Division of Agr 39 E92 10. for THE CALIFORNIA AMATEUR H.M. BUTTERFIELD ■ - r mfc I CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL it Station MANUAL 18 THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS for THE CALIFORNIA AMATEUR H. M. BUTTERFIELD TABLE OF CONTENTS Information for the beginner 1 Propagation of orchids 2 Potting and potting materials 5 General care of orchids 8 Control of pests and diseases 11 Descriptions of varieties 17 Hints to the breeder 55 Tables of varieties 58 APRIL 1955 THE AUTHOR: H. M. Butterfield is Agriculturist in Agricultural Extension, Berkeley. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Experiment Station and Extension Service LIBRARY University of California DAVIS I^^ : diet @uCtcvtf, . . . is so clearly defined in present-day references that amateur gardeners of moderate means can successfully groxv many of tin- popular varieties. Most of these orchids come from the tropics Of suhtropics. A number of native orchids do grow in the United States and Canada — usually in cool bogs and moist grasslands — but they are not of primary interest to amateur growers in Cali- fornia. The exotic orchids fall into two general groups: terrestrial. living in soil and leaf mold; or epiphytic, living on other plants or on rocks where leaf mold and other organic matter have ac- cumulated. Information tor the beginner who hopes to grow orchids at home Orchid requirements Moisture, light, temperature, ventila- tion, air conditioning, and air humidity are important. Most of the popular or- chids are exacting of moisture, light, and temperature, needs that are best met and controlled by a suitable greenhouse or some other type of cover. A few of the hardier orchids, such as the cymbidiums and cypripediums, do very well under lath or similar protective covering dur- ing most of the year, except on cold winter nights, when even the sturdy va- rieties may need extra protection. Most orchids have specific needs in ventilation and air conditioning in hot weather; and some orchids are exacting of air humid- ity, while others are not. These problems are discussed in this manual under the selection and general care of orchids. The highly variable oncidiums (at left) are interesting in color and form. Flowers usually are small, with several on a stem. After a decision is made on tin- kinds of orchids to plant, and suitable quarters are provided, the techniques of potting and propagation should be learned. In addition, something must be learned about the control of serious pests and diseases. Cost of investment Orchid plants of the best qual it \ are costly. Their purchase represents an im- portant investment which should be pro- tected with necessary information on culture and growing conditions. These requirements met, the grower can antici- pate success with some of the superioi kinds, even those classed as difficult to grow. Fortunately, not all of the superior new varieties are necessaril) hard to handle. The chances are that many of the va- rieties of cattle\as and cymbidiums, for example, will be no more difficult to grow than common species of mediocre quality. However, the ven fact that they [i] are expensive to buy should be sufficient caution to the beginner to wait until he has learned the essentials of orchid cul- ture before purchasing them. As experi- ence is gained and interest is expanded, the more difficult orchids can be tried. Names of orchids It is essential for the beginner to be acquanted with the names of good or- chids. This means access to sources of information. Organizations of orchid fanciers offer helpful information through handbooks and reports. Available, too, are period- icals that will keep the orchid grower up to date on information in the field. Ad- vertisements in such publications call attention to new varieties and to better cultural practices. A list of references and publications is appended to this manual for readers who are seeking ad- ditional information. Growers who are interested in the ex- hibition of superior specimens at flower shows should find very helpful the Hand- book on Judging and Exhibition, pub- lished by the American Orchid Society, Incorporated, Botanical Museum of Har- vard University, Cambridge, Massachu- setts. Other helpful sources are dealers, who can furnish information on listed varie- ties and species, and members of orchid societies, who have an interest in supe- rior varieties. By comparing notes with other growers, a beginner in time will come to know which orchids are con- sidered superior and where such supe- rior varieties can be purchased. Orchids may be propagated by any of three different methods Orchids are increased by seed, by cut- tings, and by dividing the mother plant. The method of dividing often is slow; many commercial growers therefore de- pend largely upon seed for propagation, even though the seedlings may show some variation. Orchid seed usually is planted during the spring months. Germination should take place within four to six weeks for I he popular kinds, where the temperature is held at 58° to 86° F. A seedling or- chid normally takes from four to six years to reach blooming size. By seed Germination method. The process most often used in germination is known as the Knudsen method, which employs certain soluble mineral compounds and agar. Orchid seedlings differ from most oilier kinds of seedlings in requiring sugar in the nutrient solution or soon dying without it. (-hums have been made [2 that orchid root mycorhiza improve the growth of seedlings germinated by the Knudsen method, but these claims have not been substantiated by some commer- cial growers. The agar solution used in the Knudsen method is made up by the following formula, then is sterilized before use: Calcium nitrate, Ca(NO,) 2 .4H,0 1.00 gram Monobasic potassium phosphate, KH.PO* .. 0.25 gram Magnesium sulfate, MgSO.JrLO 0.25 gram Iron sulfate, FeSO,.7rLO 0.025 gram Manganese sulfate, MnSCMILO 0.0075 gram Ammonium sulfate, (NH.hSO 0.50 gram Distilled water 1.00 liter Cane sugar (sucrose) ..20.00 grams \rar (powdered) 15.00 grams Acidity test. The acidity of the nu- trient solution is very important. It should be fixed at about pH 5 (pH 4.8 l to 5.2) . Since the nature of the chemicals in the solution varies somewhat, it is impossible to be exact about the amounts of each in order to give the desired acid- ity. The ease of testing for acidity, how- ever, should make possible the proper regulation of the acidity in the nutrient agar. Since the agar serves as a buffer in the acid reaction, testing the sample is done after the agar has been added. If much testing is to be done, a small testing plate should be purchased. Bromcresol purple, either the ordinary dye solution or test paper immersed in the dye solution, is used to test a sample of the formula for acidity. The purple color of the acid indicator changes sharply to yellow as the acidity increases. Bromthymol blue is another indicator used. It turns green when the reaction is neutral (pH 7), and yellow when the reaction is acid (pH 6). The acidit) may be increased b> add- ing about one drop of concentrated phosphoric acid and stirring until pll 6 i^ reached. \- man) as three drops may be more than enough to insure the proper acidity. Phosphoric arid nor- mally is sterile. 'I he acidit) of the agar solution is adjusted appropriately after the solution is heated gently until the agar dissolves. Plant container. The Erlenmeyei flask (below) is the container most often used for growing orchid seedlings. Int<» each flask is poured 120 to L30 cubic centimeters of the agar solution. The opening of the flask is plugged with cotton. Sterilizing the solution. The solu- tion must be sterilized — in an autoclave, if one is available — at 15 pounds' pres- sure for 20 minutes. During this process be very careful not to caramelize the Orchids are being grown from seed in these flasks. On the right, seedlings are beginning to appear on the surface of the agar. On the left, seedlings are ready for transplanting. [3] sugar (sucrose) by excessive heat. If an autoclave is not available, sterilize the solution with flowing steam in an Arnold sterilizer at 100° for one hour a day for three successive days. Failure to sterilize the culture medium unfailingly will lead to trouble. As soon as the material is sterilized, remove the flask and set it in an upright position. Sterilizing the seed. Orchid seed also is sterilized. This may be done with a solution of chloride, of lime (calcium hypochlorite) — 19 grams to 120 cubic centimeters of distilled water. Shake the chloride of lime and distilled water vigorously for a few minutes, then filter the mixture. Moisten the seed thoroughly in this disinfectant for four to five min- utes. (A longer exposure for cattleya and laelia seed does not seem to cause any harm.) Successful results have also been obtained by using bromine water diluted at the rate of 1 part bromine to 10 parts distilled water. The sterilized seed should be drained for 5 to 10 min- utes, away from any possible means of contamination. Planting method. All objects used in the planting processes must be steril- ized: flask plug, seed, nutrient-agar solu- tion, and wire loop. Carefully remove the plug from the flask. Scatter the seed over the surface of the nutrient-agar solution with a wire loop. About 2,500 to 3,000 seeds are placed in each liter flask. This amount of seed is equal in size to half a grain of rice and should produce about 1,000 seedlings to a flask. Where the germination is known to be low, use enough seed to equal in size a whole grain of wheat. Sealing the flask. As soon as the seed is planted, reinsert the sterilized cotton plug in the flask and seal by any one of three methods: 1) By coating the Bask top with melted paraffin, and cover- ing the top with tinfoil, cellophane, or a clear plasl ic w tapping. Hold this in place with a rubber band, then seal the edges with paraffin. 2) By covering the open- ing with white tobacco paper — a method used in some culture work — which favors a greater exchange of air. First, smear the rim of the flask with gelatin contain- ing a little copper sulfate, then cover the rim with the white tobacco paper, the projecting edges of which are singed. With this method, also, cap the entire top with tinfoil, cellophane, or clear plastic to prevent contamination through the plug under humid air conditions. 3) By inserting a piece of glass tubing in a rubber stopper in the flask, and placing in this tubing an ordinary ab- sorbent cotton filter. This method is a substitute for filling the entire opening of the flask with a cotton plug. It elimi- nates the necessity of further capping the neck of the bottle with some material to help prevent aerial contamination. Planting the seedlings. Seedling orchids usually are large enough in 8 to 12 months for their first transplanting. By that time they should have the third leaf and several strong roots % to % inch long. The entire planting process must be handled with great care. The seedlings are removed from the flask with a pointed knife or a dibble, and are dropped into a shallow receptacle of water for a few minutes to dissolve the gelatinous material in which they were growing. The small seedlings are first planted in 2%- or 3-inch pots, about 25 to each pot. The pots are half filled with charcoal and small pieces of broken crock, and are topped with finely cut osmundine. The small fibers of the osmundine are firmly packed around the roots of the seedlings during the planting process. The pots should be placed in a box, which is glass lidded to keep the atmosphere moist at approximately 70° to 80°. Cattleya seed- lings are grown first in standard 3-inch pots, then are shifted to 4-inch fern pots. Twice a day the seedlings are watered with distilled water or rainwater applied in a thin, mistlike spray with a hand atomizer. Do not water them too often [4] if ventilation is poor; this may Lead to dam ping-off. After growing in the 2%- or 3-inch pots for 6 to 10 months, the seedlings are transferred to individual, 1%-ineh pots and placed on henches in the open greenhouse. The seedlings must he trans- ferred before they become crowded. By cuttings Orchids with aerial roots, such as vanda, may be increased by a cutting, including some of the roots. New shoots may also develop on the remaining