PL. 55. SCUTICARIA STEELII.
SCUTICARIA STEELII.
[[Plate 55].]
Native of British Guiana.
Epiphytal. Rhizome short, articulated, branched, ebulbous, the branches monophyllous. Leaves flagelliform, as thick as a swan’s quill, channelled, subulate at the apex, two to four feet long, drooping. Scape radical, short, one to three flowered. Flower large, fragrant, with the perianth connivent; sepals oblong, the lateral ones produced at the base into a blunt chin, pale primrose-yellow, blotched with deep reddish brown; petals of the same form and colour as the sepals; lip three-lobed, pale yellow, striately marked with brownish crimson, especially on the lateral lobes, which are roundish erect, the intermediate one bilobed, with roundish, subcuneate, divergent divisions, and bearing at the base an oblong callus having three obtuse orange-coloured teeth in front. Column semiterete, decurrent with the base of the lateral sepals, so as to form a blunt spur or chin; pollen-masses four, sessile, in pairs, on a dilated transverse gland, acuminate at both ends.
Scuticaria Steelii, Lindley, Botanical Register, xxix., misc., p. 14; Reichenbach fil., in Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ, vi., 551; Williams, Orchid Grower’s Manual, 5 ed., 292.
Maxillaria Steelii, Hooker, Botanical Magazine, t. 3573; Lindley, Botanical Register, t. 1986.
This is a small genus of Orchids separated from Maxillaria by Dr. Lindley, and generally adopted. The few species are distinct in their habit of growth, as also in reference to the manner in which they produce their flowers. That which we now figure is one of the best as yet known. Our drawing was taken from a plant in the collection of W. McDonald, Esq., Woodlands, Perth, who has many fine specimen Orchids, and among them some choice species. We may state that Mr. McDonald often sends us specimens of beautiful Orchids, such as we are always very glad to receive from any growers, either for the purpose of naming, or with the view to their illustration in the Album.
Scuticaria Steelii is a native of British Guiana. The foliage is terete, pendulous, and of a dark green colour, three to four feet in length, and tapering off to a point; in fact it is almost like a rush in its form. The flower spikes proceed from the rhizome at the base of the leaves; they are about two inches high and generally three-flowered. The sepals and petals are yellow, irregularly spotted with brownish crimson, while the lip is yellow, striped with crimson. The plant blooms at different times of the year, and continues a long time in perfection. When in flower it is a very attractive object, those who see it in bloom being astonished to find such a beautiful inflorescence proceeding from the peculiar rush-like foliage, and when hanging from the roof of the house the whole plant has a very singular and handsome appearance.
The plants thrive best grown on blocks of wood, with a little live sphagnum moss about their roots; if the moss should become decayed it must be removed and renewed by fresh. They will also grow on rough blocks of wood without moss, but when cultivated in this way they require the more frequent application of moisture to keep their roots active. We have seen them thrive well in baskets, planted in rough fibrous peat, but grown in this way they do not look so well. They should be hung up as near to the glass as possible, in the full light, as they require but little shade. They will do either in the Cattleya or East India house. A good supply of water must be given during the growing season, but less when their growth is completed. These plants are not easy to increase, as they do not like to be divided.
Orchids at Chislehurst.—When calling in July last on W. Vanner, Esq., at Camden Wood, Chislehurst, we were pleased to find some beautiful Orchids in bloom in the show house, which is a square lofty structure, with tables round the sides, and chairs and seats in the centre. The Orchids are here shown off to the best advantage, intermixed with foliage and flowering plants, the flowering Orchids being brought into this house as they come into bloom. We noticed some fine plants of Lælia purpurata in full beauty, one variety with rose-coloured sepals and petals, and a beautifully veined rich dark amethyst lip, was especially fine. Cattleya Mendelii was well represented, one plant having six spikes of bloom—a grand plant and the picture of health. Lælia elegans was also in bloom, a fine large variety, with a very richly-coloured lip. We also saw here two specimens of the finest varieties of Odontoglossum hastilabium we have ever met with, having large branching spikes, one with seventy flowers upon it; the sepals and petals were creamy white, barred with purple, the lip white, with a purple base. This is a grand exhibition Orchid, as it lasts a long time in perfection.