ANGRÆCUM (deduced from angurek, a Malayan name for air plants). ORD. Orchidaceæ. TRIBE Vandeæ. These are among the most beautiful of epiphytal orchids. One characteristic, both remarkable and peculiar, is the long, hollow, tail-like spur depending from the base of the lip. The flowers are produced on spikes from the axils of the leaves. The leaves are evergreen, and arranged in two rows, the one opposite to the other, and, in many kinds, being curved, give the plant a very graceful appearance. The fact of these plants producing their blooms during the winter—a period when flowers are generally scarce—considerably enhances their value. They usually continue six or eight weeks in perfection, or even more. The following table of night temperatures should be almost universally adhered to for all the species enumerated, except A. falcatum, which thrives best in a cool house. From November to February, 58deg. to 63deg.; March to May, September and October, 65deg.; June to August, 70deg. The day temperature should be 7deg. or 8deg. higher than that of the night. A compost of crocks, charcoal, and sphagnum is best. A layer of a few large crocks at the bottom of the pot or pan will be required; over these spread another layer of charcoal and smaller crocks, just enough to allow the roots to support the plant; so that the first pair of leaves will be, in large plants, about 4in. above the rim of the pot, or proportionately less in the case of small plants. When the plant is carefully adjusted in its proper position, and held there with one hand, the other hand should work in among the roots more crocks and charcoal, ceasing so to do when within 2in. of the rim; the remaining space must be occupied with fresh sphagnum, pressed firm (this is most essential) in a cone shape, which may be built up to within ½in. of the lower pair of leaves. Prior to potting, which ought to be done between February and April, water should be withheld for a short time; but give a good soaking immediately after the operation. In the process of repotting, clear the roots of the old moss, all rotten stems, and particles of decayed roots. If plants are potted as we have recommended, a thorough soaking once a week only, or if grown on blocks of wood, or in suspended baskets or pans, about twice weekly will be found sufficient. Excessive fumigation, drought, whether atmospherical or at the roots, will cause the leaves to drop, and prevent any growth being made, in which case the plant ought to be lowered. If the stems have emitted but few roots, a ring of moss fastened round the stems, and kept constantly wet, will induce the plant to throw out additional roots, when the lowering may be proceeded with. To keep the plants free from insect pests, frequently sponge the foliage. Thrips generally prove very troublesome, and a moderate fumigation is needful, dislodging the insects that may be secreted low down in the centre of the plant, shortly before the operation, by dropping a little weak tobacco water or sulphur among them.
A. arcuatum (curved).* fl. white; racemes from the axils of the two-year-old leaves, two or three being produced from a single growth, about 6in. long, arching. l. about 4in. long, and ¾in. broad. Natal. SYNS. Listrostachys arcuata. A. (Listrostachys) Sedeni comes close to the above species, but is excessively rare in cultivation.
A. bilobum (two-lobed).* fl. white, with a tinge of rose, about 1½in. in diameter; spur 2in. long, produced from the side of the stem, just above the two-year-old leaves; racemes pendulous, 6in. or more long, bearing about a dozen flowers, which possess a slight fragrance. October to December. l. 4in. long by 2in. broad, two-lobed at the apex, about eight on a plant. Stem erect, about 6in. high. Cape Coast, 1841. Should be grown in a basket.
A. caudatum (tailed). fl. greenish yellow, mixed with brown; labellum pure white; spur thick, pale green, about 9in. long, two-lobed at the lowest portion; racemes arching, 1ft. or more long, produced from the base of the two-year-old leaves. Autumn. l. pale green, drooping, about 10in. long by 1in. broad. h. 1½ft. Stem erect, or nearly so. Sierra Leone, 1834.
A. cephalotes (capitate).* fl. white. Tropical Africa, 1873.
A. Chailluanum (Chaillu's).* fl. white; sepals and petals narrow, acute; spur yellowish green, 4in. or more long; racemes pendulous, 8in. or 10in. long, about twelve medium sized flowers produced from the side of the stem, just above the axils of two-year-old leaves. l. 6in. long, 1½in. broad, slightly wavy, two-lobed at the apex, arranged in an imbricate manner. West Africa, 1866. A rare species.