old plant. That is why some growers place the older pieces on the ground under a bench until buds develop and then pot the growing pieces in the usual way or in small pots filled with gravel. Plantlets form on old stems of oncidium after the flowering season; these can be removed and planted when the roots are well de- veloped. When the stems of the basket or crib orchid begin to creep over the edge of the container, after the season - flower- ing i- past, ii is time to dii ide the rhi- zome. By dividing the mother plant Orchids that have been given a variety name may be increased 1>\ ft roots, such as phalaenopsis. should be planted lightly. Such orchids as cattleya and dendrobium need to be potted as firmly as possible. The rule of giving greater drainage to the poorer plants is worth considering. Packing the roots. A hard planting stick sharpened to a wedge, or a narrow piece of metal is used to work in pieces of osmunda from the edge of the con- tainer, always crowding them in from the edge toward the center until no more fiber can be wedged in. If the osmunda has the proper degree of moisture, it will remain firm; if it is too wet, it is likely to shrink and leave the plant loose. The potting mixture for terrestrial orchids, such as cymbidium and cypripedium (paphiopedilum), is packed about the roots with the fingers and a planting stick. All growing tips finally should rest near the surface of the fiber. Staking. Very tall pseudobulbs may require staking. Small bamboo stakes are cut to a point and inserted into the fiber beside each leaf. The leaves then are tied to the stakes with raffia or plant bands. New leaves appearing do not need to be tied. Repotting. Orchids grown in baskets or cribs are repotted by pulling away old potting material and replacing it with new. This work is done as gently as pos- sible to avoid injuring the roots. Old pseudobulbs that are badly yellowed and shriveled no longer are useful. Their stems may be severed and the old part set aside to develop eyes. The good part of the plant should be set as required and the pot then entirely filled in with potting material. When dividing large clumps of cym- bidiums, separate the older back bulbs — which have lost their leaves — from the leafy pseudobulbs as gently as possible without injuring the roots of the younger parts. In pots large enough to permit continued growth for at least two grow- ing seasons replant the young, healthy pseudobulbs that have leaves. The pot may need to be as large as 6 inches or more in diameter. Set the oldest part of the plant against the side of the pot, with the growing point toward the center of the pot. Place the old, leafless back bulbs in individual pots containing mostly gravel until they have had time to send out new growth. Perhaps as many as 90 per cent of these old back bulbs will produce new plants. As soon as the new plants have developed a few good roots, transfer them to the regular potting mixture used for cym- bidiums. Do not keep the back bulbs too wet while they are developing new growth, and do not expose them to ex- cessive heat. Give them a moderate amount of light. Here are some suggestions on the general care of orchid plants Irrigation Types of watering. These include damping-down, spraying or sprinkling, and soaking. Damping-down means wet- ting the benches and supports to increase humidity. Spraying or sprinkling means using a fine overhead spray, which also helps to control insect pests. The over- head system is safe only when the tem- perature is high and ventilation is good. Ordinary watering is given to potted orchids when the roots are active. Most orchids require frequent and thorough watering during the period of active growth. Greenhouse watering. Weather is the gauge of greenhouse irrigation. In very rainy weather, for example, many cattleya plants can go without water for two or even three weeks. In very hot weather, watering is done daily after the hottest part of the day. In very hot weather, also, the greenhouse floor should be dampened down several times a day to keep the atmosphere cool. Some orchids thrive in a moist atmos- phere. Correct air humidity can be at- tained by humidifiers which are avail- able on the market. For orchids which do not thrive in too moist an atmosphere, [81 more ventilation may be needed to over- come frequent damping-down or sprin- kling. Water splashing should be avoided where foliage is likely to be injured, BUcfa as that of dossinia; in fact, to favor keeping qualities the blooms of many orchids should be reasonably dry at all times. Amounts of water. Orchids without pseudobulbs should never lack water. These include such genera as Aerides, Cypripedium (Paphiopedilum), Masde- vallia, Phalaenopsis, and Vanda. Orchid genera such as Cypripedium (Paphio- pedilum), Phaius (Phajus) , and So- bralia should be watered as soon as the surface of the pot becomes dry. Cultural suggestions already given for specific genera have called attention to the watering of certain kinds of orchids. These may be summarized briefly as fol- lows: 1. Genera that require liberal water- ing at all seasons: Dendrobium (ever- green species), Cypripedium (Paphio- pedilum), Ly caste, Masdevallia, Odonto- glossum, Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, and Vanda. (Phalaenopsis may be injured by water on new growth or on leaves.) 2. Genera that require liberal water- ing during the growing season: Aerides, Ansellia, Brassavola, Brassia, Chysis, Coelogyne, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Disa, Grammatophyllum, Maxillaria, Miltonia, Oncidium, Pescatorea, Phaius (Phajus), Pleione, Rodriguezia (Bur- lingtonia), Schomburgkia, Scuticaria, Sobralia, Stanhopea. (Phaius may be in- jured by water on new growth or on leaves.) 3. Genera that should not be over- watered: Cattleya, Catasetum, Cyrto- podium, and Dossinia. (Cattleya may be sprayed overhead on bright days. Cyrto- podium and Dossinia may be injured by water on new growth or on leaves.) 4. Genera that need a rest period : De- ciduous orchids should not be watered much during the rest period. Rest peri- ods are needed: a) after flowering for Anguloa, Bletilla {Bletia I . and Calanthe; hi in winter lor Cycnoches, Dendrobium (deciduous Bpecies), Habenaria, and Laeiia; c) after growth for Oncidium spei -iea from Mexico and Central Amer- ica, Pleione, and Stanhopea* 5. Genera that need especially good drainage: Ansellia, Calanthe, Cattleya, Cymbidium, Grammatophyllum. Oncid- ium. Renanthera, Rodriguezia (Burling- tonia) , and Trichopilia. (In potting, allow V:', shards in pol for Maxillaria and Vl> for Odontoglossum. Ventilation Requirements. Genera that thrive with high humidity require less ventila- tion than those which do well with only moderate humidity. Dossinia, for ample, requires little air, while Aerides and Angraecum are often referred to as air plants. Genera that do best with plenty of ventilation include Aerides, Angraecum, Cattleya, Odontoglossum, and Phalaenopsis. The amount of ventilation needed i- naturally influenced by outside tempera- ture and air movement. In cold weather, the greenhouse ventilators may be opened fairly wide for a short time, then closed. In hot, dry weather, more venti- lation is needed to maintain the proper temperature for cool-house orchids. A small amount of bottom ventilation — in addition to top ventilation — keeps air from becoming stagnant. Good ventila- tion is necessary if foliage must he wet on bright days. Shade and light Amount. Several orchid genera re- quire protection from strong sunlight, including Calanthe, Cattleya. Laeiia, Ly- caste, Masdevallia. Maxillaria. Miltonia. Odontoglossum. Rodriguezia i Burling- tonia), and Stanhopea. Vanda does 1" Si with some shade from February to N ' \ ember. Miltonia needs shade during the rest period. Cypripedium. Masdevallia, and Maxillaria usually should have some [9] shade with less than 50 per cent sunlight, but most of the other popular orchids need only semishade or more than 50 per cent sunlight. Other orchid genera need considerable light, such as Aerides, Brassavola, Cata- setum, Grammatophyllum, Renanthera, and Schomburgkia. Temperature Variation in requirements. Or- chids are often divided into groups ac- cording to temperature requirements. One group does best with a cool temper- ature of about 50° or above (see table 10). Another group of intermediate or- chids should have a temperature of about 65° as a minimum (see table 12). Beginners should not overlook the fact that temperature is often much more difficult to hold down to a safe maximum than to keep up to a safe minimum. The hardier cool-house orchids, such as cypripediums and cymbidiums, often grow better outside than inside a warm greenhouse during most of the warmer months. On the other hand, unless these hardy orchids are grown in a shaded greenhouse, they may need artificial shade for their individual needs, such as lath or filtered tree light. Even though there may be only a few days of frost danger in the mild areas of California, usually it is best to have some place — a heated greenhouse, room, or similar enclosure — to house the orchids in winter so they will not be damaged by low temperatures. Fertilizing If a good potting mixture is used at planting and if repotting is done every other year, there should be little need for fertilizing. The great majority of orchids thrive with osmunda fern fiber. Commercial fertilizers. The begin- ner is advised not to experiment with fertilizers, although experienced com- mercial growers have had success with them. If fertilizing is attempted, use a weak solution. The Cookson formula calls for 2 ounces of monoammonium phosphate and 3 ounces of potassium nitrate in 3 gallons of tap water. This stock nutrient solution is used for water- ing orchid plants at the rate of 1 ounce to each gallon of tap water. It may be acidified with 12 to 14 drops of phos- phoric acid. Some growers alternate the use of tap water and the nutrient solu- tion. Organic fertilizers. Certain genera of orchids, including Bletilla (Bletia) , Calanthe, Coelogyne, Cymbidium, Cyrto- podium, Phaius (Phajus) , Pleione, and Sobralia do well with a good loam pot- ting mixture. Weak liquid cow manure has been used for such orchids as Calan- the, Coelogyne, Cymbidium, Cypripe- dium (Paphiopedilum), Odontoglossum, Phaius (Phajus), and Sobralia. Chim- neysoot water containing a little nitrogen has been used for Cattleya. Nutrient culture Specialist's hobby. Orchids have been grown in gravel and similar media with the aid of a nutrient solution to furnish the necessary plant foods. Per- sons interested in experimenting with special cultural methods, who are also willing and able to supply the proper equipment and attention, can be success- ful. It should be emphasized, however, that in many instances it is much easier to grow orchids in fern fiber or in a good compost mixture than by special meth- ods. Many orchid growers who have tried the nutrient cultures finally return to the usual methods simply because less work and expense are involved. Persons interested in growing orchids in nutrient culture may consult local libraries for references that give for- mulas for preparing the nutrient solution and illustrate suitable equipment. The ordinary amateur orchid grower is rarely interested in these special methods. [10] Measures to take for the control of pests and diseases Pests Orchids are subject to infestation or attack by many kinds of insects and other pests. The more important of these include mites, thrips, aphids, scale in- sects, weevils, cattleya flies, slugs, and snails. Ants are also troublesome at times, although they do not attack the plants directly. Fortunately, most of these pests are controlled satisfactorily with modern spray materials and techniques. Good sanitation will still be necessary, however, as well as a start with pest-free plants. Aphids. Aphids or plant lice attack- ing orchids include the latania aphid and occasionally the green peach aphid. The latania aphid somewhat resembles the young whitefly, and occurs on orchids, ferns, and palms. Control is possible with nicotine sulfate and soap, used in light applications to avoid injury to the orchid plants. Nicotine dusts usually leave an objectionable residue. A tea- spoon of Black Leaf 40 to a gallon of water plus slightly more than 