PL. 63. CŒLOGYNE PANDURATA.
CŒLOGYNE PANDURATA.
[[Plate 63].]
Native of Borneo.
Epiphytal, Pseudobulbs large, somewhat compressed, oblong ovate, bearing about two leaves at the summit. Leaves large, broadly-lanceolate, plaited, eighteen inches long, many-nerved. Scape radical, produced with the young growth, supporting a pendulous raceme somewhat longer than the leaves. Flowers numerous, rather distant, large, four inches across when fully expanded, fragrant, each one issuing from the axil of a brown cucullate deciduous bract as long as the pedicel; sepals and petals linear-oblong, acute, pale green; lip concave at the base, cordate-oblong, appearing to be panduriform from the inflection at the sides, retuse, setaceo-acuminate, the edges crisped, green marked with blackish veins and stains, the disk with three keels and two deep double-warted crests on each side, the crests converging towards the middle of the lip, where they are lost amongst a series of irregular rugged often two-lobed warts. Column green, with the edges thin and rounded.
Cœlogyne pandurata. Lindley, Gardeners’ Chronicle, 1853, 791; Id. Folia Orchidacea, art. Cœlogyne, No. 7; Hooker, Botanical Magazine, t. 5084; Bateman, Second Century of Orchidaceous Plants, t. 160; Van Houtte, Flore des Serres, t. 2139; Reichenbach fil., Xenia Orchidacea, t. 121; Id. Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ, vi., 224.
As a curiously beautiful plant this Orchid is perhaps unequalled. It is very rarely met with in a flowering state in collections, which is the more to be wondered at, as though the flowers are not bright in colour, yet on account of the peculiar association of tints—light green and black—and their large size, it makes a very attractive object. The flowers are produced upon drooping spikes from the young growths during the summer, and continue for some time in perfection.
Cœlogyne pandurata is a native of Borneo, where, according to Mr. Low, it is common on trees, in shady places overhanging water. It thrives best in the temperature of the Cattleya house, and during the period of growth requires a good supply of water. After the growth is complete, less water must be given, until it begins again to show signs of starting into fresh growth, when the supply should be gradually augmented.
The specimen here figured was flowered in the fine collection of Baron J. H. Schrœder, The Dell, Staines, under the care of Mr. Ballantyne, the gardener, who seems to be very successful in the cultivation of this interesting plant.
The root material in which we find it to succeed best, is a compost of peat, with a little moss and charcoal added. It does well either in a pot or in a basket, suspended from the roof, but should be well shaded from the sun, as too much sunlight causes the leaves to become spotted and look sickly, and this is very detrimental to the plants. It will be found to be a very free-growing species, when it obtains the treatment it requires.
The plant is propagated by separating the pseudobulbs just before they start into growth.