A. Christyanum (Christy's). A curious species, with yellow or greenish-white flowers, having a much developed three-lobed lip. The plant has the aspect of A. arcuatum. 1880.
A. citratum (citron-like).* fl. creamy white, or pale yellow, nearly 1in. in diameter; spurs about 1½in. long; racemes three, on strong plants, produced from the axils of two-year-old leaves, arched, about 1ft. long, bearing sometimes twenty flowers. l. 4in. to 6in. long and 2in. broad, six or eight on a plant, occupying about 1½in. of stem. Madagascar, 1868. Habit compact; stem nearly erect.
A. distichum (two-rowed-leaved). fl. whitish, ¼in. across, on one-flowered pedicels, which are produced from the axils of the leaves. l. very short, closely imbricated, deep bright green. h. 6in. Sierra Leone, 1834. A very neat growing little species, and quite distinct.
A. eburneum (ivory-lipped).* fl. sepals and petals greenish white; lip uppermost, white, very large; racemes about 18in. long, from the axils of two-year-old leaves; footstalks erect, but gradually becoming pendulous from the commencement of the flowers. l. 20in. long by 2in. broad, light green, stiff. Madagascar, 1826. SYN. Ærobion eburneum. A. virens is an inferior variety, but A. e. superbum surpasses the type in beauty; it is, however, at present extremely rare.
A. Ellisii (Ellis's).* fl. pure white, fragrant, about 2in. across, with narrow reflexed sepals and petals, the column standing very prominent; spur pale brownish, 6in. to 8in.; racemes frequently 2ft. long, on the side of the stem just above the axils of the two-year-old leaves, bearing about twenty blossoms. l. dark green, 9in. or 10in. long, and 2in. broad, divided at the apex into two unequal lobes. Madagascar, 1879.
A. falcatum (sickle-shaped).* fl. pure white, very fragrant; spur upcurved, 2in. long; racemes from the axils of the two-year-old leaves, short, bearing from two to five blooms. l. 2in. to 4in. long, very narrow and fleshy, dark green. 1815. An elegant little cool house species, and one of the smallest belonging to this genus. It should be grown in peat, in a basket or small pot suspended about 2ft. from the glass, but rather shaded.
A. Kotschyi (Kotschy's).* fl. yellowish white, perfume similar to the common white pink, 1in. to 1½in. across; spur reddish-tinted, 6in. or 7in. long, distinguished by the two spiral twistings; racemes from the axils of the lower leaves, 18in. long, bearing about twelve blossoms. l. 6in. long by 3in. broad, of which there are generally six or more on a good plant. Zanzibar, 1880. Should be grown in a basket, or on a cylindrical block of teak wood.
A. modestum (modest).* fl. pure white, 1in. to 1½in. across. l. distichous, 3in. to 6in. long, 1in. to 1½in. broad, elliptic or linear-oblong, acute, tip entire, pale bright green, leathery, nerveless. Stem short. Madagascar, about 1880.
A. pellucidum (transparent).* fl. white, of a delicate semi-transparent texture, and with a finely fringed labellum; racemes from the axils of the lowest leaves, hanging perpendicularly from the stems, about 1ft. long, bearing thirty to forty blossoms. l. 12in. long by 2in. or 3in. broad. Sierra Leone, 1842. Must be grown in a suspended basket.
A. pertusum (broken).* fl. pure white; spur comparatively short, with a well-marked yellow tinge; racemes from the axils of two-year-old leaves, horizontal, or slightly nodding, 6in. to 7in. long, with from forty to sixty densely packed, small blossoms. l. dark green, arching, 10in. long by 1in. broad. h. 1ft. Sierra Leone, 1836. Very distinct and attractive.
A. Scottianum (Scott's).* fl. pure white, very delicate in texture, the lip is uppermost, 1in. or more across; spur narrow, yellowish, 3in. to 4in. long; peduncle slender, a little longer than the spur, usually but one-flowered. l. narrow, terete—thus differing from most of its congeners—tapering or awl-shaped, about 4in. long, ⅛in. to ¼in. in diameter, channelled in the upper surface and ridged below. Comoro Islands, 1878.