1 fluid ounce of liquid fish-oil soap are sug- gested. Lindane is also effective. Cattleya flies. This pest occurs with- in the small flower buds or pseudobulbs of cattleya orchids. The infested buds never bloom. DDT sprays have been effective against cattleya flies as well as thrips and weevils. Allow about % ounce of 50 per cent wettable DDT per gallon of water. Mealybugs. The long-tailed mealy- bug and the palm mealybug sometimes attack phalaenopsis orchids. Hosing off the plants helps to control mealybugs. Removing them with a brush is feasible only where there are a few. Light sum- mer-oil sprays may be used safel) on some orchid plants (see scale insects, p. 12). Mites. Two kinds of mites (page 12 i attack orchids: these are the common two-spotted Bpider mite, on cymbidium orchids; and the false spider mite, of which the phalaenopsis mite, known for pitting the upper surface of phalaenopsis leaves, is one of the most important. Light oil may be used on tolerant plant-. Syring- ing may control the two-spotted mite; a product known as Aramite has also been effective. Dinite has been recommended as a most satisfactory control for false spider mites. Dilute the 25 per cent emul- sion at the rate of 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. Deep pitting and silvering of this leaf were caused by the phalaenopsis mite. [ii] The adult female of the two-spotted spider mite. Scale insects. The several kinds of scale insects attacking orchids include Boisduval scale, cottony orchid scale, cymbidium scale, false parlatoria scale, noxious scale, Mackie scale, orchid soft scale, and proteus scale (see below) . The Boisduval scale occurs mostly on cattleya and cymbidium orchids, but also attacks some other kinds. The cottony orchid scale is found occasionally. The false par- latoria scale attacks phoenix palms and cypripedium orchids. The Mackie and noxious scales are found on dendrobium orchids. The cymbidium scale closely re- sembles oystershell scales and is found only on cymbidium orchids. Wettable DDT sprays are effective against the crawlers of such scales as Boisduval, cymbidium, and Mackie. If growers have adequate facilities to fumi- gate their potted orchids with methyl bro- mide they will have highly effective con- trol, but most small growers do not have facilities for the safe use of this gas. Cyanide fumigation has been tried in some instances, but cyanide is so danger- ous that not many orchid growers care to run the risk of injury to themselves or the orchid plants. Low humidity — as well as adequate facilities — is essential to the safe use of cyanide fumigation. Light oil sprays are effective and may be used on plants that are tolerant. One Left, cymbidium scale on cymbidium orchid; right, proteus scale on vanda. per cent of a summer oil amounts to 1% ounce per gallon of water. Hardy plants may stand twice this amount. Badly infested orchid plants should be segregated until they can be cleaned up. If DDT is used, 1 pound of actual DDT should be allowed per 100 gallons of water. For example, if a 50 per cent wettable DDT powder is used, allow a minimum of about % ounce per gallon of water. Slugs and snails. The gray garden slug and the bush snail are sometimes pests on orchids. The popular poison baits containing metaldehyde are most effective. Handpicking of these pests at night also may help in control. Sowbugs. These are troublesome on very tender petals or buds. Finely ground poison baits aid in the control of sow- bugs. DDT and lindane also have been used. Thrips. At least three kinds of thrips attack orchids, including the California orchid thrips, the English orchid thrips, and the yellow orchid thrips. The Cali- fornia orchid thrips is found on various kinds of orchids in greenhouses. The English orchid thrips may also attack several kinds of orchids. The yellow orchid thrips feeds on the upper surface of cattleya leaves. These thrips may be controlled by spraying with about ' g ounce of wettable 50 per cent DDT per gallon of water. DDT in benzol also baa been used. The grower using DDT should carefully follow the directions on the package. Weevils. Three kinds of vvee\ils have attacked orchids in California. The cattleya weevil is a large, black-snouted insect with conspicuous white markings on the wing covers. It may puncture pseudobulbs or buds, and the larvae feed within the pseudobulbs, stems, and leaves. Fortunately, the cattleya weevil is not often found here. The black dioryme- rellus orchid weevil is smaller than the cattleya weevil and is shiny black. The adults feed on flower buds, petals, and young leaves at night. They hide at the leaf bases or in the potting material dur- ing the day. The grubs feed inside the roots, causing them to blacken and die. This weevil once was a destructive pest of cattleya and dendrobium orchids in California, but is now almost entirely controlled by the wettable DDT spray used for the control of scale insects and thrips. Black vine weevil. This insect, also known as the Brachyrhinus beetle (Brachyrhinus sulcatus), is sometimes a serious pest in gardens: it may even enter greenhouses, where it attacks the flower buds of orchids, spoiling the flow- ers for exhibition. The weevil eggs are dropped in the soil, usually in summer. The eggs hatch in about two weeks, and the grubs feed on plant roots. The larger grubs often girdle shrubs and other plants below the ground level. The grubs finally transform into beetles which emerge in the spring. They may live for two years above ground, each laying several hundred eggs. The pest may be brought into the greenhouse with in- fested soil, or the adult beetles may nan I in slowly from the garden near the green- house. Control should start in the garden where the eggs are dropped. A 50 per rent wettable DDT ma) be used to spray benches or plant-, a- in the control of other weevil-. Benzine hexachloride and chlordane have proved effective in con- trolling the grubs thai can !>♦• reached, but should not !•<• applied to garden -oil- used to produce food plant- !>♦•< au-<- they impart an objectionable flavor. Miscellaneous pests. \nt- can be held in check with chlordane used at the rate of I .(> to 3.2 ounce- of a 1<) to 50 per cent emulsion in 2^/2 gallons of water, or about 2 to 4 teaspoons per gallon. \\ h< »re a 50 per cent wettable powder is used, allow 0.8 to 1.6 ounces per 2 ] '■_> gallons of water. The popular arsenical cups also may be used to control ant-. The foliar nematode has attacked the Vanda orchid Miss Joaquini. in Hawaii. but is not known to have attacked or- chids in California. This nematode is present here, however, and should be kept away from susceptible plants by proper sanitation. Growing plants close together, where water splashes from in- fested leaves to healthy plants, favors the spread of this pest once it is brought into a greenhouse. Springtails are sometimes a nuisance. These are controlled with lindane spra\ -. Directions on the package should be fol- lowed carefully. Virus diseases* These are disease entities whose ulti- mate nature is still rather obscure. They are so small they cannot be seen through the light microscope, hut particles which are believed to represent virus are \ isible in the electron microscope. \ iruses ma\ produce serious disease- in —me hosts hut he symptomless in others. Symptoms. Several different vim- disease- have been described from or- chids. The range of symptoms they pro- duce includes mosaic mottle, chlorosis D. I>. Jensen, who prepared this section, is Associate Professor of Entomology and Para- sitology ami is Associate Entomologist in the Experiment Station. Berkeley. 13 •J Cattleya flower breaking shows typical symp- toms. Cymbidium mosaic, or black streak, is the most common virus disease known in orchids. tft» .' I T. Mk K /. " ■ i ■ or yellowing of the leaves, spots, streaks, and rings of dead tissue, malformation of the leaves and flowers, and "break- ing" or variegation in the color of the flowers. In severe cases, plants may be killed outright or markedly stunted. Spread. Virus diseases spread in sev- eral ways. After gaining entry into a previously healthy orchid, the virus in- vades all parts of the plant from roots to flowers. All new plants derived from a diseased orchid by division or by back- bulb propagation are almost certain to carry virus with them. This practice of vegetative propagation in orchids thus is a major means by which the incidence of virus diseases increases in commercial and private plantings. Means of infection. At the present time the available evidence indicates that orchid viruses are not carried through the seed. Therefore, seedlings should be free of virus until they become infected from some outside source. The most prob- able means by which previously healthy orchids become infected are virus-carry- ing insects (particularly aphids) and cutting knives and shears contaminated with infective juice from diseased plants. Aphids usually feed very little on the leaves of orchids, but they feed readily and reproduce on the flowers and flower buds. Control. The following measures are recommended to prevent or reduce the spread of orchid viruses: 1) Maintain an effective program of insect control; 2) clean cutting tools between use on different plants; and 3) segregate dis- eased and healthy plants whenever prac- ticable. For example, when facilities per- mit, keep healthy plants together in a separate greenhouse or in one portion of the greenhouse and diseased plants in another. This reduces the danger of virus spread by infective insects or by con- lam mated knives. There is no means known by which a diseased orchid plant can be freed of virus infection. However, in some cases the symptoms may be inconspicuous or absent during part of the year, or after the plant has recovered from the shock effect of initial infection. The most common and widespread virus in orchids is cymbidium mosaic virus which causes mosaic and black streaking in cymbidium. The same virus produces dead streaks and rings in the leaves of cattleya, sometimes even kill- ing entire leaves. Virus diseases occur in most of the common genera of orchids grown in California. Bacterial and fungus diseases* Glass-house-grown orchids are subject to many diseases caused by bacteria and fungi but only four diseases have been observed to cause serious losses. These are the Pythium black rot of Cattleya, and the bacterial diseases, brown spot of Phalaenopsis and Cattleya, brown rot of Cypripedium, and the bacterial leaf scorch and pseudobulb rot of Miltonia orchid hybrids. In general, these diseases first appear as water-soaked spots either in the leaves or the pseudobulbs. These spots enlarge, causing either dead spots in the leaves or rotting of the pseudo- bulbs and rhizomes. The bacterial diseases are spread by the splattering of water, and the progress of the organisms in the plant is favored by high humidity. When these diseases are suspected, the affected plants should be isolated. The spread can largely be pre- vented by avoiding overhead irrigation and providing good aeration to promote drying. Benches should be kept clean. They may be disinfected with copper naphthanate (this is also effective as a wood preservative). A brief description of the commoner orchid diseases and suggestions for their control are given below. The results of research on these diseases and others usu- ally appear in the journals devoted to orchid culture. * C. Emlen Scott, who prepared this section, is Agriculturist, Agricultural Extension, Berke- ley. Pythium black rot of Cattleya. This is an important disease <>f seedlings and mature plant-. It starts as a water- <(»ak*(l leaf spot and spreads through seedlings in community pots, or it starts on leaves or pseudobulbs "I mature plants. Follow suggestions on sanitation and aeration. Drench I omnium! \ potfl or mature plants at three- to seven-da) inter- vals with sodium salt of 2-hydrox) di- phenyl (Natriphenei or 8-hydroxyquino- line benzoate (or sulfate). 1 teaspoon to 2 ! 