SACCOLABIUM CQ'LESTE AVMA
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592; VV.-irn. & Will., Oreliiil Album, VIII., t. 361.
1.. 692 Cin not=).
T UliyiichiKtylis, chnractcriscil by its shorlly bi
in Card. Cliron., 1885, pt 1,
). r. inGartl. Chron,, 1885, pi
This channiiif and vcty distmct little plant bslongs to Ihc a«
considered a distinct genus, though the lip and spur are identical with those of Saecoliibiui... It is a native of Siam, ai.. .
by Kobbclin, who states that he found it growing upon isolated trees in the rice fields of thai country. It a|)i>eiit5 th;it the t-rr-inid ha.
alion by burning, and the plants were found gron ing upon the charred slumps which had survived Ilio fire.«. It apjKars to Iiavc (lov
in Europe in the collection of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Hart., M.?., at Burfor.l l.odgc, Dorking, in 1885, »-hcncc specimens were sent to I
iption. It no^vcrs during July and August, and remains frcsit for two or three weeks if the atmosphere is not kept too damp.
First-class Certlficitc by the Koj'al
colours, blue being a verj- rare colour among orchi.
white, lipped with light blue, and llio lip briglit azi;
. n July, I
The dei.se ra ajici;
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THIS lovely Siamese species first flowered in 1885 in the Burfard Lodge collection, and was described by the late Prof.
H- G. Reich en bacli in tlie Gardeners Chronicle for May 30, page 692. It is quite distinct from the majority of Saccolabiums
in bearing upright flower spikes. The largest number of species in this handsome genus carry pendulous, long
racemcs, of denscly-packed blossoms, varying in colour from white, rose, purple, violet, and orange-crimson, but no kinds
with which we are acquainted bear such charming sapphire and azurc-blue tipped blossoms as S, cceleste, with just
enough white in the sepals and petals to make the flowers perfectly exquisite. In a large batch of plants there is an
almost infinite variety in size, form, and colouring—sometimes the white colour preponderating, at other times the blue.
It is, however, always a gem, and never fails to command admiration ; we should be glad to see this magnificent genus
more generally cultivated. What could better repay the amateur for his outlay and care than a selection of a dozen
Saccolabiums such as the following: S. ampullaceum, S. bellinum, S. Blumei, S. cceleste, S. curvifolium, S. giganteum,
S. guttatum, S- Harrisonianum, S- Hendersonianum, S. miniatum, S. pra;morsum, S. retusum ? Our collector describes
the subject of the plate as growing upon trees in Siam in hot, moist districts, M'here the land is often under water ftir a
considerable time in the rainy season, when the temperature is very high. The plants grow with marvellous tepidity,
emitting from among the leaves new roots in abundance, which grow with great vigour and freedom, apparently absorbing
the fertilising air to great advantage. After a time the rain suddenly ceases, and then sets in a scorching, dry
heat, often attended by forest fires, in which epiphytic plants siifl'er first and most severely. These fires often extend
for long distances, and destroy multitudes of noble trees and lovely plants, which a few short hours previously were
laden with handsome foliage and beautiful blossom.s-
Saccolabium cceleste must be grown in a stove temperature of about 65 deg. to 70 deg. F. in winter, and 70 deg.
to 75 deg. R in summer, and even more heat is desirable when the plants are in active growth. The plants should be
placed in clean potsherds and sphagnum moss—in baskets or pans—and suspended near the glass.
Our plate »as taken from a plant in the colleclion of Haron J. II. W. Sclirbder, The JJell, Slaines.
Hill
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