip. Column greenish, short, reclinate, the anther with a stout beak.
Saccolabium giganteum, Lindley, in Wallich’s Catalogue, 7306; Id., Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants, 221; Bateman, in Botanical Magazine, t. 5635; Jennings, Orchids, t. 8; Williams, Orchid Grower’s Manual, 5 ed., 287.
Vanda densiflora, Lindley, in Paxton’s Flower Garden, under t. 42; Id., Folia Orchidacea, art. Vanda, No. 22; Van Houtte, Flore des Serres, tt. 1765-66; Reichenbach fil., in Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ, vi., 869.
There can be no doubt as to the position that the Saccolabiums occupy in the Orchid family—they certainly rank among the very finest of the whole race. They are not very numerous, but among the known species there are some which are of great beauty. They used to be exhibited in splendid style some quarter of a century ago by the late S. Rucker, Esq., of Wandsworth, Mrs. Lawrence, of Ealing Park, Dr. Butler, of Woolwich, and also from other fine collections then in existence, at which time there was seldom an exhibition group staged without a fine specimen of Saccolabium guttatum, or some other equally fine species. Now, however, we rarely see them shown. Orchid growers appear to have forgotten this noble class of plants, and many beginners think that they are difficult to cultivate, but we ourselves have never found them to be so, and, together with other nurserymen, we are growing and selling specimens every year. Where can the greater part of these go to? Why they are purchased by foreigners, who seem to have a greater taste than we have in this country for these most wonderful of all Orchids, which even when not in bloom are objects of attraction from their noble aspect and graceful foliage. Our illustration of S. giganteum was taken from a plant which bloomed in the Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Holloway. It blooms during the winter months, which adds to its value, as there are but few Saccolabiums which flower at that season of the year. The species, at first referred to Saccolabium by Lindley, was afterwards transferred by him to Vanda, under the name of V. densiflora.
Saccolabium giganteum is a slow growing plant, and makes about three leaves a year; from the axils of these the flower spikes emerge, and extend to the length of ten or twelve inches. The plant continues in bloom for about six weeks, the flowers, moreover, are deliciously fragrant, which is an additional recommendation, indeed this species possesses all the good qualities a plant can possess, and, if strong, blooms freely when only a few inches high. We have seen a very fine specimen of it in the beautiful collection of C. Walker, Esq., Brettagh Holt, Milnthorpe, bearing many flower spikes, all of good length; it was a noble object, one that Mr. Walker might well be proud of. We were surprised three years ago to receive, amongst some imported masses, one which stood three feet high, forming quite a pyramid of young growths, and carrying from twenty to thirty spikes; other masses were also of great size.
We have found this Saccolabium to grow well in the East India house, where the temperature by fire-heat during winter is kept at about 60° during the night and 65° during the day. When the sun causes the heat to rise above this, air should be given, avoiding cold draughts. The plants require plenty of light, but must be shaded during the spring and summer months, when the temperature should be about 65° by night and 70° by day, or with sun-heat 75°. During June, July, and August it should range from 70° to 75° by night and 75° to 80° by day. The house should be moistened twice a day in summer—in the morning and in the afternoon, about three or four o’clock, when it may be closed for the night, always, however, keeping a certain amount of air on, but not sufficient to interfere with the temperature.
We find the best material for growing the Saccolabiums in is fresh clean sphagnum moss, with good drainage. If grown in pots these should be nearly filled with drainage material, and the plants placed on sphagnum moss and kept well elevated above the pot rim. They will do well in baskets suspended from the roof, so that their roots can hang in the moist atmosphere. They require a good supply of moisture during the summer season, and also in autumn, but in winter less will suffice, indeed during this season they must never be allowed to get too wet, though the moss must be kept damp. They have no thick fleshy bulbs to fall back upon for support, and therefore if they are allowed to become too dry they will shrivel, and lose their lower leaves, which is a great disfigurement. The plants must always be kept free from insects.