2 gallons. Brown spot of Phalaenopsis and Cattleya, This bacterial disease is espe- cially severe on Phalaenopsis seedlings in community pots. The soft, water-soaked spots which later become brown or black may kill Phalaenopsis plants. The disease is not fatal on Cattleya and is confined to older leaves. The treatment is the same as for Pythium black rot. Brown rot of Cypripedium. This i- a bacterial disease quite similar to brown spot of Phalaenopsis. Methods of control are the same as for Pythium black rot. Bacterial leaf scorch of Miltonia. Spots in leaves spread rapidly under warm moist conditions and extend to the growing point and pseudobulb. The plant is killed rapidly by spread of the bacteria through the rhizome. Use a dip of sodium salt of 2-hydroxy diphen\ I i Natriphene I or 8-hydroxyquinoline benzoate (or sul- fate) as given above but cut out affected parts before treatment. Air pollution Smog control. Certain gases, which include ethylene gas. max be so injurious to the sepals of orchid-, especially some of the commercial \ arieties, that the) are of little value. Occasionally leaves also are damaged. Prevention consists of locating where there is freedom from such troubles or else going to the expense oi air treatment within a greenhouse. Further studio oi this problem are being conducted in com- mercial establishments. ! 15 I \ The cattieya group is highly pop- ular because of large blooms (left) in many colors and pleasing forms. A stem may have one to several blooms. Pleurothallis mar- morata (below) has many sprays of small flowers, and well illus- trates the extreme variation in sizes of orchid flowers. i Oicfad *? amity . . . includes more than 500 widely distributed genera, characterized by very irregular flowers with three sepals and three petals. The two lateral petals are alike, while the third is modified into a lip, which may either be spurred or formed into a pouch. Bulbous or thickened stems are often a characteristic of orchids. Orchid descriptions to aid the beginner's selection Many species of orchids have been brought under cultivation with consider- able success. Breeders have produced hybrids between species in the same genus and also hybrids between different genera. Where plants are produced from a certain cross, the breeder will make selections of superior seedlings and per- haps attach a varietal name to each worthy new development. This is why it is necessary to use the full name in select- ing fine orchids by name. For example, orchid growers may have a cross known as Laeliocattleya Queen Mary. This name covers a certain group in general, but a more definite name should be applied to a superior form, such as Westonbirt variety of Queen Mary. This is only a single example of many such choices that should be made to get superior va- rieties from the given cross. Many of these hybrids will be mentioned in this manual. The orchids with large flowers and good colors that keep well in flower shops are often known as commercial orchids. The genera include Cattleya, Coelogyne, Cymbidium, Cypripedium, Dendrobium, Miltonia. Odontoglossum, Phalaenopsis, and Vanda. Amateur or- chid growers in California no doubt will be interested in both the popular com- mercial orchids and the many others that are not seen in the ordinary flower shop. Many beginners think of the Cattle) a orchid (page 16) as representing their idea of a real orchid. However, as ac- quaintance with different species in- creases, interest will probably spread to many other orchids which are not ol interest to commercial growers. The flowers may be inconspicuous or too small to meet the demand of a retail florist, or their keeping qualities ma) !"■ poor. Sometimes the plants are too tall or too large for commercial purposes. The fancier who does not have to depend on the financial outcome is primarily interested in flowering plants that have attractive flowers, irrespective of size or keeping quality. Some orchids may be very rare yet are not available to the ordinary florist for this reason. Since color, size, form, season of bloom, cultural requirements, and sim- ilar factors are important in select inn orchids, the following descriptions point out differences to aid the beginner. No short list of orchid species, hybrids, 01 varieties can possibly mention all of the orchids found in collections or in refer- ence books, but those named ma) be ol wide interest and suggest possibilities. Many other orchids of equal importance [17] can be added as experience is gained. Dealers can offer further suggestions, especially after it is known under what conditions the plants are to be grown and what particular type or types of orchids interest the individual. Cost will sometimes be a limiting factor, yet some of the less expensive orchids are also among the best. Cost and rarity are not necessarily the only guides in selecting the best orchids. Among the orchid genera of primary interest to fanciers aside from the com- mercial orchids are Aerides, Angraecum, Anguloa, Anota, Ansellia, Batemannia, Bifrenaria, Bletilla (Bletia), Brassavola, Brassia, Bulb ophy Hum, Calanthe, Cata- setum, Chysis, Cochlioda, Cycnoches, Cyrtopodium, Disa, Dossinia, Epiden- drum, Eriopsis, Grammatophyllum, Hae- maria, Houlletia, Laelia, Lycaste, Mas- devallia, Maxillaria, Pescatorea, Phaius ( Phajus ) , Pleione, Renanthera, Rhyncho- stylis, Rodriguezia, Saccolabium, Schom- burgkia, Scuticaria, Sobralia, Sophro- nitis, Stanhopea, Trichopilia, and z ygo- petalum. Hybrids. The many hybrids between species and genera are of wide interest. Among the commoner hybrid groups of interest to amateur orchid growers will be Brassocattleya, Brassocattlaelia, Bras- solaelia, Epicattleya, Epilaelia, Epiphro- nitis, Laeliocattleya, Miltonioda, Odon- tioda, Odontoma, Odontocidium, Oncid- ioda, Sophrocattlaelia, Sophrocattleya, and Sophrolaelia. Such intergeneric hy- brids may be of interest to all orchid growers, although some may interest only the fancier. They are mentioned here to give a better picture of the wide choice open to the amateur. Aerides The epiphytic Aerides orchids do best in a moist atmosphere with liberal water, light, and air, and a minimum winter temperature of 65 °F. The stems form roots, which should not be injured or checked in growth. Aerial roots should not be confined in pots or baskets. The roots are very active, even in winter, and are difficult to replant in new baskets without being damaged. Old material should be carefully removed and replaced gently. The plants have thick, two-ranked leaves. Flowers are in lateral pendulous racemes. Two lateral sepals are attached to the base of the column. The three- lobed lip forms a hollow, usually up- turned spur. A. crassifolium A. jalcatum A. fieldingi A. odor alum ( tuavissimum ) native to Burma; flowers up to 1% inches on drooping spikes; rose purple; blooms in May and June. Has been called the King of All Aerides. native to Burma; amethyst lip, white sepals, and petals spotted with purple. Variety Houlletianum has a whiter lip and yellowish brown sepals and petals; blooms in May and June. native to India; flowers white dotted and suffused with rose, about 1% inches across; spur white; racemes longer than leaves; blooms in May and June. native to India, China, and the Philippines; free flowering with many flowers up to 1 inch across; white, with a purple spol at the tip of the sepals; flowers last two weeks or more; blooms from July to September 18 1 Angraecum The epiphytic Angraecum orchids are similar to Aerides in culture. The plants should be kept in the warmest corner of a warm greenhouse and never allowed to become chilled. They are almost air plants and need frequent spraying with water. Practically no compost is used at the roots. The flowers usually appear in winter and lasl well. Most varieties given here are natives to Madagascar. The plant- have very thick leaves. I be (lowers are usually borne in racemes, with sepals and petal- similar, the Lip with side lobes small or lacking and the middle lobe entire with a long slender spur. A.articulatum native to Madagascar; pendulous racemes with numerous white flowers, pedicels pale orange; spur •'' \ inch long; blooms in spring. A.citratum native to Madagascar; pendulous racemes with 12 or more flowers with a slender spur; white or pale straw color; blooms in spring. A. eburneum native to Madagascar; stems to 4 feet and leaves to 2 feet; flowers to 4 inches across; sepals and petals green, lip ivor\ white with green spur 3 inches long; about eight to 15 flowers on racemes longer than leaves; blooms from December to March. A. falcatum three to five fragrant white flowers about % inch across: lip three-lobed; spur curved; blooms in summer; native to Japan. A.sesquipedale native to Madagascar; flowers up to 7 inches across, with spur about 12 inches long; borne in two- to four-flowered racemes; white; blooms from November to March. One o\ finest species of the genus. Anota The epiphytic Anota species are some- The plants have Leafy stems and flow- times referred to the genera Vanda and ers in racemes, the lip being entire and Saccolabium. The culture is much like spurred. Two varieties are described that of Aerides. below in some detail. A. den si flora A. violacea native to Burma; free flowering; flowers to 1 inch across on drooping racemes to 16 inches long; white spotted with violet, and base of lip purple: blooms about November; flowers last six weeks. native to the Philippines: similar to .7. densi flora, with flow- ers on racemes 12 to 15 inches long: blooms from December to March. [19] Ansellia The African epiphytic Ansellia afri- growth. The plants are naturally dry half cana requires a warm greenhouse and a the year and ripen growth after flower- good supply of water for the young ing is completed. A. ajricana native to Sierra Leone; flowers to 1 inch in diameter with nearly 100 on a terminal panicle to 16 inches long; yellow, spotted with chocolate brown; blooms from December to July. Bletilla (Bletia) This is one of the terrestrial orchids thin leaves, and small flowers in terminal which grow fairly well outside in Cali- racemes, with the sepals and petals sim- fornia. It has tuberous rhizomes, rather ilar, and the lip free and three-lobed. B. striata (hyacinthina) native to China and Japan; flowers 1% inches long in three- to seven-flowered racemes on a 1-foot scape; purple; blooms in June outside, or as early as March in heated greenhouse. Plants tolerate a temperature as low as 20°. Brassavola The Brassavola orchids are epiphytes follows the blooming season. Some spe- from tropical America. They are of easy cies grow very well suspended on blocks, culture when watered liberally during The leaves are fleshy. The flowers are the growing season and kept at a temper- solitary or in short racemes with the ature of 70° to 75° by day and 60° to flowers attached singly at intervals by 65° by night. In general, the culture of short stems to the flower stalk. The sepals this group is the same as that for the and petals of the flowers are small and Cattleya and Laelia orchids. Most brassa- spreading. The lip is entire, having a volas should have plenty of sun to ma- margin that is continuous, unbroken by ture the young growth and reduced teeth or serrations, and is attached to the humidity during the rest period, which column at the base. B. cucullata native to Mexico, Honduras, Venezuela, Colombia, and the West Indies; flowers usually solitary; petals orange, yellow, or white, with white lip; blooms from May to December. B.digbyana native to Mexico and Honduras; fragrant greenish-white flowers about 5 inches in diameter; blooms from May to August. This species has been crossed with Cattleya to pro- duce the fringed lip of the hybrids. B.glauca native to Mexico and Guatemala; blooms from February to March. B. nodosa native to West Indies, Central America, Colombia, and Vene- zuela; solitary flowers with sepals and petals of greenish yellow or white to 3 inches long; lip white; blooms from January to December. [20] Brassia (Spider Orchids] The epiphytic Brassia orchids are seldom grown now. They are treated much like Oncidium or Catlleya in an intermediate greenhouse with liberal watering in the growing season. They should never be allowed to shrivel. The plants have one or two leave* and flowers in raceme-, the sepals and petal- narrow and long pointed, often tail like. the lip entire and shorter than the sepals. The racemes may be from 2 1 / 1 > to •»'- feet in length. B. brachiata B. verrucosa sepals and petals yellowish green with a few purple basal spots; lip light yellow with dark green warts; bloom- in -um- mer; native to Guatemala. native