Warm orchids come from a sub-tropic region, or from the mountains of a hotter climate, where their kinsfolk dwelling9 in the plains defy the thermometer; just as in sub-tropic lands warm species occupy the lowlands, while the heights furnish Odontoglossums and such lovers of a chilly10 atmosphere. There are, however, some warm Odontoglossums, notable among them O. vexillarium, which botanists13 class with the Miltonias. This species is very fashionable, and I give it the place of honour; but not, in my own view, for its personal merits. The name is so singularly appropriate that one would like to hear the inventor's reasons for transfiguring it. Vexillum we know, and vexillarius, but vexillarium goes beyond my Latin. However, it is an intelligible14 word, and those acquainted with the appearance of "regimental colours" in Old Rome perceive its fitness at a glance. The flat bloom seems to hang suspended from its centre, just as the vexillum figures in bas-relief—on the Arch of Antoninus, for example. To my mind the colouring is insipid15, as a rule, and the general effect stark16—fashion in orchids, as in other things, has little reference to taste. I repeat with emphasis, as a rule, for some priceless specimens18 are no less than astounding19 in their blaze of colour, the quintessence of a million uninteresting blooms. The poorest of these plants have merit, no doubt, for those who can accommodate giants. They grow fast and big. There are specimens in this country a yard across, which display a hundred and fifty or two hundred flowers open at the same time for months. A superb show they make, rising over the pale sea-green foliage20, four spikes21 perhaps from a single bulb. But this is a beauty of general effect, which must not be analyzed23, as I think.
Odontoglossum vexillarium is brought from Colombia. There are two forms: the one—small, evenly red, flowering in autumn—was discovered by Frank Klaboch, nephew to the famous Roezl, on the Dagua River, in Antioquia. For eight years he persisted in despatching small quantities to Europe, though every plant died; at length a safer method of transmission was found, but simultaneously24 poor Klaboch himself succumbed25. It is an awful country—perhaps the wettest under the sun. Though a favourite hunting-ground of collectors now—for Cattleyas of value come from hence, besides this precious Odontoglot—there are still no means of transport, saving Indians and canoes. O. vexillarium would not be thought costly26 if buyers knew how rare it is, how expensive to get, and how terribly difficult to bring home. Forty thousand pieces were despatched to Mr. Sander in one consignment—he hugged himself with delight when three thousand proved to have some trace of vitality27.
Mr. Watson, Assistant Curator at Kew, recalls an amusing instance of the value and the mystery attached to this species so late as 1867. In that year Professor Reichenbach described it for the first time. He tells how a friend lent him the bloom upon a negative promise under five heads—"First, not to show it to any one else; (2) not to speak much about it; (3) not to take a drawing of it; (4) not to have a photograph made; (5) not to look oftener than three times at it." By-the-bye, Mr. Watson gives the credit of the first discovery to the late Mr. Bowman; but I venture to believe that my account is exact—in reference to the Antioquia variety, at least.
The other form occurs in the famous district of Frontino, about two hundred and fifty miles due north of the first habitat, and shows—savants would add "of course"—a striking difference. In the geographical28 distinctions of species will be found the key to whole volumes of mystery that perplex us now. I once saw three Odontoglossums ranged side by side, which even an expert would pronounce mere29 varieties of the same plant if he were not familiar with them—Od. Williamsi, Od. grande, and Od. Schlieperianum. The middle one everybody knows, by sight at least, a big, stark, spread-eagle flower, gamboge yellow mottled with red-brown, vastly effective in the mass, but individually vulgar. On one side was Od. Williamsi, essentially30 the same in flower and bulb and growth, but smaller; opposite stood Od. Schlieperianum, only to be distinguished31 as smaller still. But both these latter rank as species. They are separated from the common type, O. grande, by nearly ten degrees of latitude32 and ten degrees of longitude33, nor—we might almost make an affidavit—do any intermediate forms exist in the space between; and those degrees are sub-tropical, by so much more significant than an equal distance in our zone. Instances of the same class and more surprising are found in many genera of orchid4.
