[
PHAJUS HUMBLOTII a»./
.. brmibus scu fuslformibus parvis, foliis pctiolato oblongis acutis mollibin magnis, pcdunculo apicc
cxplanntis, scpalis oblongis acutis, tepalis latioribus, labclli mfigni ccalcarali cxplonati trifiiii laciniis latcralibus rotundatis .irrcct
emarginala lobulato crispula, callo carnoso bilamcllato in disco aiUicc in cariniilaro excurrcntc, columna clavata arcuati gracili, Ci
PlIAJUS HUMDLOTII, Kchb. f., G.-ird. Chron., 1880, Dcc. 25, p. 8121 1886, Aug-7, p. 173, xyl. 33'
PlIAJUS HUMIJOLDTII, Hort. quorund pessime I
Planta clcgans omnino mollis dilTicillime colen<Ia Thn'psibus pabulum dilectissimum olTercns.
lilacini, Tepala cxtus longiwd inai iter media linea viltis albidis gcminis, Labolli ¡acini» poslicte brurneopur|)ureiL\ lacinia
alba, laciniis latcralibus bninnco rcticiilatis, lacinia mediana lilacina. Columna alba dorso superior! viridis. Callus in basi llaviis,
Cixacit in insula Madagascar. Delecta ab exe. Liion Humblot, cui amice dic.-ila. B. Hildebrandt cEiam legit. l-"lotcm ]
misit cxc. Pcclcrs Bruxcllensis, spccimcn pulcherrimum ill. Trevor Lawrence.
usqui; scplcmllorus. I'loros cxpnnsi
Figura; analytica;. Flos postice. Labclluin Ha;c ut pictura: dorsales intclliganlur. Anthcra. I'ollinaria.
ABOUT six years ago Monsieur I^on Humblot, a young l-renchnian, undertook a perilous journey to the interior of
Madagascar in search of plants, in company with his brother arid some half a dozen others, who were travelling under the
auspices of tlie French Government, for the purpose of surveying and also for collecting natural history specimens. Among
Humblot's discoveries were two beautiful Orchids, both species of Phajus, which had not before been heard of in gardens,
He succeeded in collecting living plants of these, and sent small consignments of each to us, which were sold in London
at Stevens' auction rooms. One of them, the subject of our present plate, was named by Professor Reicheiibach in honour
of its discoverer, while the other was named long before P. tuberculosus, by Blunie. The introduction of these |)lants
excited a deal of interest among Orchidists, and their flowering was keenly anticipated. Both have flowered several times
in perfection in this country, and they not only justify Humblot's description, but have proved to be, particularly
P. tuberculosus, among the most beautiful Orchids ever introduced. Not since the Rev. W. Ellis discovered the noble
Aeranthus sesquipedalis has such an important discovery been made in the way of plants in that little-known
island of Madagascar, ivhose flora may yet add greatly to the wealth of tropical Orchids we already possess in Europe;in
gardens.
As to the culture of Phajus Humblotii little can be said, as so few have had long experience with its treatment.
The plants best grown have been treated similarly to Malayan Phatenopsids or to other Madagascar Orchids, such as
Ac'ranthus sesquipedalis. The collector says that it groAvs naturally at the base of large trees, and therefore in dense shade,
and the plants, moreover, are moist all the year round. From these facts the cultivator may glean that the plant requires
a hot and moist house, shaded from direct sunlight, but not heavily shaded, inasmuch as the strongest diffused light we
can give it here only equals that in dense sliade under a tropical sun. The finest plants we have seen of Phajus
tuberculosus were growing in an ordinary plant stove, in baskets suspended close under the roof of the house, and slightly
shaded. Both species are decidedly epiphytic, therefore must have a light and porous compost to root in. As neither
of these species form large pseudo-bulbs they do not require a stated resting period.
Drawn by permission of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Cart., M.l'., from a plant in tlie Burford Lodge coileclion.