to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela; a curious orchid with the upper part of the flower pale green and the lip white marked with green warts; petals to 4 inches long; six to 13 flowers to a raceme; blooms from April to June. The strange flowers of Brassia bidens last only a short time. Bulbophyllum The epiphytic Bulbophyllum species require good drainage with liberal water- ing and a steaming atmosphere during the period of growth. They need a tem- perature of at least 60° to 65°. They are often grown on wood or on tree-fern stems. The plants have one or two leaves, and the flowers are in racemes or sometimes solitary, having petals smaller than the sepals and a fleshy, strap-shaped lip. The flowers are interesting and come in various colors. The following illustrates the species. B. lobbi native to Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and Burma; flowers soli- tary; 2 to 4 inches across; sepals and petals yellow spotted or lined outside with red; lip golden yellow; blooms frcm May to June and in November. Calanthe The terrestrial or occasionally epi- phytic species of Calanthe are popular and of easy culture. They may be grown in pots with loam and a little well-rotted cow manure. The drainage should be good. They like heat, shade, and mois- ture. A temperature of 70° to 75° by day and 65° to 70° by night is suggested. Water new plants sparingly until roots start; also water sparingly during the dormant season. The calanthes are mostly evergreen, but the Calanthe vestita group is decidu- ous. They have broad-plaited or corru- gated leaves. The usually numerous flowers are white, rose, or yellow in racemes on erect or nodding scapes or stalks that arise at or beneath the surface of the ground like the tulip. The lip is three-lobed and usually spurred. The hybrids are known to bloom mostly in winter. C.jurcata native to Malaya, India, and Australia; snow-white flowers (veratri folia) about 2 inches in diameter on many-flowered racemes on scapes 3 or more feet high; lip lobed and with a slender spur; blooms from January to December. C. masuca flower scape to 2 feet; flowers 1 inch across, overlapping, deep violet fading to lilac, and lip deep violet purple; blooms from July to September; native to northern India. C.sanderiana native to tropical Africa; leaves about 1 foot long; many- flowered racemes; sepals and petals pale lilac edged with purple; lip dark purple with brown on spur; flower often listed as rose colored. C. Sedeni Bella hybrid between C. Veitchi and C. vestita (turneri) ; similar to C. vestita with crimson blotch on lip. C. Veitchi hybrid between C. rosea and C. vestita; rose-colored flowers with white spot at base of lip. Variety Sandhurstiana has crimson flowers in winter, the flower scapes beginning to form in late summer. C. vestita native to India and Malaya; leaves about IV2 feet long; white (turneri) or creamy flowers 2'/2 inches in diameter in six- to 12-flow- ered racemes on scapes up to 2% feet high; four-lobed lip marked with orange yellow at base and with a slender spur; l>l norns in November and December; deciduous. [22] Cattleya The epiphytic Cattleya Bpecies an native to tropical America. They include perhaps the most popular commercial orchids. Most cattleyas do well with an intermediate winter temperature, as low as 60° to 65° by day and 55 to 60° by night. Karl\ -blooming species, such as C. trianae and C. skinneri, should be placed at the warmest end of the green- house, with later-blooming species, such as C. mossiae and C. warscewiczi var. gigas, at the cooler end. Overhead sprin- kling is permissible on bright days, al- though the flowers should not be wet. There Bhould be little moisture a! the roots until the weather is favorable. In rain) weather watering maj be required onl) once a week <>r Less often. \\ hen tin- plants are in active growth, thej Bhould be watered about three times a week. There is an almost bewildering num- bei of Cattleya Bpecies, varieties, and h\- brids. They ha\e from one to three ver\ thick leaves. The flowers (page L6) usu- ally occur in terminal clusters and rarely in solitary form. Some of the cattleyas which have remained flighl) popular for many years include: C. Amabilis C. amesthystoglossa C. bicolor C. boivringiana C. citrina i tulip cattleya) C. doiviana (queen cattleya) C. elrforado hybrid between C. labiata and C. warsceiiiczi; bloom- in summer from spring growth. native to Brazil; sepals and petals white suffused rose and spotted with violet; lip with whitish side lobes and l>lui>h- violet middle lobe; five to eight flowers together, about 4 inches across; blooms from November to July. native to Brazil; flowers 3 to 1 \ L > inches across and two to eight in cluster; sepals and petals bronze green; rose-purple lip sometimes edged white; blooms from January to April and September to November. native to Central America; flowers about 3 inches across and five to 13 together; sepals and petals rose violet; lip rose and lilac; throat white, edged with chestnut brown: blooms from October to December. Not a commercial variety but good for amateur growing. native to Mexico; citron-yellow flowers usually solitary on drooping stalks: lip white and wavy on edges; blooms from April to June. native to Costa Rica; flowers 7 inches across and two t<> five together: yellow sepals and petals: lip with yellow tube striped with purple and wavy purple limb lined with gold; blooms from July to September. Varietj aurea has lip with more and deeper yellow lines. native to Brazil; flowers 6 inches across and pale rosy lilac shading to white: lip crisped and centrally blotched with orange and purple; Ira- rant: blooms from summer to earl) autumn. [23 C. gaskelliana (summer cattle) a) C. guttata C. Hardyana C. harrisoniana C. intermedia C. labiata (autumn cattleya) C. lawrenceana C. loddigesi C. lueddemanniana C. mendeli (virgins cattleya) C. mossiae (spring cattleya) C. percivaliana (Christmas cattleya) native to Venezuela; flowers 7 inches across and two to three together; petals and sepals purple violet suffused with white; wavy lip purple violet with yellow-streaked throat; blooms from June to November. native to Brazil; flowers 4 inches across and four to six together; sepals and petals green spotted red purple; side lobes of lip are rose or white and middle lobe violet purple; blooms from April to October. hybrid between C. dowiana and C. warsCewiczi; blooms in August; strongly scented. native to Trinidad and Brazil; flowers to 6 inches across and two to five together; rose lilac, the middle lobe of lip purple with yellow spot; blooms from July to October. native to southern Brazil; flowers to 5 inches across and three to five in a group; pale rose with middle lip purple and crisped; blooms in April to June and September to Novem- ber. native to Trinidad and Brazil; flowers to 6 inches across and two to five together; rose lilac, the very wavy limb of lip violet purple with deeper streaks and yellow throat; blooms from October to March; many varieties. native to British Guiana and Venezuela ; free flowering, with flowers to 5 inches across and five to seven together; rose purple, the limb of the lip purple with a maroon band; blooms from February to April. native to Brazil; flowers about 4 inches across, rose lilac; three-lobed lip has white inside and yellow at the base, mar- gins crisped; blooms in summer. native to Brazil and Venezuela; flowers to 6 inches across and two to five in a group; rose purple; lip has amethyst- purple limb; throat spotted with yellow or white; blooms from July to September. Color forms are listed. native to Colombia; similar to C. trianae; flowers to 8 inches across and two to three together; white or rosy, the limb of the lip very wavy, purple with yellow throat; blooms from April to September. native to Venezuela; free-flowering, popular species, with flowers to 8 inches across; rose, the very wavy lip with purple limb variegated with violet and edged with white, the throat yellow; blooms from March to August. native to Venezuela; similar to C. mossiae but with smaller and darker flowers; blooms from January to March. [24] C. schilleriana native to Brazil; flowers to 4 inches across and one to two on a stem; wavy sepals and petal- green spotted with brown; lip purple crimson above and yellow inside near base; blooms in April to May and September to October. C.skinneri native to Guatemala; free flowering with flowers to 1 inches across and four to six together; rose purple with yellow throat; blooms from January to August. C. trianae native to Colombia; flowers 6 to 8 inches across and two to three together; rose, the lip with dark purple wa\\ limb and yellow throat; blooms from December to March. Variety schroederiana (Easter cattleya) has fragrant pink flowers with very wavy limb. Several color forms exist; a popular species. C. warneri native to Colombia; large flowers to 8 inches across and two to three together; sepals and petals violet rose, lip deep purple with two yellow spots in throat, wavy; blooms from May to August. Variety gigas has larger white flowers. \<>t very free blooming; needs warmth and light to do well. C.warscewiczi native to Colombia; flowers to 9 inches across and two to (gigas) three in a group; sepals and petals violet rose; lip deep purple with two yellow spots in throat and wavy; blooms in May to August. Color forms listed. Some of the better Cattleya hybrid varieties include: Amabilis (labiata x warscewiczi) Barbara Billingsley — fine white Barbara Dane {labiata x Phoebe Snow) — white Bow Bells (Edithae x Susanne Hye) — very fine white Dr. C. E. Wilson (Gravesian alba x Nathalie Dekens) Dupreana {warneri x warscewiczi) — blooms in summer Edithae Alba (Susanne Hye x trianae alba) — white with a little yellow Empress Frederick (dowiana x mossiae) — dark orchid; strong grower Enid (mossiae x warscewiczi) — variable orchid color; blooms mostly in winter Fabia (dowiana x labiata) Gimar (warscewiczi x Queen Mary) — blooms in winter to early spring Hardyana (warscewiczi x dowiana)- — natural hybrid Joan Manda (white seedling of White Empress) Lord Rothschild (dowiana x gaskelliana ) — red Luegeae (dowiana x Enid) — rose with crimson lip Maggie Raphael (dowiana \ trianae) Monarch (Empress Frederick \ trianae Grand Monarch) — which is an orchid color Nebo (percivilliana x intertexta) — deep lavender; orange lip, which is veined in purple Rosita I Anetta \ Enid) St. Petersburg — good white Trimabilis (Amabilis \ trianae \ \\ hite Empress (Irene \ trianae | [25] Coe/ogyne The Coelogyne orchids are terrestrial in habit of growth, and are native to the eastern hemisphere. Some, such as C. cristata, do well under temperate condi- tions, with a night temperature of 55° to 60°. Others, such as C. massangeana, re- quire tropical conditions. A rest period before flowering helps such species as C. cristata. The addition of a small amount of liqwid manure or fertilizer in- sures the best growth. The coelogynes have one or two leaves and produce showy flowers in racemes, with the sepals and petals similar. The lip is three-lobed and keeled. The flowers of the species listed are mostly white. C. barbata C. corrugata (nervosa) C. cristata C. day ana C. massangeana C. mooreana C. pandurata C. sanderiana ('. speciosa C. tomentosa native to the Himalayas; fine white flowers, 2 to 3 inches across; blooms from October to February; does well in a cool greenhouse. native to India; three to six flowers in a raceme; white with lip marked yellow; blooms from August to September. native to the Himalayas; large, snow-white flowers in droop- ing racemes; lip with five yellow keels; fragrant; blooms from February to April. Color forms listed. native to Malaya; drooping racemes of many flowers and to 40 inches long; flowers about 2^2 inches across, whitish or pale yellow; lip blotched with chocolate brown and crossed with six white keels; blooms from May fo August. native to Assam, Malaya, and Java; vigorous and free flower- ing, with drooping racemes to 2 feet long of cream-white flowers, the lip marked with yellow and brown and white keels; blooms from March to June and October to November. native to Cochin-China; racemes to 16 inches long with three to eight flowers of snow white; lip spotted golden yellow; blooms in December. native to Malaya, Borneo, and Sumatra; arching racemes to about 