The Frontino vexillarium grows "cooler," has a much larger bloom, varies in hue34 from purest white to deepest red, and flowers in May or June. The most glorious of these things, however, is O. vex11. superbum, a plant of the greatest rarity, conspicuous35 for its blotch36 of deep purple in the centre of the lip, and its little dot of the same on each wing. Doubtless this is a natural hybrid37 betwixt the Antioquia form and Odontoglossum Roezlii, which is its neighbour. The chance of finding a bit of superbum in a bundle of the ordinary kind lends peculiar38 excitement to a sale of these plants. Such luck first occurred to Mr. Bath, in Stevens' Auction39 Rooms. He paid half-a-crown for a very weakly fragment, brought it round, flowered it, and received a prize for good gardening in the shape of seventy-two pounds, cheerfully paid by Sir Trevor Lawrence for a plant unique at that time. I am reminded of another little story. Among a great number of Cypripedium insigne received at St. Albans, and "established," Mr. Sander noted41 one presently of which the flower-stalk was yellow instead of brown, as is usual. Sharp eyes are a valuable item of the orchid-grower's stock-in-trade, for the smallest peculiarity42 among such "sportive" objects should not be neglected. Carefully he put the yellow stalk aside—the only one among thousands, one might say myriads43, since C. insigne is one of our oldest and commonest orchids, and it never showed this phenomenon before. In due course the flower opened, and proved to be all golden! Mr. Sander cut his plant in two, sold half for seventy-five pounds to a favoured customer, and the other half, publicly, for one hundred guineas. One of the purchasers has divided his plant now and sold two bits at 100 guineas. Another piece was bought back by Mr. Sander, who wanted it for hybridizing, at 250 guineas—not a bad profit for the buyer, who has still two plants left. Another instance occurs to me while I write—such legends of shrewdness worthily44 rewarded fascinate a poor journalist who has the audacity45 to grow orchids. Mr. Harvey, solicitor46, of Liverpool, strolling through the houses at St. Albans on July 24, 1883, remarked a plant of L?lia anceps, which had the ring-mark on its pseudo-bulb much higher up than is usual. There might be some meaning in that eccentricity47, he thought, paid two guineas for the little thing, and on December 1, 1888, sold it back to Mr. Sander for 200l. It proved to be L. a. Amesiana, the grandest form of L. anceps yet discovered—rosy white, with petals49 deeply splashed; thus named after F.L. Ames, an American amateur. Such pleasing opportunities might arise for you or me any day.
The first name that arises to most people in thinking of warm orchids is Cattleya, and naturally. The genus Odontoglossum alone has more representatives under cultivation50. Sixty species of Cattleya are grown by amateurs who pay special attention to these plants; as for the number of "varieties" in a single species, one boasts forty, another thirty, several pass the round dozen. They are exclusively American, but they flourish over all the enormous space between Mexico and the Argentine Republic. The genus is not a favourite of my own, for somewhat of the same reason which qualifies my regard for O. vexillarium. Cattleyas are so obtrusively51 beautiful, they have such great flowers, which they thrust upon the eye with such assurance of admiration52! Theirs is a style of effect—I refer to the majority—which may be called infantine; such as an intelligent and tasteful child might conceive if he had no fine sense of colour, and were too young to distinguish a showy from a charming form. But I say no more.
The history of Orchids long established is uncertain, but I believe that the very first Cattleya which appeared in Europe was C. violacea Loddigesi, imported by the great firm whose name it bears, to which we owe such a heavy debt. Two years later came C. labiata, of which more must be said; then C. Mossi?, from Caraccas; fourth, C. Trian? named after Colonel Trian, of Tolima, in the United States of Colombia. Trian well deserved immortality53, for he was a native of that secluded54 land—and a botanist12! It is a natural supposition that his orchid must be the commonest of weeds in its home; seeing how all Europe is stocked with it, and America also, rash people might say there are millions in cultivation. But it seems likely that C. Trian? was never very frequent, and at the present time assuredly it is so scarce that collectors are not sent after it. Probably the colonel, like many other savants, was an excellent man of business, and he established "a corner" when he saw the chance. C. Mossi? stands in the same situation—or indeed worse; it can scarcely be found now. These instances convey a serious warning. In seventy years we have destroyed the native stock of two orchids, both so very free in propagating that they have an exceptional advantage in the struggle for existence. How long can rare species survive, when the demand strengthens and widens year by year, while the means of communication and transport become easier over all the world? Other instances will be mentioned in their place.
Island species are doomed55, unless, like L?lia elegans, they have inaccessible56 crags on which to find refuge. It is only a question of time; but we may hope that Governments will interfere57 before it is too late. Already Mr. Burbidge has suggested that "some one" who takes an interest in orchids should establish a farm, a plantation58, here and there about the world, where such plants grow naturally, and devote himself to careful hybridization on the spot. "One might make as much," he writes, "by breeding orchids as by breeding cattle, and of the two, in the long run, I should prefer the orchid farm." This scheme will be carried out one day, not so much for the purpose of hybridization as for plain "market-gardening;" and the sooner the better.
The prospect59 is still more dark for those who believe—as many do—that no epiphytal orchid under any circumstances can be induced to establish itself permanently60 in our greenhouses as it does at home. Doubtless, they say, it is possible to grow them and to flower them, by assiduous care, upon a scale which is seldom approached under the rough treatment of Nature. But they are dying from year to year, in spite of appearances. That it is so in a few cases can hardly be denied; but, seeing how many plants which have not changed hands since their establishment, twenty or thirty or forty years ago, have grown continually bigger and finer, it seems much more probable that our ignorance is to blame for the loss of those species which suddenly collapse61. Sir Trevor Lawrence observed the other day: "With regard to the longevity62 of orchids, I have one which I know to have been in this country for more than fifty years, probably even twenty years longer than that—Renanthera coccinea." The finest specimens of Cattleya in Mr. Stevenson Clarke's houses have been "grown on" from small pieces imported twenty years ago. If there were more collections which could boast, say, half a century of uninterrupted attention, we should have material for forming a judgment63; as a rule, the dates of purchase or establishment were not carefully preserved till late years.
