The possibilities of each genus are so fascinating that it is only with reluctance that we pass on to the next. The Cypripediums must be dismissed in far too short a space. Williams has devoted ninety-two pages to this genus as against fifty-five for the Cattleyas and fifty-four for the Dendrobiums. The amateur can only be urged to further independent research.

Botanists have lately decided on a complicated division altering the nomenclature of the Cypripedium, but for the present purpose all species can be dealt with under the old inclusive name. Cypripediums are both evergreen and deciduous. The deciduous groups are from South America and have chiefly a specialized botanical interest. All of North America boasts Cypripediums, but not many people are aware that the modest 'lady's slipper' and 'moccasin flower' are orchids and humble sisters to the regal Cattleya. Cypripediums are to be found in some form practically all over the world. (Listing and descriptions of native North American slippers may be found on page 112.)

More showy, and adaptable to greenhouse culture, the tropical Cypripediums, denizens of the Far East, are handsome plants with shiny dark-green foliage. These warmer growing types have hand­somely mottled leaves. They are the parents of the rounded-petal hybrids so prized by florists.

Cypripedium in its tropical forms is a genus highly recom­mended for amateurs. It is gratifyingly prolific, easy of culture and adaptable, and one of the few that can be grown in a dwelling. (Listing and descriptions of species with marked and unmarked leaves may be found on pages 112-13.)

The genus Cymbidium is a hardy one reaching an ever greater and well-deserved popularity. Plants are sympodial, terrestrial, semiterrestrial, and epiphytic. They are grown outdoors under lath in the tropics and thrive particularly on the West Coast of North America, where Southern California hopes to become the Cymbidium center of the world.

The plants have great solid pseudobulbs and very long grass-like leaves. From the depths of this graceful foliage (waist high), the flowers climb along tall, sturdy stems, usually erect, but droop­ing in some species. This handsome spray orchid has lent itself so well to hybridizing that it has attained a perfection in flower, of size and shape that rivals the Cattleya, and in range of color it is surpassed by no other orchid. The aim of modern hybridizers has been to produce a flower with a dorsal sepal and petals so round that the hand cannot be seen if held behind the flower— a far cry from the slim-petaled grandparents.

Species of Cymbidium have proved strangely difficult to grow under artificial conditions, probably owing to the difficulty of giving them proper aeration. For that reason as well as for their superior beauty and size, the hybrids are far better known than the species. They must be grown in a cool house or outdoors.

Although there are sixty known species, only about ten of them have been used to any extent in making the many lovely hybrids. (Listing and descriptions of species of this genus may be found on pages 113-14. Listing is for reference and not to tempt the amateur to produce or grow the plants.)

The genus Vanda contains many species represented by large handsome plants and a wide variety of beauty in the flowers. By some growers considered difficult to cultivate, their charm is well worth the supplying of their particular needs and the studying of their habits. The plants are pseudobulb-less, the leaves distichous (dis-tik-ous), or disposed in two parallel lines along the heavy, erect stem. The tendency of the stem is to grow up toward the sun, as the surprised amateur finds when his plant reaches the roof and has no more room to grow. The lower leaves frequently drop off. Thick aerial roots form along the stem and, when smooth, green-tipped, and fat, indicate that the plant is progress­ing. When they become shriveled and ringed, something is dras­tically wrong with their culture.

In the showier species the flowers are borne in loose racemes and have spreading sepals and petals; in others the petals are spread and tend to roll under. In the former type the texture of the flowers is papery but shines as though sprinkled with diamond dust. In the latter the texture is leathery or waxy and very heavy. The lip is often very inconspicuous. (Listing and descriptions of interesting and lovely Vandas to be grown in the hot house may be found on page 115.)

The genus Phalaenopsis boasts plants almost as beautiful as their flowers; they have smooth, shiny, large leaves, emanating from the central crown, and they lack pseudobulbs. Called by the florists 'butterfly orchids,' in their home they are more nearly cor­rectly known as 'moth orchids,' gleaming white and moth-like in the dark of night. In recent years they have often replaced lilies of the valley for bridal bouquets because of the purity of their white spray-like flowers. Heavy strap-like roots go forth searching for moisture and, owing to their habit of roving and clinging to foreign objects, constitute a considerable problem in repotting. Erect woody stems bear flowers prolifically until the weight causes them to curve gracefully.