24 inches long; up to nine large, pale green flowers; warted lip marked with blackish brown or black; blooms from January to March and May to July. native to Sunda Islands and Borneo; racemes to 15 inches long with about nine large, white flowers; side lobes marked brown and middle lobe with yellow; blooms in summer. native to Java; very large flowers greenish or yellowish brown; lip yellowish white marked dark brown; racemes less than 15 inches long; blooms from February to July and in September. native to Malaya; pendulous racemes to 18 inches long with large orange-red or red-brown flowers; side lobes streaked with brown and yellow; middle lobe has brown margins; Nonius in May. 26 | Cycnoches The epiphytic Cycnoches or swan or- chids are treated as is Dendrobium, in a warm house. These need a well-marked rest period. The plants have plaited leaves and C. chlorochilon (swan orchid) flowers of two sexes, sometimes similar, with narrow Bepals and petals and entire lip. and often quite different, the male flowers with clawed lip and fingerlike pi ojections. native to Central America, Venezuela, British Guiana, and Colombia; large flesh) flowers to 6 inches in diameter in three-flowered raceme-: yellow green with a darker spol at the base of the lip; blooms from Jul) to December. Cymbidium The Cymbidium species are mostly terrestrial orchids, and do best with an intermediate temperature of 50° to 60°, with 55° considered best. They have been very popular among California amateurs. Sometimes they are planted outside, in areas with mild winters, but should be kept in a heated greenhouse where winters are cold. From spring to autumn the plants will probably thrive best outside of a greenhouse where the temperature is not above 78° to 80° and where there is plenty of light. The plants do not bloom well unless they have ade- quate light. Cymbidiums thrive in a porous mix- ture of coarse leafmold and small gravel or decomposed granite. One formula calls for two parts by volume of well- rotted, coarse oak leafmold to one part of small gravel or decomposed granite. Various materials may be added to such a simple mixture. Some growers substi- tute acid peat moss for part of the leaf- mold; others add a little aged manure. As much as 1 tablespoon of bone meal or cottonseed meal may be mixed with the compost used in a 6-inch pot. Granu- lated charcoal also has been added to the mixture. A more complex mixture used for cymbidiums consists of 25 per cent acid peat moss, 12.5 per cent coarse oak leafmold, 12.5 per cent well-rotted steer manure, 25 per cent good loam soil, and 25 per cent pea gravel. In any case, see that good drainage is provided in the bottom of the pot. Drainage gravel or shards should be placed in the bottom of the pot. The plants will not stand wet feet. Manure water may be applied if the plants need extra food. Cymbidium flow T er spikes are some- times 2 or 3 feet or more in length. The individual flowers (page 28 1 ma\ he as much as 3 inches or more across. Some of the outstanding cymbidiums are: C. aloi folium C. eburneum C. ensifolium native to India. Indo-China. and Malaya: main -flow ered pendulous racemes to about 24 inches long: sepals and petals brownish yellow with purple medium stripe: lip brownish red with \ellow center; blooms in Jul\ and August. native to the Himalayas and [ndo-China; handsome ever- green plant; large snow-white flower- with yellow in ((Miter of lip to 1 inches across; blooms from March to June. native to India. Indo-China. China. Japan, and Malaya; racemes to 20 inches long with three to 12 (lowers of greenish \ellow with red-brown veins; lip with red-brown spots; blooms from October to Fcbruarx and from Ma\ to VugUSL 27] C. erythrostyUum C. giganteum C. grandiflorum C. Iansoni C. insigne (sanderi) C. lowianum (lowi) C. tracyanum C. Winnianum native to Indo-China; arching racemes to 18 inches long with four to seven flowers; sepals white and about 1% inches long with shorter white petals; lip yellowish white, lined or dotted red purple; blooms in November. native to the Himalayas, Indo-China, and China; seven to 13 fragrant flowers to 4 inches across on arching racemes; sepals and petals green or brownish, lined with red brown; lip yellow marked red; blooms from September and October on into winter. native to the Himalayas and China; flowers to 5 inches across in racemes to 2 to 4 feet; sepals and petals olive green; lip yellow dotted purple brown; blooms from September to December. hybrid (lowianum x tracyanum) with tawny yellow flowers 4 to 6 inches across, with as many as 15 to 20 on a stem. native to Indo-China; 10 to 15 flowers on racemes up to 5 feet long, the individual flowers up to 3% inches across; sepals and petals rose, lip rose spotted with purple red; blooms from February to March. native to Burma; drooping racemes with 10 to 20 flowers, the individual flowers up to 4 inches across; sepals and petals greenish yellow; blooms from February to July. native to Burma and Indo-China; similar to C. giganteum and C. grandiflorum with flowers to 6 inches and darker colored, the prevailing color being yellowish brown; blooms in October to November. hybrid between C. giganteum and C. master si (Cyperorchis master si) , a novelty in white spotted with crimson. Cymbidiums have become popular in milder parts of California, where they can be grown outside most of the year. Fanciers of cymbidiums will doubtless grow some of the popular hybrids, most of which flower from spring until late in the summer. The following list of some of the named varieties offered does not include several of the excellent new hybrids, but will suggest some of the superior kinds to which the fancier may add as his interest and finances dictate. All those listed flower in March or April, except Doris, which flowers about Christ- mas. The prevailing color is indicated. Balkis (white) Blue Smoke (green) Bodmin Moor (varies from white to chartreuse) Carisbrook (pink) Desdemona (varies from white to dark green ) [28 Dorchester (white) Doris (brown) Erica Sander (green) Ethel Ward (yellow) Faye Wilson (white to pink) Fearnley Sander (green) Hugh Evans (greenish gold) Ispahan (yellow) Louis Sander (pink) Miranda (while i Pauwelsi (cream) yellow to brown) Pei i < chartreuse I Pres. \\ ilson I chartreuse or white I Redshank ( red I Redstart I red I Shina Black I dark red) Swallow i white i Yellow Hammer I yellow I Cypripedium (including Paphiopedilum and Cordula) (lady-slipper orchids) The tropical genus Cypripedium in- cludes both epiphytic and terrestrial species, which are sometimes listed under Paphiopedilum or Cordula. Most of these orchids need a temperature of 65° to 70° at night and 70° to 75° by day. They do not have distinct rest periods. The hardier kinds are grown without heat. A good supply of moisture is important, and overpotting should be avoided. These orchids are of easy culture if given the requirements specified. The plain-leaved hardy kinds tend to bloom in winter, while the warm-house kinds with spotted leaves (at right) bloom in summer. The plants have leathery leaves and flowers in racemes or panicles (page 30). The lateral sepals are united, the lip being sac-like, with the edges reflexed or turned in. Many species are grown; the flowers are moderately popular. The following species and hybrids are popu- lar kinds. The cypripediums (including Paphiopedilum) are popular with beginners because of hardi- ness, interesting color, and form. Shown here is the lady slipper orchid. C. bellatulum (Paphiopedilu m bellatulum) C. callosum C. Cardinal C. caudatum native to Burma; flowers to 2 inches across: white -potted with purple; blooms from April to May and again from August to September. native to Siam and Cochin-China; whitish-green flowers about 4 inches across on stems to 15 inches; blooms in win- ter. Several color forms are listed. hybrid between Cardinal Mercier and Carola; blooms several times, one set of flowers following another. greenish-white flowers about 6 inches across, one to lour flowers to a stem, appearing in spring. [29] C. charlesworthi C. coiicoloi C. curtisi C. jairieanum C. godefroyae C. holdeni C. insigne ( Paphiopedilum insigne) C. lawrenceanum (Paphiopedilum lawrenceanum) native to India; solitary flowers 2 1 /2 to 3% inches across; rose colored veined purple; petals and lip greenish veined brown; blooms from August to December. (Below.) native to Burma and Indo-China; flowers 2 to 3 inches across, solitary or two to a stem; pale yellow finely spotted with violet; blooms from April to September, native to Sumatra; flowers to more than 4 inches across on stems to 12 inches; prevailing color greenish white lined with purple; petals finely spotted dark purple; lip greenish brown; blooms from April to September, native to the Himalayas; flowers to 2 to 2^2 inches across, solitary on stems to 6 inches; prevailing color whitish green but with violet stripes in sepals and violet streaks in petals; lip brownish green with some purple; flowers in winter, native to Indo-China; one to two flowers on short stems; mostly creamy yellow but spotted with red purple; lip simi- larly covered; blooms in summer. Westonbirt variety is one of the warm greenhouse cypri- pediums that blooms in summer (below) ; white with green stripes. native to the Himalayas; solitary flowers last well; yellow green with brown; blooms from October to March. A very common and popular species that does well in a cool green- house. Variety Sanderi is yellowish green with brown spots; large winter blooms. native to Borneo; stemless with 3-inch flowers of interesting whitish-green color combinations; blooms in spring and summer, April to August and again in November. C. holdeni, Westonbirt variety, is one of the C. charlesworthi, one of the popular summer- warm-house varieties with spotted foliage and flowering lady slipper orchids, also is grown in summer blooms. a warm house. « C. Morganiae ( Paphiopedilum morganiae) C. Tothschildianum ( Paph iopedilu m rothschildianum) C. sanderianum (Paphiopedilum sanderianum) C. spicerianum (Paphiopedilum spicerianum) C. stonei (Paphiopedilum stonei) C. superbiens (C. veitchi or veitchianum, Paphiopedilum superbiens) C. venustum C. Vexillarium ( Paphiopedilui vexillarium) C. villosum hybrid between C. stonei and (.. superbiens; one of the fines! of the terrestrial orchids. native to Sumatra and Borneo; handsome flowers to 5 inches across: hlooins from Januarv to \piil and again in \ugU8t. native to Malaya; petals linear t<> L8 inches, yellow tipped with red and brown and eddied with red: lip purple brown; blooms from September to October. native to India: slcmless with solitarv flowers to 2 inches across; petals greenish brown with wavv margins; blooms from November to December. native to Borneo; flowers to 5 inches across on scapes to - feet long; sepals white striped with purple: petals vellow spotted with brown; blooms from Mav to August. native to Malaya; flowers to 3^ inches across, solitary on 10-inch stalks; variegated foliage: good habit of growth; blooms from January to Julv. native to the Himalayas; flowers 3 to ') 1 2 inches across, usu- ally solitary on stems to 9 inches; prevailing color greenish white but with blackish warts at the base of the petals: lip yellow green ringed rose and veined green: blooms from November to March. hybrid between C. barbatum and C. fairieanum; dwarf habit; summer flowering. native to Burma; large flowers to 6 inches across, solitary on stems almost 18 inches long; petals yellowish brown with brown-purple midvein: dorsal sepal green above and purplish brown at base; lip brownish vellow: blooms in winter. Many named varieties of the lady- mind, we mav mention Balaclara (Gwen slipper orchids are being produced, and Hannen x Warrior I. dark green with fanciers will be interested in the best of dark spots, and Mildred Hunter 1 \tlanti- these. High cost may be a limiting factor. x Everest), deep red to dark green with Just to illustrate the sort of varieties in red spots. [31 I The strong color and firm texture of Laeliocattleya Mme. Helene-Ammen- heuser give it unusual lasting quality (or fog resistance). (From Koda- chromes of C. E. Wilson, Jr.) The range in color, form, and siz ( Odontoglossum grande is a highly popular orchid among amateurs. It is fairly easy to grow. (From Koda- chromes of Miss Bobbie Johnson.) % As