But there is one species of Cattleya which must needs have seventy years of existence in Europe, since it had never been re-discovered till 1890. When we see a pot of C. labiata, the true, autumn-flowering variety, more than two years old, we know that the very plant itself must have been established about 1818, or at least its immediate64 parent—for no seedling65 has been raised to public knowledge.[4]
In avowing66 a certain indifference67 to Cattleyas, I referred to the bulk, of course. The most gorgeous, the stateliest, the most imperial of all flowers on this earth, is C. Dowiana—unless it be C. aurea, a "geographical variety" of the same. They dwell a thousand miles apart at least, the one in Colombia, the other in Costa Rica; and neither occurs, so far as is known, in the great intervening region. Not even a connecting link has been discovered; but the Atlantic coast of Central America is hardly explored, much less examined. In my time it was held, from Cape68 Camarin to Chagres, by independent tribes of savages—not independent in fact alone, but in name also. The Mosquito Indians are recognized by Europe as free; the Guatusos kept a space of many hundred miles from which no white man had returned; when I was in those parts, the Talamancas, though not so unfriendly, were only known by the report of adventurous69 pedlars. I made an attempt—comparatively spirited—to organize an exploring party for the benefit of the Guatusos, but no single volunteer answered our advertisements in San José de Costa Rica; I have lived to congratulate myself on that disappointment. Since my day a road has been cut through their wilds to Limon, certain luckless Britons having found the money for a railway; but an engineer who visited the coast but two years ago informs me that no one ever wandered into "the bush." Collectors have not been there, assuredly. So there may be connecting links between C. Dowiana and C. aurea in that vast wilderness70, but it is quite possible there are none.
Words could not picture the glory of these marvels72. In each the scheme of colour is yellow and crimson73, but there are important modifications74. Yellow is the ground all through in Cattleya aurea—sepals, petals, and lip; unbroken in the two former, in the latter superbly streaked75 with crimson. But Cattleya Dowiana shows crimson pencillings on its sepals, while the ground colour of the lip is crimson, broadly lined and reticulated with gold. Imagine four of these noble flowers on one stalk, each half a foot across! But it lies beyond the power of imagination.
C. Dowiana was discovered by Warscewicz about 1850, and he sent home accounts too enthusiastic for belief. Steady-going Britons utterly77 refused to credit such a marvel71—his few plants died, and there was an end of it for the time. I may mention an instance of more recent date, where the eye-witness of a collector was flatly rejected at home. Monsieur St. Leger, residing at Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, wrote a warm description of an orchid in those parts to scientific friends. The account reached England, and was treated with derision. Monsieur St. Leger, nettled78, sent some dried flowers for a testimony79; but the mind of the Orchidaceous public was made up. In 1883 he brought a quantity of plants and put them up at auction; nobody in particular would buy. So those reckless or simple or trusting persons who invested a few shillings in a bundle had all the fun to themselves a few months afterwards, when the beautiful Oncidium Jonesianum appeared, to confound the unbelieving. It must be added, however, that orchid-growers may well become an incredulous generation. When their judgment leads them wrong we hear of it, the tale is published, and outsiders mock. But these gentlemen receive startling reports continually, honest enough for the most part. Much experience and some loss have made them rather cynical80 when a new wonder is announced. The particular case of Monsieur St. Leger was complicated by the extreme resemblance which the foliage of Onc. Jonesianum bears to that of Onc. cibolletum, a species almost worthless. Unfortunately the beautiful thing declines to live with us—as yet.