The structure of the flowers is exquisite, the dorsal sepal rounded, shaping to a point at the top; the side petals broad and sweeping; the two lower sepals, narrower and sometimes over­lapping, forming a background for the remarkable lip, crested with yellow. Red lines in the throat seem to signal the way to the hybridizing insects, and the fore lobes of the lip are frequently elongated into curling tendrils. An intermediate house will serve though they prefer warmer conditions. (Listing and descriptions of species included in this genus may be found on pages 115-16.)

Epidendrum is a hardy genus to which belong a great number of so-called 'botanicals' that, because their flowers are small and of no commercial value, are of interest only to botanists. The plant is vine-like in some species, but has definite pseudobulbs in others; it is epiphytic and sympodial. The small flowers are very abundant, usually starry (slender sepals and petals as contrasted with the broad petals and sepals of Cattleya and Phalaenopsis), and frequently of brilliant, almost harsh, coloring—including all shades of red from orange to maroon. It has an affinity for Sophronitis (sof'fron-eye-tis), with which it readily crosses to form Epiphronitis, It grows like a weed in Mexico where hedges of E. radicans axe often seen. Plants have pseudobulbs of many and varied shapes. Outdoors or an intermediate, cool, or hot house will serve. (Listing and descriptions of species may be found on pages 116-17.)

Sophronitis is a genus of epiphytic, dwarf, evergreen plants similar in appearance and habit to Cattleya but requiring cooler conditions and more light. The coloring of the flowers is very brilliant. An intermediate or hot house will serve. (Listing and descriptions of species may be found on page 117.)

Members of the genus Odontoglossum have been found diffi­cult to grow under artificial cultivation, as they require conditions entirely different from those of most greenhouse orchids. Seldom found at an elevation of less than 5000 feet, they need shade, air, and moisture without being chilled. They are so showy and lovely, in respect to both plant—pseudobulbous and foliaceous— and to crisply serrated flowers, that it is well worth the effort to study their native environment and supply conditions to make them happy. The plants are small, compact, evergreen, sympodial, and epiphytic, and the flowers are borne along tall, curving spikes. The species are many and varied, all beautiful. They require cool-house culture with shade.

The genus is noted for its many fine natural hybrids. It crosses readily with Miltonia to form Odontonia, considered by many growers an improvement on the parents because of the larger flowers and greater ease of growth. It also hybridizes freely with Oncidium to form Odontocidium. (Listing and descriptions of species may be found on pages 117-19.)

Stanhopea is an interesting genus. It is epiphytic and sympodial, with large, showy, fragrant flowers, and has the habit of throwing the flower spike from the bottom of the plant, so that it requires potting in a basket. The flowers, not prolific, have a peculiar waxy texture and are disappointingly short-lived. If cut immediately and placed in water they will last a little longer. The fleshy promi­nent lip and organs for reproduction display many surprising  shapes in the different species. The plants are pseudobulbous and have dark green leaves. Either an intermediate or cooler house will serve. (Listing and descriptions of species of this genus may be found on page 119.)

The genus Miltonia has very fragile-looking plants, the pseudo-bulbs so pale a green as to appear transparent and the delicate foliage closely adhering to the pseudobulbs at the base and feath­ering out at the top. The plants are difficult to maintain without yellowing or spotting, and are very susceptible to thrips and red spiders, whose inroads still further mar their appearance. They are epiphytic and sympodial. The flowers are large for the size of the bulb and are borne in large numbers on a slender, erect stem.

Miltonia, because of its beauty and variety, offers desirable plants for an amateur collection. The flowers do not last well when cut, but if left on the plant are long-lived. If well tended the whole plant makes a graceful and attractive decoration or centerpiece. It crosses with Cochlioda to form Miltonioda. An intermediate house serves. (Listing and descriptions of species of this genus may be found on pages 119-20.)

The genus Phaius, although not one of the treasured 'commer­cials,' is satisfactory and easy to grow. The plant is terrestrial and epiphytic, handsomely ornamental, and usually pseudobulbous. It has large fine leaves from the midst of which rise tall, erect stems bearing large, showy flowers. The coloring is odd with the fre­quent combination of white and yellow, while the outside of the petals, sepals, and lip is white. Phaius crosses readily with Calanthe. An intermediate house serves. (Listing and descriptions of species of this genus may be found on page 120.)