many as twelve flowers may ap- pear on a single spray of Cymbidium Jason— Alexander Westonbirt. (From Kodachromes of C. E. Wilson, Jr.) Cypripedium Chrysostum var. Richard Fort has a well-proportioned flower of fine contrasting color. It is an ex- cellent stud plant. ''From Kodachromes of C. E. Wilson, Jr.) of orchids intrigues the fancier, The sepals and petals of Brassocat- tleya Elaine are broad and strong, contrary to most brassocattleyas. (From Kodachromes of C. E. Wilson, Jr.) The vandas and their hybrids are in most amateur collections. They usu- ally produce many blossoms. (From Kodachromes of Miss Bobbie John- Dendrobium The epiphytic Dendrobium species are variable in habit. Some are evergreen, others deciduous. Some are drooping in habit. The Australian evergreen species do well in a cool house, while others do best with a temperature of 70° to 75° by day and 60° to 65° by night. The roots of the evergreen species, such as D. bry- merianum, must be kept moist at all times. They need plenty of heat, humid- ity, and water. The deciduous dendro- biums, such as D. nobile, need a rest period during which the temperature may be as low as 45°. A cool tempera- ture may be used to retard the blooms of this group. The flowers are in racemes or some- times solitary. The dorsal sepal and petals are similar, with the lateral sepals forming a sac or spur. The lip is entire or three-lobed. The leaf form varies. Flower cluster of Dendrobium dearei D. aureum D. bensoniae D. brymerianum J), chrysotoxurn IJ. dearei I), densiflorum I), jalconeri see D. heterocarpum native to Burma and Thailand; flowers white and yellow; lip yellow orange at base; purple spots in throat; flowers about 2 inches across and one to three in a group; blooms in May and June; leafless when in bloom. native to Burma and Indo-China; evergreen; flowers 2Vi> to 3 inches across on lateral racemes up to 3 to 5 feet in length; golden yellow, the lip fringed; blooms from October to May. native to Burma, Indo-China, and China; pendulous racemes to 6 to 9 inches long with eight or more flowers; golden- yellow flowers about 2 inches across; lip orange in throat and fringed; blooms from March to July. native to the Philippines; large white flowers yellowish green in center of lip and about 2Vi> inches across (see above) ; blooms from December to May. native to the Himalayas; evergreen; showy flowers about 2 inches across in many-flowered, drooping racemes to 10 inches in length; golden yellow or white with orange lip; blooms from March to May. native to the Himalayas, Burma, and Indo-China; evergreen; flowers about 3 inches across, solitary on leafless stems; white tipped with violet; lip orange red in center and throat dark purple; blooms from March to May. I 34 D. jarmeri I), fimbriatum D. jormosum var. giganteum D.Hi D. heterocarpum (aureum) D. infundibulum var. jamesianum D. moschatum native to the Himalayas and Burma: man) 2-inch flowers on a pendulous sit-in : flowers usual!) -haw vellow, but 038) have pale rose tinge; lip golden yelloM tipped rose; blooms in April to June native to the Himalayas and Burma; pendulous racemes to 6 inches long with six to 12 orange-yellow flowers; oral yellow, fringed lip; blooms from March to April. native to the Himalaya- and Burma; evergreen; flowers to 5 inches across in two- to four-flowered clusters; white with center of lip orange yellow; blooms from January t<> Ma\. Needs a cool house. pleasing hybrid of I), superbiens x I), phalaenopsis I below I ; reddish flowers; flower stems are very lon five-flowered clusters, which last a month; violet rose with yellow throat veined with purple; blooms from November to February. Needs copious watering. Sometimes attacked by Etch virus disease. native to Mexico; showy flowers to 4 inches across in three- to six-flowered racemes up to 20 inches high; rose, the lip striped with purple; powerful perfume; lasts about tw<> weeks; blooms from October to April. native to Brazil; six to 15 cinnabar-red flowers on stems to 20 inches; flowers 2 to 3 inches across; blooms from March to May and in November, but mostly in spring. native to Brazil; four to nine white flowers 4 to (> inches across; lip yellow in throat, purple edged with white in front : petals much crisped; blooms from July to August and in December, but mostly summer. native to Brazil; golden yellow flowers 2 to 3 inches across and five to IS to a stem; lip crisped: blooms from August to February but mostly in summer. native to Mexico; three to nine rose-purple flowers on stems over 1 foot high; flowers about 1 inches across: lip white or yellowish white near base: blooms in December and January. 1 39 1 L. grandiflora L. harpophylla L. monophylla L. pumila L. purpurata L. rubescens L. superbiens L. tenebrosa {grandis var. tenebrosa) native to Mexico; one to two rose-colored flowers to a stem; flowers to 6 inches across; blooms in summer. native to Brazil; flowers to 3 inches across in three- to six- flowered racemes shorter than the leaves; orange red, the lip yellow edged with white; blooms from October to April. native to Jamaica; flowers usually solitary, orange scarlet, to 2 inches across; stems to 3% feet; blooms from August to November but mostly in August. native to Brazil; one to two rose-purple flowers 3 to 4 inches across on a stem to 3% feet; lip deep purple in front; throat yellow; blooms from August to October. native to Brazil; flowers to 6 inches across in three- to five- flowered racemes; white sepals and petals, the lip purple red; blooms from May to July. This has been called the King of Orchids, and is often used in hybridizing. The flowers last three weeks. native to Central America; flowers white to rose purple with dark purple base to lip; four to eight flowers to 2 inches across in a cluster; blooms from September to March and in July but mostly in winter. native to Mexico and Guatemala; the flower scape 3 to 9 feet high with 12 to 18 blossoms often 5 to 7 inches across; rose with a purple lip yellow at base; fragrant; blooms from December to February. reddish-brown flowers 6 to 9 inches across and two to five in a group; sepals and petals are broader than in L. grandis; lip deep purple; blooms in summer. Lycaste The Lycaste species are semiterrestrial in habit. They grow well at an inter- mediate temperature, and should be shaded from direct sun at all times be- cause the foliage is thin and easily burned. Light overhead syringing is rec- ommended in summer. Some kinds do well in chopped sod and decomposed leaves with a little chopped sphagnum added. The compost may be allowed to nearly dry out at times, although they need liberal watering during the grow- ing season, as in the case of L. skinneri. The group is well known by this species and by L. aromatica. L. cruenta is some- times grown locally. The plants have one to several plaited leaves and solitary flowers, the lateral sepals united with the column to form a spurlike body, the lip three-lobed. L. aro- matica is sometimes attacked by Lycaste mosaic. L. skinneri native to Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras; flowers up to 6 inches across; white or rose sepals, rose petals, rose or crimson-carmine lip; free flowering, having as many as 50 blooms; blooms from January to May and again in Novem- ber. L 40] Lycaste longisepala, a new species flowering in November. The flowers are of interesting shape. Masdevallia The epiphytic Masdevallia species are treated about the same as Odontoglos- sum. They should have good ventilation and shade from the direct sun. They need much water at the roots, since they have no pseudobulbs in which to store water. They may be hosed down twice daily to maintain a surrounding cool atmos- phere, but should not be syringed over- head in the heat of the day. Artificial heat may be dispensed with early in the M. bella spring on mild days. They should be re- potted in November or December in peat fiber and finely chopped sphagnum, with the lower third of the pot filled w itli shards for good drainage. The flowers are mostly solitary but sometimes there are eight to a stalk, with the sepals united, and the lobes often pro- longed into long tails, the petals small. and the lip small and united with base of column. M. chimaera M. coccinea (harry an a) M. houtteana M. veitchiana (veitchi) native to Colombia; solitary flowers with tails 3 to 4 inches long; yellow spotted with brown; blooms from May to July and again in November. native to Colombia; flower tails to 11 inches long: yellow spotted with crimson purple, the tails purple brown: blooms from January to September. native to Colombia; 4-inch flowers of rose pink to violet red with dorsal sepal prolonged into a tail: petals and lip white; blooms from April to June. native of Colombia; solitary flowers are whitish yellow and about 2 inches across with long reddish-purplr tails : blooms in summer. native to Peru; flowers with short tails: orange-scarlet, large flowers, generally in pairs; blooms from May to July. [41] Maxillaria The epiphytic Maxillaria orchids are not widely grown at the present time, partly because the small flowers and dull coloring count against the genus. A few, such as M. sanderiana, may be of some interest. The cultural techniques used for the plants are the same as those for Lycaste. These orchids thrive in a cool, moist, shaded location at all seasons. The winter temperature should be about 58° at night and 60° to 65° by day. A con- siderable amount of water should be ap- plied, even when the plants are at rest. The small, dull-colored flowers are sometimes fragrant and mostly solitary, the lateral sepals united to the foot of the column, forming a chin, the lip mostly three-lobed. M. grandiflora M. picta M. sanderiana M. tenuifolia M. venusta native to Peru and Ecuador; solitary white flowers 3 to 4 inches across, sometimes larger and among the largest of the genus; lip buff yellow; side lobes streaked wine purple; blooms in spring. native to Brazil; solitary flowers 1% to 2 inches across; tawny yellow; blooms in winter. native to Ecuador and Peru; has been described as a giant M. grandiflora; nodding 4- to 6-inch flowers; white blotched with purple at base, with a yellow lip marked with red and darker purple outside; blossoms from May to July and again from October to December. native to Central America; has creeping rhizomes; solitary small flowers ro 2 to 3 inches across; dark red; blooms in spring. native to Colombia and Venezuela ; solitary large white flow- ers 4 to 5 inches or more across; short yellow lip bordered with red; blooms in spring. Miff onia The epiphytic Miltonia genus is best known for such species as M. vexillaria, one of the prized orchids, with flowers lasting a month. Most of the miltonias need about the same treatment as Odon- toglossum, with plenty of shade and a liberal water supply during the growing season. Species, such as M. vexillaria, need plenty of sun in winter, which is the growing period, with a short rest period after flowering. The plants have one or two leaves, with sheathing leaves at the base. The flowers are solitary or in loose racemes, the sepals and petals nearly equal, the lip expanded and not three-lobed. \T. Bleuana M. Candida hybrid between M. vexillaria and M. roezli; a splendid sum- mer-flowering orchid. native to Brazil; flowers to 3i/> inches across, three to seven on a raceme; greenish yellow with brown spots; blooms from July lo October. Considered very beautiful. [42] M. phalaenopsis M. roezli M. speclabilis M. vexillaria native to Colombia; compacl plant with two or more floi to 2 inches across in two- to four-flowered racemes to 6 inches in height; while with Lower part of lip purple: blooms from April to August. native to Colombia; white flowers to 1 inches a< ross; purple blotch at the hase of each petal and yellow at base of lip; one to four flowers to a stem; blooms in Vugusl and Septem- ber and March to July, hut most!) in August. Sometimes in- fected with Miltonia diamond spot virus. native to Brazil; creamy-white (lowers to 1 inches across; lip rose purple with darker center; one to two (lowers to a stem; blooms in summer to September and sometimes in February. native to Colombia; flowers with a depth of about 1 inches and a diameter of 3 inches, three to four to a raceme; sepals and petals rose; lip rose with white base and edges; blooms from