Cattleya Dowiana was rediscovered by Mr. Arce, when collecting birds: it must have been a grand moment for Warscewicz when the horticultural world was convulsed by its appearance in bloom. Cattleya aurea had no adventures of this sort. Mr. Wallis found it in 1868 in the province of Antioquia, and again on the west bank of the Magdalena; but it is very rare. This species is persecuted81 in its native home by a beetle82, which accompanies it to Europe not infrequently—in the form of eggs, no doubt. A more troublesome alien is the fly which haunts Cattleya Mendellii, and for a long time prejudiced growers against that fine species, until, in fact, they had made a practical and rather costly study of its habits. An experienced grower detects the presence of this enemy at a glance. It pierces an "eye"—a back one in general, happily—and deposits an egg in the very centre. Presently this growth begins to swell83 in a manner that delights the ingenuous84 horticulturist, until he remarks that its length does not keep pace with its breadth. But one remedy has yet been discovered—cutting off any suspected growth. We understand now that C. Mendellii is as safe to import as any other species, unless it be gathered at the wrong time.[5]
Among the most glorious, rarest, and most valuable of Cattleyas is C. Hardyana, doubtless a natural hybrid of C. aurea with C. gigas Sanderiana. Few of us have seen it—two-hundred-guinea plants are not common spectacles. It has an immense flower, rose-purple; the lip purple-magenta, veined with gold. Cattleya Sanderiana offers an interesting story. Mr. Mau, one of Mr. Sander's collectors, was despatched to Bogota in search of Odontoglossum crispum. While tramping through the woods, he came across a very large Cattleya at rest, and gathered such pieces as fell in his way—attaching so little importance to them, however, that he did not name the matter in his reports. Four cases Mr. Mau brought home with his stock of Odontoglossums, which were opened in due course of business. We can quite believe that it was one of the stirring moments of Mr. Sander's life. The plants bore many dry specimens of last year's inflorescence, displaying such extraordinary size as proved the variety to be new; and there is no large Cattleya of indifferent colouring. To receive a plant of that character unannounced, undescribed, is an experience without parallel for half a century. Mr. Mau was sent back by next mail to secure every fragment he could find. Meantime, those in hand were established, and Mr. Brymer, M.P., bought one—Mr. Brymer is immortalized by the Dendrobe which bears his name. The new Cattleya proved kindly85, and just before Mr. Mau returned with some thousands of its like Mr. Brymer's purchase broke into bloom. That must have been another glorious moment for Mr. Sander, when the great bud unfolded, displaying sepals and petals of the rosiest86, freshest, softest pink, eleven inches across; and a crimson labellum exquisitely88 shown up by a broad patch of white on either side of the throat. Mr. Brymer was good enough to lend his specimen17 for the purpose of advertisement, and Messrs. Stevens enthusiastically fixed89 a green baize partition across their rooms as a background for the wondrous90 novelty. What excitement reigned91 there on the great day is not to be described. I have heard that over 2000l. was taken in the room.
Most of the Cattleyas with which the public is familiar—Mossi?, Trian?, Mendellii, and so forth92—have white varieties; but an example absolutely pure is so uncommon93 that it fetches a long price. Loveliest of these is C. Skinneri alba. For generations, if not for ages, the people of Costa Rica have been gathering94 every morsel95 they can find, and planting it upon the roofs of their mud-built churches. Roezl and the early collectors had a "good time," buying these semi-sacred flowers from the priests, bribing96 the parishioners to steal them, or, when occasion served, playing the thief themselves. But the game is nearly up. Seldom now can a piece of Cat. Skinneri alba be obtained by honest means, and when a collector arrives guards are set upon the churches that still keep their decoration. No plant has ever been found in the forest, we understand.
It is just the same case with L?lia anceps alba. The genus L?lia is distinguished from Cattleya by a peculiarity to be remarked only in dissection97; its pollen98 masses are eight as against four. To my taste, however, the species are more charming on the whole. There is L. purpurata. Casual observers always find it hard to grasp the fact that orchids are weeds in their native homes, just like foxgloves and dandelions with us. In this instance, as I have noted, they flatly refuse to believe, and certainly "upon the face of it" their incredulity is reasonable.
L?lia purpurata falls under the head of hot orchids. L. anceps, however, is not so exacting99; many people grow it in the cool house when they can expose it there to the full blaze of sunshine. In its commonest form it is divinely beautiful. I have seen a plant in Mr. Eastey's collection with twenty-three spikes, the flowers all open at once. Such a spectacle is not to be described in prose. But when the enthusiast76 has rashly said that earth contains no more ethereal loveliness, let him behold100 L. a. alba, the white variety. The dullest man I ever knew, who had a commonplace for all occasions, found no word in presence of that marvel. Even the half-castes of Mexico who have no soul, apparently101, for things above horseflesh and cockfights, and love-making, reverence102 this saintly bloom. The Indians adore it. Like their brethren to the south, who have tenderly removed every plant of Cattleya Skinneri alba for generations unknown, to set upon their churches, they collect this supreme103 effort of Nature and replant it round their huts. So thoroughly has the work been done in either case that no single specimen was ever seen in the forest. Every one has been bought from the Indians, and the supply is exhausted104; that is to say, a good many more are known to exist, but very rarely now can the owner be persuaded to part with one. The first example reached England nearly half a century ago, sent probably by a native trader to his correspondent in this country; but, as was usual at that time, the circumstances are doubtful. It found its way, somehow, to Mr. Dawson, of Meadowbank, a famous collector, and by him it was divided. Search was made for the treasure in its home, but vainly; travellers did not look in the Indian gardens. No more arrived for many years. Mr. Sander once conceived a fine idea. He sent one of his collectors to gather L?lia a. alba at the season when it is in bud, with an intention of startling the universe by displaying a mass of them in full bloom; they were still more uncommon then than now, when a dozen flowering plants is still a show of which kings may be proud. Mr. Bartholomeus punctually fulfilled his instructions, collected some forty plants with their spikes well developed; attached them to strips of wood which he nailed across shallow boxes, and shipped them to San Francisco. Thence they travelled by fast train to New York, and proceeded without a moment's delay to Liverpool on board the Umbria; it was one of her first trips. All went well. Confidently did Mr. Sander anticipate the sensation when a score of those glorious plants were set out in full bloom upon the tables. But on opening the boxes he found every spike22 withered105. The experiment is so tempting106 that it has been essayed once more, with a like result. The buds of L?lia anceps will not stand sea air.
