FIG. 303. FLOWER-SPIKE, PSEUDO-BULB, AND LEAF OF BURLINGTONIA DECORA.
Generally speaking, this genus is not a difficult one to cultivate; its great enemy is a small white scale, which secretes itself in the sheathing bases of the leaves. Here it rapidly multiplies, to the great detriment of the plants; the leaves soon turn yellow at the base, and drop off; the whole plant looks sickly, and soon dies, or else requires a very long time and much trouble to achieve its recovery to health. To prevent this, the bases of the leaves must be carefully looked into every time the plants are taken down to be dipped in water; and, should the slightest sign of this pest appear, a thorough washing with soft soap and tepid water must be given, repeating the operation every day until all traces of the insect are removed. Red thrip are also apt to work much mischief with these plants. They take up their abode in the same way as the white scale, and if not speedily removed or destroyed, soon make sad havoc. To put a stop to the ravages of this pest, a wash should be given, as before recommended, and after the soap has been rinsed out of the base of the leaf, a little tobacco powder should be sprinkled into the hollows, and allowed to remain for a day or two before brushing it off. This process will, however, cause a somewhat dirty appearance, but it will ensure ultimate health and vigour. Propagated by dividing the plants.
B. Batemanni (Bateman's).* fl. white, deliciously-scented; lip beautiful mauve. A very pretty South American species, resembling B. candida.
B. candida (white).* fl. snowy-white, with a slight stain of yellow on the upper part of the lip, in substance and appearance like white satin, trimmed with gold; large, sweet-scented, in gracefully drooping three to four-blossomed racemes, produced from the axils of the leaves. April and May, lasting about three weeks in perfection, and sometimes having a second flowering season. l. one or two in number, dark green, and firm in texture. h. 1ft. Demerara, 1834. A very compact species, well suited for basket culture; it should never be allowed to get dry. It may be distinguished from other species by having a single row of tubercles, forming a ridge upon each side of the slightly hastate lip. (B. R. 1927.)
B. decora (comely).* fl. white or rose-coloured, spotted with red; lip pure white; scapes erect, five to ten-flowered. Winter. Brazil, 1852. This species differs entirely from B. candida, inasmuch as it possesses a long slender-rooting stem, from different parts of which arise small oval pseudo-bulbs, each bearing a leaf; a lesser leaf appears at the base of a bulb, and from the axil of this the scape springs. It is a rather straggling but nevertheless beautiful species, and is best grown fastened upon long strips of cork, a little sphagnum being used in the operation; whilst, to prevent the plant getting too much "away from home," the young growths should be twisted back as they advance, and the practice continued until the pseudo-bulb is ultimately left near the centre, or in any spot which may appear bare. It likes strong heat and a very moist atmosphere, when growing; but during the period of rest, it should be kept cool and dry. See [Fig. 303.] (B. M. 4834.)
B. d. picta (painted).* A beautiful variety, differing from the type in having shorter and more acute leaves; flowers produced in greater profusion, rose-coloured, beautifully mottled and blotched with dark purple. October. Brazil. (B. M. 5419.)
B. fragrans (fragrant).* fl. very gratefully fragrant, disposed in erect racemes. April, remaining in perfection about three weeks. l. long, rigid, dark green. Habit compact. Brazil, 1850.
B. pubescens (downy). fl., sepals and petals snow-white; distinguished by the somewhat hastate lip, which has three yellow ridges on each side, and also by the downy column. November. h. 6in. Brazil, 1850.
B. rigida (rigid).* fl. purplish-white, spotted with pink on the lip; produced in heads. h. 1ft. Brazil, 1838. A handsome plant, but difficult to flower. (L. S. O. 36.)
B. venusta (charming).* fl. white, slightly tinted with pink; produced in heavy pendulous clusters at various seasons of the year; lip stained with yellow. l. rigid, dark green. Brazil, 1840. It forms a compact mass, and requires less heat than the kinds previously described. It is often confounded with B. pubescens, from which it may be distinguished by its larger and more loosely arranged flowers, by its smooth column, by the lip not being hastate in shape, and by the numerous shallow ridges borne near the base upon each side. (L. S. O. 2.)
BUR MARIGOLD. See [Bidens.]
BURNET (Poterium Sanguisorba; from poterion, a cup; being used in cooling drinks). ORD. Rosaceæ. A native perennial. The leaves are sometimes used in soups, and with Borage in cooling drinks; they are also put in salads. The foliage only being useful, keep the flower-spikes removed, as this tends to increase the luxuriance of the plants. It thrives in any light soil. Propagated by division.
BURNET SAXIFRAGE. See Pimpinella.
BURNING BUSH. See Euonymus atropurpureus and E. americanus.
BURN ONION. See Potato Onion.
BUR REED. See Sparganium.