A. Sedeni (Seden's). A rare form of A. arcuatum.
A. sesquipedale (foot-and-a-half).* fl. beautiful ivory white, on stout, solitary, axillary peduncles, with sepals and petals spreading out like rays, from 6in. to 8in. across; the whip-like spur or nectary hangs down from the labellum, often from 10in. to 18in. long. November, December, and January, and lasts about three weeks in beauty. l. dark green, distichous, about 10in. long. h. 1ft. Madagascar, 1823. It is one of the grandest of winter flowering orchids.
A. virens (green). An inferior variety of A. eburneum.
ANGULAR. Having angles, or forming angles.
ANGULOA (commemorative of Angulo, a Spanish naturalist). ORD. Orchidaceæ. A small genus containing about six species. The flowers, which are large and beautiful, are borne singly on scapes from 12in. to 16in. high, several of which are produced from the ripened pseudo-bulbs of the preceding year's growth. Pseudo-bulbs from 5in. to 8in. high, as thick as a man's wrist, bearing two to three erect, broad, lanceolate leaves, 2ft. to 4ft. long. Temperature, summer, day (maximum), 70deg.; night (minimum), 60deg. Winter, day (maximum), 60deg.; night (minimum), 45deg. These are bold growing cool-house plants, best grown in rough fibrous peat, with good drainage. They delight in an abundant supply of water both to the roots and foliage when growing, and require to be kept in a somewhat dark or heavily-shaded place. During the season of rest, and until young shoots commence growth, they should be kept rather dry. They are propagated by dividing the pseudo-bulbs, just before they commence to grow. The flowering season is summer.
A. Clowesii (Clowes's).* fl. fragrant; sepals and petals concave, clear golden yellow; lip pure white; whole conformation globular, or tulip-like. Columbia (at 5000ft. to 6000ft. elevation), 1842. This is the largest growing species, of which there are one or two rare varieties.
A. eburnea (ivory-flowered).* fl., sepals and petals of the purest white; lip spotted with pink. New Grenada. In other respects similar to above, but is very rare.
A. Ruckeri (Rucker's).* fl., sepals and petals yellow, with crimson spots; lip deep crimson. Columbia, 1845. Not so large a grower as either of the foregoing, but with same sized flowers.
A. R. sanguinea (bloody).* This variety has flowers of a deep blood red colour, but is rare.
A. superba (superb).* Synonymous with Acineta Humboldtii.
A. uniflora (one-flowered).* fl. sub-globose, pure white, sometimes freckled with brown, spotted profusely with pink inside. Columbia, 1844. One of the best in cultivation.
ANGURIA (one of the Greek names for the cucumber). ORD. Cucurbitaceæ. A stove genus of evergreen climbers allied to Momordica. Flowers monœcious; corolla joined to the calyx, ventricose, red, with a five-parted spreading border. Fruit somewhat tetragonal. Several species have been introduced from time to time, but they are rarely seen in our gardens. Some of them are handsome plants, and well worthy of cultivation.
ANHALONIUM. See Mammillaria.
ANIGOZANTHUS (from anoigo, to expand, and anthos, a flower; in reference to the branching expansion of the flower stalks). SYN. Schwægrichenia. ORD. Hæmodoraceæ. Greenhouse or half-hardy perennial herbs. Flowers large, racemose or corymbose; perianth tubular, elongated, woolly. Leaves linear ensiform. The species thrive in a turfy compost of peat and loam, three parts of the former to one of the latter; the whole intermixed with sand to make it porous. In the growing season they must be kept well watered, and somewhat dry during their period of rest in winter. They are very easily propagated by dividing the roots in spring.
A. coccineus (scarlet).* fl. scarlet; perianth swelling towards the summit, hairy, segments a little reflexed; disposed in dichotomously-forked panicles; pedicels rather long. June. l. lanceolate, deep green. Stem ciliated. h. 5ft. Swan River, 1837.