Catasetums do not rank as a genus among our beauties; in fact, saving C. pileatum, commonly called C. Bungerothi, and C. barbatum, I think of none, at this moment, which are worthy107 of attraction on that ground. C. fimbriatum, indeed, would be lovely if it could be persuaded to show itself. I have seen one plant which condescended108 to open its spotted109 blooms, but only one. No orchids, however, give more material for study; on this account Catasetum was a favourite with Mr. Darwin. It is approved also by unlearned persons who find relief from the monotony of admiration as they stroll round in observing its acrobatic performances. The "column" bears two horns; if these be touched, the pollen-masses fly as if discharged from a catapult. C. pileatum, however, is very handsome, four inches across, ivory white, with a round well in the centre of its broad lip, which makes a theme for endless speculation110. The daring eccentricities111 of colour in this class of plant have no stronger example than C. callosum, a novelty from Caraccas, with inky brown sepals and petals, brightest orange column, labellum of verdigris-green tipped with orange to match.
Schomburgkias are not often seen. Having a boundless112 choice of fine things which grow and flower without reluctance113, the practical gardener gets irritated in these days when he finds a plant beyond his skill. It is a pity, for the Schomburgkias are glorious things—in especial Sch. tibicinis. No description has done it justice, and few are privileged to speak as eye-witnesses. The clustering flowers hang down, sepals and petals of dusky mauve, most gracefully115 frilled and twisted, encircling a great hollow labellum which ends in a golden drop. That part of the cavity which is visible between the handsome incurved wings has bold stripes of dark crimson. The species is interesting, too. It comes from Honduras, where the children use its great hollow pseudo-bulbs as trumpets—whence the name. At their base is a hole—a touch-hole, as we may say, the utility of which defies our botanists. Had Mr. Belt travelled in those parts, he might have discovered the secret, as in the similar case of the Bullthorn, one of the Gummifer?. The great thorns of that bush have just such a hole, and Mr. Belt proved by lengthy116 observations that it is designed, to speak roughly, for the ingress of an ant peculiar to that acacia, whose duty it is to defend the young shoots—vide Belt's "Naturalist117 in Nicaragua," page 218. Importers are too well aware that Schomburgkia tibicinis also is inhabited by an ant of singular ferocity, for it survives the voyage, and rushes forth to battle when the case is opened. We may suppose that it performs a like service.
Dendrobiums are "warm" mostly; of the hot species, which are many, and the cool, which are few, I have not to speak here. But a remark made at the beginning of this chapter especially applies to Dendrobes. If they be started early, so that the young growths are well advanced by June 1; if the situation be warm, and a part of the house sunny—if they be placed in that part without any shade till July, and freely syringed—with a little extra attention many of them will do well enough. That is to say, they will make such a show of blossom as is mighty118 satisfactory in the winter time. We must not look for "specimens," but there should be bloom enough to repay handsomely the very little trouble they give. Among those that may be treated so are D. Wardianum, Falconeri, crassinode, Pierardii, crystallinum, Devonianum—sometimes—and nobile, of course. Probably there are more, but these I have tried myself.
Dendrobium Wardianum, at the present day, comes almost exclusively from Burmah—the neighbourhood of the Ruby119 Mines is its favourite habitat. But it was first brought to England from Assam in 1858, when botanists regarded it as a form of D. Falconeri. This error was not so strange as its seems, for the Assamese variety has pseudo-bulbs much less sturdy than those we are used to see, and they are quite pendulous120. It was rather a lively business collecting orchids in Burmah before the annexation121. The Roman Catholic missionaries122 established there made it a source of income, and they did not greet an intruding123 stranger with warmth—not genial124 warmth, at least. He was forbidden to quit the town of Bhamo, an edict which compelled him to employ native collectors—in fact, coolies—himself waiting helplessly within the walls; but his reverend rivals, having greater freedom and an acquaintance with the language, organized a corps125 of skirmishers to prowl round and intercept126 the natives returning with their loads. Doubtless somebody received the value when they made a haul, but who, is uncertain perhaps—and the stranger was disappointed, anyhow. It may be believed that unedifying scenes arose—especially on two or three occasions when an agent had almost reached one of the four gates before he was intercepted128. For the hapless collector—having nothing in the world to do—haunted those portals all day long, flying from one to the other in hope to see "somebody coming." Very droll129, but Burmah is a warm country for jests of the kind. Thus it happened occasionally that he beheld130 his own discomfiture131, and rows ensued at the Mission-house. At length Mr. Sander addressed a formal petition to the Austrian Archbishop, to whom the missionaries owed allegiance. He received a sympathetic answer, and some assistance.
