CYCNOCHES CHLORÜCHILON iv„/„/,.
Pscudobulbt fusiformes, crccl!, 5—a-pliylli. Folia lanceolata, acuta, pílcala. Raccinl 1—6-nori, Flores raagni. 1 Sépala lanccolalo-oblo
ala paullo lasiora, subfalcata. Labellum supcruui, sessile, obovato—v. elliplico-oblonguiii, acutum, medio ventricosum, basi caüosuni, calla ele
10 obtuso triangulan. Columna clongata, arcuata, gracilis, apice davala, c.talala, pollinifera, ? Pcrianihium simillimucn. Columna brevis, cr inalata,
ali- carnosa;, Iriangul.t, subinflexjE ; stigma inter alas situm.
CYCNOCHI£S CHI.OROCHILON, Klolescli in Otto S Dietr. Allg. Garlenz., VI. (1838), p.
t. 35, fig. 2 ; liehb. f. in Walp. Ann,, VI., p. 560 ; Warn. S Will. Orchid Album, VI., 1. 2C3 ; C
81, t 65 ; Rolfe in Card. Chron, iSpi, pt 2, pi>. 69 et 394-
This remarkable and handsome orchid was originally de.scrlbed by Dr. Klot«cli, in 1838, from a siKcinien sent to Berlin two years previously from
Maracaybo, in Caraccas, by Morili. According to I.indley it was also intro<luccd aboul tlie same time from Demerara by Messrs. Loddiges, of Ilacliney, in
whose colleclior the figure given in the " Sertum Orchidaceura " was prepared. Wagener also collecled it at Caracca.^, logether wiih another n
species, C. maculatuin, at an elevation of 4P00 feet above sea-level. Of late )
known, which is more than can be said of several other species of this remarkable genus. Although not brilliant in co
shade of yellovvish-grccn, wilh the front part of Ihe Hp of a very light yellow, and a deep green callus at the base, wh
are, moreover, deliciously fragrant and remain In perfection for a long period. Until recently one sex only appears to I
not succecded in finding a rceord of the other. Last .summer, however, the female flower appeared, both in the coJIcctic
Möns, Belgiura, and wilh Messrs. F. Sander & Co., of St. Albans, and in the former collection both sexes appeared on t
sibility of mistake. Years ago other species of the genus gave great surjjrise by Ihe production of totally dilToi-ent kind
Tiarkable to observe that in the present species the sepal.«, petals, and lip are not appreciably dilTereiit in
1 cnmparalively welli
ers arc of a pleasing
ig long and slender in the males, wiihout wings, and v
tout, with a pair of triangular, fleshy wings, between which Ihe stigma is situated, but
re represented in the annexed analytical drawings). The genus, therefore, comprises tw
ower closely resembles that of the female, both in shape and texture ; and HETGRANri
rgin broken up into a number of narrow radiating appendages. The pi
1 of M. Mou/eau de Lchaio, of I lyon,
e same plant, thus excluding all pos-
. of no\vcrs on the same plant ; it was
llaagei, ai
imperfect in this respect, though we m:
, It makes the sixth
ith the pollen normally developed, but in the females vc ,
with the pollinia either very iniperfoct or absent. (These differences
0 very distinct sections ; EUCVCNOCIIES, in which the lip of the mole
in which the lip of the male flower is totally difTercnt, very small,
esent species belongs to the first-named, together wilh C. Loddigesii,
greater number whose history is still
To tlie introduction of Cycnoclies chlorocliilon fi-oin Demerara about 1836 we are indebted to Messrs. Locidiges, of
Hackuey; it still occui)ies a prominent position in all collections of note in the coiintiy, Delonging- to the group
which includes the genus Stanhopea, Coryanthes, Mormodes, Gongora, and Catasetum, it is, pei'baps, the most favoured
of all these sections, if we except the variety pilcatum of the latter genus. Its flowers are bold, and wonderfully interesting
in their structural arrangements; in colour it is uniform greenish-yellow, excepting the lip, which is almost
Ciinary-yellow and creamy white, having an olive-green patch at the base. The column is long and gracefully curved,
broader at the a|3ex, and bears a marked resemblance to a bird's liead; and as the column rises and is archcd over the
broad convex labcllum, with the petals appearing, wing-like, at the sides, it bears a singular resemblance to a swan
with flapping wings, and hence the name of " Swan Orchid " has been given to it.
The flowers emit a peculiar, though not by any means unpleasant, odour—more particularly in the morning;
towards evening this becomes fainter, and scarcely perceptible. Its bloom.s keep fresh and perfect for a considerable time,
and in this respect it has a great advantage over other varieties of the same genus.
Peat and loam we find best for potting—about one-fourth of the latter being used—and it is advisable to free it
from any particles of earth, so that the fibrous part only is left. Plenty of drainage should be afforded;—watering
moderately until the new roots are produced, but afterwards it may be given with a freer hand ; but during the months
of October to January, ^vhen the plants are at rest, no water should be given. The warmest end of the Dendrobium
house, exposed to the full sunlight, suits its requirements to perfection. It is decidedly a basket plant. Of late year.s
our collectoi-s have found this singularly beautiful and attractive orchid at the outskirts of the woods near the coast of
Venezuela, and particularly in the neighbourhood of Caraccas.
Our plale was t.iken from a plant in the collection of the Dowager Lady Hoii-ard de Walden, Mote Park, Maidstone.