TRICHOI'ILIA SUAVIS LMI. ALBA H'a„,„, wuna,,,,. T. M«,,.
(liilbriato.
Tkichopilia SUAVIS, Lindl, in I'axton's Fl. Gar<l
iii.. 277 1 Van l-Ioiiltc, Fl. Serres, viil, 761, (Icon. Filchii I
Pscudobiilbi ov.ili obcordati aiicii>itc8 comprcssi m
ob.«curutii. PciluiicuUis porrectui usque quadriflorus. Ji
pollicaria, Scpala ac tcpala cuncaluligulal.-i obtuse aai(
fundo, giitlis pnllidi purpurcis pluribus aii'tke. Columra'i
Androclinii cucullus limbo fissolobato ciliato scmta Ant
iccm longum linearem cxicns. Glandula par^-ula
i: acuti! scariosa! pcdi<
limile crenulaturo, undulatu'ra, pliciiluin ; a
. Fovea porrecta, ambllii subpenlan
Crcscit in Amcricn
K.Klabochl alii.
b ALII.V, Warner, W
Cum pra;eiilent; rat
pentanifula ¡icr dorsum incra.ssat.i
Moore, Orchid Album, I., pi- 14 ! : floribu-s candidis, inliis b,i
equanlcs. Ovaria viridlKlauca |)ìiis (¡uain
Labcllum jxrr line.-im alle cum columna
mm 5CU ocliroleuco album maculi» luicis in
ilo, rostcllo bldent.ilo denticulo inlcrjeclo.
miia poslice fissa. Caudicula trulla:forinis
dedit, sed Iconcm.) I^gcrunt Kndics I
Figura; analyìicc. imbelli basis. Column.-c
THIS white Trichopilia, at once so chastely heautifQl ami so fragrant, wins the admiration of all who see it in bloom, and
as it is extremely rare its value is increased in the eyes of Orchid connoisseurs. Lindicy called the typiail T. suavis " a
delicious Orchid," but what would he have called thi.s spotless \vhite variety ? The flowers have not that cold tone which
some white Orchids possess, but arc of a soft ivory whiteness that harmonises so well with the luxuriant green of its broad
handsome foliage, and as the surfacc cells of the petals reflcct the light the whole flower sparkles as if it were studded witli
myriads of minute cryst:ils. The exquisite gracefulness of growth adds also to the beauty of its flowers, and the perfume,
which reminds one of Iiawthorn blossom, is so powerful lhat the scciit from one spike is sufficient to |)ervade a room.
The flowering season occurs during April and May, and if kept in a cool di-y atmosphere the blossoms last in perfection
for a fortnight, but dampness produces spots on Ihe dclicate texture of the flowers in a few days.
Trichopilia suavis is a native of Central America and was introduced many years ago. It has al«'ays been a great
favourite among Orchid lovers, but more attention was formerly given to growing large specimens of it for exhibition
than at tlie present time, and we read in old records of glorious plants that used Co be shown. T. suavis is now so
well known lhat but liule description is needed. It is in every respect like its albino except that the broad shallow lip,
and often the petals and sepals, are delicately blotched and spotted with rose pink. There is a variety called grandiflora
which has Rowers superior in size and colour lo those of the typical si^ecies. T. suavis is unquestionably the finest of the
genus, which now numbers some sixteen species. It comes from CosU Rica, where it grows in company with T. crispa.
The white variety, alba, cropped up from an importation and can never become a common Orchid.
T. suavis and its varieties I'cquire the same treatment as other Trichopilias, namely, an intermediate temperature,
a liberal supply of water during active growth, and a decided rest when the growth is finished annually. The growing
season extends from about March till September, during \i-hich period it should be gi'own in an East Indian house, with
a temperature ranging from 60 deg. to 70 deg, F. It requires a higher tempeiature during growth than the other species.
During the resting period it should i)0 kept in a cooler house and watered sparingly. When the flower spikes begin to
show the plants should be watered more frequently, and after the flowers are past growth commences actively and then
the ¡jiants want heat and moisture. This Trichopilia may be grown in pots or in hanging baskets, but we prefer basket
culture as the pendulous spikes of flowers show themselves to much better advantage.
Our plale » as draivn from a plnnl in llie Iturford Lodge colleclion by permission of Sir Trevor Lawrcnce, Hart., M P.