From the Ruby Mines also comes a Dendrobium so excessively rare that I name it only to call the attention of employés in the new company. This is D. rhodopterygium. Sir Trevor Lawrence has or had a plant, I believe; there are two or three at St. Albans; but the lists of other dealers132 will be searched in vain. Sir Trevor Lawrence had also a scarlet133 species from Burmah; but it died even before the christening, and no second has yet been found. Sumatra furnishes a scarlet Dendrobe, D. Forstermanni, but it again is of the utmost rarity. Baron134 Schroeder boasts three specimens—which have not yet flowered, however. From Burmah comes D. Brymerianum, of which the story is brief, but very thrilling if we ponder it a moment. For the missionaries sent this plant to Europe without a description—they had not seen the bloom, doubtless—and it sold cheap enough. We may fancy Mr. Brymer's emotion, therefore, when the striking flower opened. Its form is unique, though some other varieties display a long fringe—as that extraordinary object, Nanodes Medus?, and also Brassavola Digbyana, which is exquisitely lovely sometimes. In the case of D. Brymerianum the bright yellow lip is split all round, for two-thirds of its expanse, into twisted filaments135. We may well ask what on earth is Nature's purpose in this eccentricity; but it is a question that arises every hour to the most thoughtless being who grows orchids.
Everybody knows Dendrobium nobile so well that it is not to be discussed in prose; something might be done in poetry, perhaps, by young gentlemen who sing of buttercups and daisies, but the rhyme would be difficult. D. nobile nobilius, however, is by no means so common—would it were! This glorified136 form turned up among an importation made by Messrs. Rollisson. They propagated it, and sold four small pieces, which are still in cultivation. But the troubles of that renowned137 firm, to which we owe so great a debt, had already begun. The mother-plant was neglected. It had fallen into such a desperate condition when Messrs. Rollisson's plants were sold, under a decree in bankruptcy138, that the great dealers refused to bid for what should have been a little gold-mine. A casual market-gardener hazarded thirty shillings, brought it round so far that he could establish a number of young plants, and sold the parent for forty pounds at last. There are, however, several fine varieties of D. nobile more valuable than nobilius. D. n. Sanderianum resembles that form, but it is smaller and darker. Albinos have been found; Baron Schroeder has a beautiful example. One appeared at Stevens' Rooms, announced as the single instance in cultivation—which is not quite the fact, but near enough for the auction-room, perhaps. It also was imported originally by Mr. Sander, with D. n. Sanderianum. Biddings reached forty-three pounds, but the owner would not deal at the price. Albinos are rare among the Dendrobes.
D. nobile Cooksoni was the fons et origo of an unpleasant misunderstanding. It turned up in the collection of Mr. Lange, distinguished by a reversal of the ordinary scheme of colour. There is actually no end to the delightful139 vagaries140 of these plants. If people only knew what interest and pleasing excitement attends the inflorescence of an imported orchid—one, that is, which has not bloomed before in Europe—they would crowd the auction-rooms in which every strange face is marked now. There are books enough to inform them, certainly; but who reads an Orchid Book? Even the enthusiast only consults it.
Dendrobium nobile Cooksoni, then, has white tips to petal48 and sepal; the crimson spot keeps its place; and the inside of the flower is deep red—an inversion141 of the usual colouring. Mr. Lange could scarcely fail to observe this peculiarity, but he seems to have thought little of it. Mr. Cookson, paying him a visit, was struck, however—as well he might be—and expressed a wish to have the plant. So the two distinguished amateurs made an exchange. Mr. Cookson sent a flower at once to Professor Reichenbach, who, delighted and enthusiastic, registered it upon the spot under the name of the gentleman from whom he received it. Mr. Lange protested warmly, demanding that his discovery should be called, after his residence, Heathfieldsayeanum. But Professor Reichenbach drily refused to consider personal questions; and really, seeing how short is life, and how long Dendrobium nobile Heathfield, &c., true philanthropists will hold him justified142.
We may expect wondrous Dendrobes from New Guinea. Some fine species have already arrived, and others have been sent in the dried inflorescence. Of D. phal?nopsis Schroederi I have spoken elsewhere. There is D. Goldiei; a variety of D. superbiens—but much larger. There is D. Albertesii, snow-white; D. Broomfieldianum, curiously143 like L?lia anceps alba in its flower—which is to say that it must be the loveliest of all Dendrobes. But this species has a further charm, almost incredible. The lip in some varieties is washed with lavender blue, in some with crimson! Another is nearly related to D. bigibbum, but much larger, with sepals more acute. Its hue is a glorious rosy-purple, deepening on the lip, the side lobes144 of which curl over and meet, forming a cylindrical146 tube, while the middle lobe145, prolonged, stands out at right angles, veined with very dark purple; this has just been named D. Statterianum. It has upon the disc an elevated, hairy crest147, like D. bigibbum, but instead of being white as always, more or less, in that instance, the crest of the new species is dark purple. I have been particular in describing this noble flower, because very, very few have beheld it. Those who live will see marvels when the Dutch and German portions of New Guinea are explored.
Recently I have been privileged to see another, the most impressive to my taste, of all the lovely genus. It is called D. atro-violaceum. The stately flowers hang down their heads, reflexed like a "Turban Lily," ten or a dozen on a spike. The colour is ivory-white, with a faintest tinge148 of green, and green spots are dotted all over. The lobes of the lip curl in, making half the circumference149 of a funnel150, the outside of which is dark violet-blue; with that fine colour the lip itself is boldly striped. They tell me that the public is not expected to "catch on" to this marvel. It hangs its head too low, and the contrast of hues151 is too startling. If that be so, we multiply schools of art and County Council lectures perambulate the realm, in vain. The artistic152 sense is denied us.