The genus Calanthe is terrestrial, infrequently epiphytic, sym­podial, evergreen, and sometimes deciduous. Having large, wide, gracefully drooping leaves of shimmering texture and artistic grooving, it is much used in England for table decoration. The pseudobulbs are large, heavy, and of light olive-green, and the flowers grow in sprays and are delicately colored, though coarser in texture than most orchids. An intermediate or cool house will serve. (Listing and descriptions of species of this genus may be found on pages 120-21.^

Coelogyne is a pseudobulbous, evergreen, sympodial epiphyte. It varies considerably with the species, the bulbs of C. cristate being short, plump, and well-rounded, while those of C. Pan-durata are flattened, compressed, and distichous. The flowers are oddly attractive and of crisp texture, growing freely on racemes coming from the center of the new growths, and usually having sepals broader than the smaller petals. An intermediate or cool house will serve. (Listing and descriptions of species of this genus may be found on page 121.)

The genus Lycaste is a sympodial epiphyte, attractive and easy to grow. It has thick pseudobulbs and short, ribbed leaves, and in some species the flowers are extremely large for the size of the plant. There is a wide color range, from deep pink to greenish-brown; the texture is exquisite and glistening; and the shape is oddly like a half-open rosebud. It is strictly a native of the tropical Western Hemisphere. It may be accommodated in a cool or in­termediate house. (Listing and descriptions of species of this genus may be found on pages 121-2.)

Maxillaria, of chiefly botanical interest, is a genus very similar to Lycaste; in fact, it was formerly confused with that genus. It is a monopodial epiphyte with many close-growing, rounded, slightly flattened pseudobulbs, and it blooms prolifically, with tiny flowers. The leaves are usually grass-like. An intermediate house serves. (Listing and descriptions of species of this genus may be found on page 122.)

Cycnoches is a lovely genus that has been neglected by Ameri­can growers. The plants have heavy, woody pseudobulbs. The graceful foliage is frequently shed in the winter. In fact, flowering is such a strain on the plant that the old bulb often gives all its strength to the new growth, and then shrivels and dies. An in­judicious use of water is disastrous. The plant produces large, handsome flowers whose shape has earned for it the graceful name 'swan's neck orchid.' The flowers are so unusual and beautiful that they are worth any amount of labor involved in encouraging them to bloom. According to Lindley, C. ventricosum produces male, female, and neuter flowers in the same scape. It enjoys the hot house with Vandas and Phalaenopsis. (Listing and descriptions of species of this genus may be found on page 122.)

Catasetum is a genus that is of special interest not because of its beauty, but because of the weird shape of its flowers and the amazing contrivances used in pollination. It is seldom seen in col­lections. It is definitely epiphytic, producing aerial roots in pro­fusion; it is sympodial and native to Central America. When the plant was originally found, it was thought that the male flower-producing plant and the female were two separate species. Green, yellow, and brown predominate in the color scheme of the flowers. An intermediate house serves.

Trichopelia is another genus, of largely botanical interest. The plants are dwarf and evergreen. They have fleshy pseudobulbs and leaves and showy, curiously shaped flowers, usually bearing tubular-shaped lips. An intermediate or hot house will serve. /Listing and descriptions of species may be found on page 122.)

Masdevallia is a large genus which is remarkable principally for the weird and fantastic shape taken by its flowers. It is native to tropical America. It is sympodial and both terrestrial and epi­phytic. Its creeping rhizome and shiny leaves take the place of pseudobulbs. The flowers resemble unearthly insects, with long, tapering, curled sepals and a tubular or contorted lip, which is most frequently white. An intermediate house will serve.

Chysis is a small genus containing only about eight species. It is epiphytic, evergreen, and pseudobulbous. It has showering flowers, which have a divided lip with a spreading skirt-like base, and erect side lobes, lightly curving together, with a hooded effect. (Listing and descriptions of some of the species of this genus may be found on page 123.)

Renanthera, a native of India and the South Pacific islands, is a genus of epiphytic and distichous growth and a difficult roving habit. Some of the species have $howy flowers, but they are diffi­cult to grow. It may be accommodated in a hot house. (Listing and descriptions of species of this genus may be found on page 123.)

It may surprise and interest the amateur to know that Vanilla is a genus of the orchid family. It is exceedingly difficult to grow, however, owing to its far-roving, vine-like habit of growth, and it infrequently flowers in the temperate zone. It is monopodial, epi­phytic, and evergreen. It lacks pseudobulbs, but has heavy, fleshy leaves. The flowers are fairly large, but the plant must assume considerable size before it will flower. The seed pods are the source of vanilla. An intermediate or hot house will serve. (List­ing and descriptions of species of this genus may be found on page 123.)

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here...