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CHYSIS BRACTESCENS lmi.
Bractois ovatis acutis concavis ovarla pcdiccllala supcinmibu:
alibus ttiangwUs, lacinia mediana cuncato dilatata, antice cmatg
in basi, in ima basi pubsruHs, columna latissimo trigona cymbifomii
Ilo subbiloba, concava, carinis quiñis s
basi pube rula.
b. 23 1 Warner and Williams Sci Oreli. I.
C H V S I S BRACTESCENS, Lindl., Bot Reg., 1S40, mise, 1311 iS4t,
des Serres, Ö751 Deutsche Ganen zoi lung, 1886, p. S21
Pseudo-bulbi fusifonncs usque scstiu i pedales, vulgo spitliamaci. Folia plicata cui
porrccti paucillorl rhaclii valida. Scpaia et tcpala ¿ba, apicibus nunc viridulis. Scpaliis
naiytics
THE genus Chysis comprises about half a dozen spedc.s, all handsome plants, natives of Mexico and Central America.
Tliere is a great .similarity among them as regards habit of growth, all having thick, fleshy pseudo-bulbs usually spindle
shape<l, and bearing a few long and rather broad plicate leaves, which die away every season during the resting period.
Their flowers also are much alike, all being largo, of wax-like texture, and produced from the young growths.
C. bractescens is an old introduction, having been first broiight to nuroi)e in 1839, and was flowered for the first time in
cultivation by the late Mr. George Barker, of Birmingham. It has never been a comn\on Orchid, probably on account of
its being a reputedly difficult plant to grow successfully- Of late years, however, it has been imported largely, and
consequently has become more commonly grown and its treatment better understood,
' Collectors have aided cultivators considerably of recent years by stating the conditions under which the plants they
discover and collect grow in their native haunts. In the case of Chysis bractescens, it is found growing in thick forests
on the stems or large branches of trees. In the States of Vera Cruz and Tabasco it occurs towards the foot of the
mountains at about 1500 feet altitude, where the temperature ranges from about 70 deg. F. to 80 dcg. F. except during
the winter season, when it is lowered by north winds. It is naturally a deciduous epiphyte, and is sometimes found
hanging on the trees by its roots alone. Seldom is this Orchid seen grown to perfection ; generally it is represented by
sickly plants, in many cases the result of gi-owing them in hot, ill-ventilated houses. When well grown, the pseudo-bulbs
measure from a foot to eighteen inches and even two feet in height, and of proportionate thickness, It should be grown
in a well ventilated part of the East Indian house during greater part of the year, and should be in a suspended basket, so
as to afford it abundance of light, though not fiercc sunlight at niid-day. If grown in a pot, it should be placed on a high
stage as near the roof as convenient. The pot or ba.sket should be well drained, and the compost should be fibrous peat
and sphagnum moss, sufficiently open or porous, so that the roots may penetrate freely and allow superfluous moisture to
drain away. During active growth, which takes place in summer, an abundant supply of water must be given, and the
atmosphei-c kept moist and well ventilated, in order to keep the foliage free from thrips, which are very liable to attack
this Orchid when grown in a hot and dry house ; frequent syringings overhead during hot and dry iveather will tend to
keep this pest away.
The resting i>eriod begins as soon as the current season's bulbs are fully developed, which is towards the end of
summer. The plant must then be placed in a cooler and drier atmosphere, either in the same or another house. The
lower temperature and dryness will conduce to the ripening of the bulbs, which is the chief point to consider, bearing in
mind that the largest and best ripened bulbs produce the finest spikes of flower. In early spring the plant will start
again into active growth, when it should be removed to warmer and moister quarters. The flower spikes are produced
from the new bulbs when about 5 in. or 6 in. long, \vhich is about the middle of May, the flowers lasting in perfection
two or three weeks. After the flowers are past the plant may be subjected to a warmer and moister treatment. Imported
plants usually flower well the first season from the native grown bulbs. It is during the first season after importation that
the plant requires close attention, in order to produce sti'ong growths.
This species, as well as others of the genus, may be increased by cutting away the old bulbs and placing
them on damp moss in a close propagating case, when they soon form young growths, which may be detached after
having made a few roots.
I'aiiitcd from 8 ¡ipecimen in ihc collection of Major Mason, The I'irs, Warivick.