Madagascar also will furnish some astonishing novelties; it has already begun, in fact—with a vengeance153. Imagine a scarlet Cymbidium! That such a wonder existed has been known for some years, and three collectors have gone in search of it; two died, and the third has been terribly ill since his return to Europe—but he won the treasure, which we shall behold in good time. Those parts of Madagascar which especially attract botanists must be death-traps indeed! M. Léon Humblot tells how he dined at Tamatave with his brother and six compatriots, exploring the country with various scientific aims. Within twelve months he was the only survivor154. One of these unfortunates, travelling on behalf of Mr. Cutler, the celebrated155 naturalist of Bloomsbury Street, to find butterflies and birds, shot at a native idol156, as the report goes. The priests soaked him with paraffin, and burnt him on a table—perhaps their altar. M. Humblot himself has had awful experiences. He was attached to the geographical survey directed by the French Government, and ten years ago he found Phajus Humblotii and Phajus tuberculosus in the deadliest swamps of the interior. A few of the bulbs gathered lived through the passage home, and caused much excitement when offered for sale at Stevens' Auction Rooms. M. Humblot risked his life again, and secured a great quantity for Mr. Sander, but at a dreadful cost. He spent twelve months in the hospital at Mayotte, and on arrival at Marseilles with his plants the doctors gave him no hope of recovery. P. Humblotii is a marvel of beauty—rose-pink, with a great crimson labellum exquisitely frilled, and a bright green column.
Everybody who knows his "Darwin" is aware that Madagascar is the chosen home of the Angr?cums. All, indeed, are natives of Africa, so far as I know, excepting the delightful A. falcatum, which comes, strangely enough, from Japan. One cannot but suspect, under the circumstances, that this species was brought from Africa ages ago, when the Japanese were enterprising seamen157, and has been acclimatized by those skilful158 horticulturists. It is certainly odd that the only "cool" Aerides—the only one found, I believe, outside of India and the Eastern Tropics—also belongs to Japan, and a cool Dendrobe, A. arcuatum, is found in the Transvaal; and I have reason to hope that another or more will turn up when South Africa is thoroughly searched. A pink Angr?cum, very rarely seen, dwells somewhere on the West Coast; the only species, so far as I know, which is not white. It bears the name of M. Du Chaillu, who found it—he has forgotten where, unhappily. I took that famous traveller to St. Albans in the hope of quickening his recollection, and I fear I bored him afterwards with categorical inquiries159. But all was vain. M. Du Chaillu can only recall that once on a time, when just starting for Europe, it occurred to him to run into the bush and strip the trees indiscriminately. Mr. Sander was prepared to send a man expressly for this Angr?cum. The exquisite87 A. Sanderianum is a native of the Comorro Islands. No flower could be prettier than this, nor more deliciously scented160—when scented it is! It grows in a climate which travellers describe as Paradise, and, in truth, it becomes such a scene. Those who behold young plants with graceful114 garlands of snowy bloom twelve to twenty inches long are prone161 to fall into raptures162; but imagine it as a long-established specimen appears just now at St Albans, with racemes drooping163 two and a half feet from each new growth, clothed on either side with flowers like a double train of white long-tailed butterflies hovering164! A. Scottianum comes from Zanzibar, discovered, I believe, by Sir John Kirk; A. caudatum, from Sierra Leone. This latter species is the nearest rival of A. sesquipedale, showing "tails" ten inches long. Next in order for this characteristic detail rank A. Leonis and Kotschyi—the latter rarely grown—with seven-inch "tails;" Scottianum and Ellisii with six-inch; that is to say, they ought to show such dimensions respectively. Whether they fulfil their promise depends upon the grower.
With the exceptions named, this family belongs to Madagascar. It has a charming distinction, shared by no other genus which I recall, save, in less degree, Cattleya—every member is attractive. But I must concentrate myself on the most striking—that which fascinated Darwin. In the first place it should be pointed127 out that savants call this plant ?ranthus sesquipedalis, not Angr?cum—a fact useful to know, but unimportant to ordinary mortals. It was discovered by the Rev40. Mr. Ellis, and sent home alive, nearly thirty years ago; but civilized165 mankind has not yet done wondering at it. The stately growth, the magnificent green-white flowers, command admiration at a glance, but the "tail," or spur, offers a problem of which the thoughtful never tire. It is commonly ten inches long, sometimes fourteen inches, and at home, I have been told, even longer; about the thickness of a goose-quill, hollow, of course, the last inch and a half filled with nectar. Studying this appendage166 by the light of the principles he had laid down, Darwin ventured on a prophecy which roused special mirth among the unbelievers. Not only the abnormal length of the nectary had to be considered; there was, besides, the fact that all its honey lay at the base, a foot or more from the orifice. Accepting it as a postulate167 that every detail of the apparatus168 must be equally essential for the purpose it had to serve, he made a series of experiments which demonstrated that some insect of Madagascar—doubtless a moth2—must be equipped with a proboscis169 long enough to reach the nectar, and at the same time thick enough at the base to withdraw the pollinia—thus fertilizing170 the bloom. For, if the nectar had lain so close to the orifice that moths171 with a proboscis of reasonable length and thickness could get at it, they would drain the cup without touching172 the pollinia. Darwin never proved his special genius more admirably than in this case. He created an insect beyond belief, as one may say, by the force of logic173; and such absolute confidence had he in his own syllogism174 that he declared, "If such great moths were to become extinct in Madagascar, assuredly this Angr?cum would become extinct." I am not aware that Darwin's fine argument has yet been clinched175 by the discovery of that insect. But cavil176 has ceased. Long before his death a sphinx moth arrived from South Brazil which shows a proboscis between ten and eleven inches long—very nearly equal, therefore, to the task of probing the nectary of Angr?cum sesquipidale. And we know enough of orchids at this time to be absolutely certain that the Madagascar species must exist.
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technically
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| adv.专门地，技术上地 | |
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moth
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| n.蛾，蛀虫 | |
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orchids
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| n.兰花( orchid的名词复数 ) | |
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orchid
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| n.兰花，淡紫色 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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vex
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| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
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botanist
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| n.植物学家 | |
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botanists
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| n.植物学家，研究植物的人( botanist的名词复数 ) | |
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intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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insipid
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| adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的 | |
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stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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spikes
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| n.穗( spike的名词复数 )；跑鞋；（防滑）鞋钉；尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划 | |
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spike
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| n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效 | |
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analyzed
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| v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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geographical
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| adj.地理的；地区(性)的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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longitude
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| n.经线，经度 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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blotch
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| n.大斑点；红斑点；v.使沾上污渍，弄脏 | |
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hybrid
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| n.(动，植）杂种，混合物 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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auction
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| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
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rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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worthily
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| 重要地，可敬地，正当地 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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eccentricity
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| n.古怪，反常，怪癖 | |
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petal
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| n.花瓣 | |
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petals
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| n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 ) | |
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50
cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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obtrusively
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| adv.冒失地，莽撞地 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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55
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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57
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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longevity
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| n.长命；长寿 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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64
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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seedling
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| n.秧苗，树苗 | |
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avowing
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| v.公开声明，承认( avow的现在分词 ) | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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modifications
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| n.缓和( modification的名词复数 )；限制；更改；改变 | |
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streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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81
persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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beetle
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| n.甲虫，近视眼的人 | |
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83
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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84
ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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rosiest
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| adj.玫瑰色的( rosy的最高级 )；愉快的；乐观的；一切都称心如意 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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91
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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92
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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93
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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94
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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95
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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96
bribing
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| 贿赂 | |
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97
dissection
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| n.分析；解剖 | |
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98
pollen
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| n.[植]花粉 | |
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99
exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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100
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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101
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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102
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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103
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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104
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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105
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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106
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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107
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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108
condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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109
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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110
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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111
eccentricities
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| n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖 | |
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112
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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113
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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114
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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115
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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116
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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117
naturalist
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| n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
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118
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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119
ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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120
pendulous
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| adj.下垂的；摆动的 | |
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121
annexation
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| n.吞并，合并 | |
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122
missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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123
intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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124
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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125
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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126
intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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127
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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128
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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129
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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130
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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131
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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132
dealers
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| n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者 | |
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133
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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134
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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135
filaments
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| n.（电灯泡的）灯丝( filament的名词复数 )；丝极；细丝；丝状物 | |
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136
glorified
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| 美其名的，变荣耀的 | |
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137
renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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138
bankruptcy
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| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
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139
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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140
vagaries
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| n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 )；异想天开；异常行为；难以预测的情况 | |
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141
inversion
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| n.反向，倒转，倒置 | |
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142
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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143
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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144
lobes
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| n.耳垂( lobe的名词复数 )；（器官的）叶；肺叶；脑叶 | |
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145
lobe
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| n.耳垂，（肺，肝等的）叶 | |
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146
cylindrical
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| adj.圆筒形的 | |
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147
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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148
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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149
circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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150
funnel
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| n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集 | |
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151
hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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152
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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153
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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154
survivor
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| n.生存者，残存者，幸存者 | |
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155
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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156
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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157
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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158
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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159
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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160
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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161
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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162
raptures
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| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
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163
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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164
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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165
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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166
appendage
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| n.附加物 | |
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167
postulate
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| n.假定，基本条件；vt.要求，假定 | |
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168
apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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169
proboscis
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| n.（象的）长鼻 | |
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170
fertilizing
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| v.施肥( fertilize的现在分词 ) | |
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171
moths
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| n.蛾( moth的名词复数 ) | |
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172
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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173
logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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174
syllogism
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| n.演绎法，三段论法 | |
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175
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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176
cavil
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| v.挑毛病，吹毛求疵 | |
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