May to July. Among the best of all orchid-. Odontoglossum These epiphytic orchids, mostly native in high elevations, should interest many California fanciers who are able to main- tain a uniform, cool greenhouse temper- ature ranging between 45° and 55°. The temperature should not vary more than 10 degrees, winter or summer. The win- ter temperature should not go above 65° but may fall as low as 48° to 50° at night for most varieties. In the warmer dis- tricts the summer temperature should be kept as low as possible. Shade and top ventilation help maintain the proper range in temperature. Unless the plants can be kept cool in summer, do not select this group, even though the flowers are beautiful. Odontoglossum pendulum (ci- trosmum) will stand 10 degrees higher temperature than the other species. Repotting should be done in about October, never in summer. Provide suf- ficient drainage by half filling the pot with shards. The top of the pot may be left convex after potting firmly. Species like Odontoglossum crispum, 0. cirrho- sum and O. luteopurpureum need a plentiful supply of moisture. The plants have one or two leaves. The flowers are borne in racemes or panicles, the sepals and petals nearly equal, the lip with claw parallel to column and spreading midlobe. Odontoglossum crispum is prized for its light- colored flowers with undulate-crisped petals. i 13 I 0. cervantesi 0. cirrhosum 0. cordatum 0. crispum (alexandrae) 0. Denisonae 0. grande 0. halli 0. harryanum 0. insleayi 0. luleopurpureum 0. pendulum (citTosmum) native to Mexico and Guatemala; white sepals and petals with chocolate streaks near the base; flowers about 2 inches across and three to five to a stem; blooms in spring. native to Ecuador; flowers star shaped and 3 to 5 inches across in many-flowered drooping panicles to 2 to 3 feet long; white spotted with red brown; blooms from April to July. One of the best of the genus. native to Central America; flowers up to 5 inches across and three to five to a stem; greenish yellow with brown bars; petals yellowish spotted brown; lip white with brown spots; blooms mostly in spring. native to Colombia; flowers to 3 inches across in many- flowered panicles; white spotted with brown; blooms from February to April. One of the most beautiful orchids. 0. crispum var. andersonianum (0. andersonianum) has creamy white flowers 2 to 3 inches across and from five to 15 to a stem; flowers are spotted brown in this variety. hybrid with yellow flowers 3 to 5 inches across and many to a stem in spring. 0. crispum is one parent. native to Guatemala ; flowers 5 to 7 inches across in three- to six-flowered racemes to 16 inches in length; yellow spotted with brown; blooms from October to March. A fine species, the flowers lasting three to four weeks. Sometimes attacked by ringspot virus. native to Ecuador and Peru; long racemes to 5 feet; flowers 3 to 5 inches across; many to a raceme; yellow; blooms in spring. native to Colombia; flowers 3 to 5 inches across and four to six on 3-foot racemes; dark-brown veined and spotted with lighter brown; lip violet at base and veined with yellow, white at tips; wavy; blooms from July to August. Flowers of fine shape and color. native to Mexico; similar to 0. grande with pale yellow flowers 4 to 5 inches across and eight to 10 to a stem ; blooms in August and September and sometimes in December and January. native to Colombia; flowers 3 to 5 inches across and many to a stem; chestnut brown; blooms mostly in spring to early summer. native to Mexico; flowers to 3 inches in diameter in many- flowered racemes to 1 foot long; white or rosy with rose lip; lemon scented: blooms from April to July; flowers last four weeks. Stands higher temperature than most other species. [44] O. pescatorei (nobile) O. pulchellum O. rossi 0. schlieperianum O. triumphans O. uroskinneri native to Colombia; flowers 2 inches across in 3-foot panicles with as many as 100 flowers; white, the lip often spotted with red purple; blooms from March to May. Ver\ choice -(><•< ies with many varieties. native to Central America; flowers 1 to 2 inches acr< >ss, some- times larger, and five to 10 to a stem about 1 foot long; white; blooms mostly in spring. native to Mexico and Guatemala; flowers to 2 Inches a< ross in one- to three-flowered racemes; sepals yellow spotted with red brown, petals white spotted with brown at base: lip white with yellow claw; blooms from February to April and from August to October. The variety majus has fragrant flowers to 3 inches across. native to Costa Rica and Panama; flowers 4 to 5 inches across or less and three to eight in a raceme on stems to 1 foot long; yellow; blooms in summer. native to Colombia; racemes to 3 feet high; flowers 3 to 1 inches across and many to a raceme; golden yellow; blooms from March to May. native to Guatemala; greenish flowers to 2 inches across; nine to 20 in a raceme; lip pale rose mottled with white; blooms mostly in spring but may flower in summer. O. grande floret with basal half of petals reddish brown and anterior half yellow. The sepals are barred with cinnamon brown. Oncidium The epiphytic Oncidium orchids rep- resent perhaps the widest range of con- ditions in the orchid genera, varying from alpine to tropical types. The genus as a whole requires liberal heat and moisture in the growing season and good drainage. Most oncidiums thrive in a cool greenhouse with a night tempera- ture of 55° to 60°. The cool-tolerant varieties take a temperature of 50° to 60° at night and 60° to 65° by day. Sun and air have been recommended, al- though some shade from March to Octo- ber is permissible. Overhead sprinkling once or twice a day is advisable, but the roots should not be too wet. The plants do best with restricted roots in a mix- ture of chopped fiber and live sphagnum in equal parts, with broken charcoal added to the mixture. Species with long flower racemes need to be trained away from the glass, as in the case of O. ma- cranthum. The Mexican and Central American species need a decided rest period with less heat and water. The plants have one or two leaves. The flowers (page 47) are usually in lateral racemes or panicles, the sepals and petals nearly equal, the lip three-lobed and crested or tubercled at the base. Oncid- ium varicosum var. rogersi is one of the best known of this group and has been popular as a winter florist orchid. The plants of the tropical epiphytic Oncidium orchids can be grown in trees in tropical areas. 0. altissimum 0. bicallosum O. carthaginense 0. cavendishianum 0. cri crispum O. flexuosum (). incurvum 0. la nceanum native to the West Indies; many flowers about l 1 /^ inches across on nodding racemes with stems to 4 feet long; yellow barred with brown; blooms in summer. native to Guatemala; flowers l 1 /^ inches across and many to a stem; yellow; blooms in winter. native to Central America, the West Indies, and northern South America: many flowers to 1 inch across placed loosely in a panicle to 5 feet; creamy white spotted purplish rose; crisped; blooms all the year but mostly in summer. native to Guatemala; many flowers to 2 inches across on stems to 4 feet long; yellow; sepals and petals spotted with red brown; blooms mostly in spring. native to Brazil; flowers 2 to 3 inches across and 50 to 60 on 1%-foot panicles; yellow barred and edged with red brown; blooms from May to August and from November to Decem- ber. native to Brazil, Paraguay; flowers about 1 inch across and many to 3-foot stems; yellow spotted red brown; blooms in summer. native to Mexico; flowers about 1 inch across and loosely arranged on 5-foot stems; rose pink; blooms mostly in August. native to British and Dutch Guiana and Trinidad; flowers to 2 inches across on stems to 2 feet; yellow; lip violet purple ;il liasc and rose above; blooms in summer. [46] / A flower of Oncidium papilio, the butterfly orchid, borne on a long, slender stem. O. leuchochilum 0. longipes 0. luridum O. macranthum 0. ornithorync.hu orynchum 0. papilio (butterfly orchid) native from Mexico to Honduras; flower? about 2 inches across and loosely arranged along stems to 7 feet high; yellowish green; lip white with lavender dots at hase; blooms from March to August and in November. native to Brazil; flowers 2 to 3 inches across and two to five to a stem; reddish brown; blooms in summer. native to Florida, the West Indies, Central America, and South America; flowers 1 to 2 inches across on spectacular sprays and larger than those of O. carthaginense; yellowish green; sepals and petals sometimes tinged \sith violet; blooms in summer. native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru: ver\ ham ls< ime flowers 3 to 4 inches across in climbing panicles to 9 fee! long; sepals olive, petals golden yellow: blooms nearly all year, but especially from May to July. native to Mexico to Salvador; many flowers in a drooping panicle to 1% feet long; rose lilac with yellow crest on lip; blooms in winter. native to Trinidad. Venezuela. Prazil. and Peru; butterfly- shaped flowers with petals to 3 inches long on 2 to 3-fool scape; petals and sepals brown spotted with yellow; bloom- all year, one flower following another on the spike [47] 0. sphacelatum O. tigrinum var. splendidum O. varicosum 0. wentworthianum native from Mexico to Honduras; many flowers loosely placed on racemes to 5 feet long; yellow; blooms in spring. native to Guatemala; handsome flowers to 2 inches across in many-flowered panicles; yellow spotted with brown; blooms from December to February. native to Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia; beautiful 1-inch flowers on panicles to 2 to 5 feet; greenish yellow spotted with red brown; lip golden yellow; blooms from September to July. The variety rogersi has a densely branched, nodding panicle with as many as 170 flowers to 2 inches across; at times is affected by oncidium mosaic. Flowers resemble large butterflies and appear mostly in winter. native to Guatemala; flowers about 1 inch across on loose 12-foot panicles; yellow; blooms in summer. Pescatorea (Zygopetalum, Bollea) The epiphytic Pescatorea species re- quire much heat and moisture. They should be grown in the warmest end of the warm orchid house. They need plenty of water at all times, since they do not have a rest period. P. cerina, P. dayana, and P. klabochorum are some of the species. The fragrant, showy flowers are soli- tary in the axils of leaves, the lateral sepals united to form a chin, the lip clawed and with a thick crest at the base. P. klabochorum (Bollea klabo- chorum) native to Ecuador and Colombia; flowers up to 3 or 4 inches across on drooping stalks up to 2% feet long, white tipped with purple; lip veined with purple and with purple hairs; blooms from May to August. Phaius (Phajus) The terrestrial Phaius orchids are of easy culture. Plant them in large pots with loam rich in organic matter. Liberal feeding when in full growth will help. The plants need a cool greenhouse, with a temperature between 55° and 65°. They should have plenty of moisture all year, with perfect drainage. When irri- gating, do not allow water to touch the new growth. P. wallichi native to tropical India northward to lower Himalayas; from 10 to 20 flowers, 3 to 4 inches across on a stem; white and buff; blooms in winter. Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchids) The epiphytic species of Phalaenopsis require the warmest temperature in or- chid culture, with a minimum of 65° in winter. A day temperature of 70° to 75° has been recommended. Good ventilation is needed, and the air should be moist, but there should be no drip, and the center of the plants should not be wet. Since there are no pseudobulbs, the plants should never lack moisture. Very [48] little potting material is needed about the roots, since the roots like to escape. This group does well in California. These orchids have short, leafy stems, thick, leathery leaves, and flowers in racemes or panicles, the sepals and petals equal or the petals larger, the lip thrce- lobed and united with the base, some- times with appendages at the apex. The plants arc often grown in 5- <>i 6-inch pot-. Growers may leave pari of tin- stem when cutting a spray, bo that anothei Bel of flowers will develop from dormant buds lower down on the BCape. P. amabilis (Queen of the Orchids) P. aphrodite {amabilis var. aphrodite) P. lueddemanniana P. sanderiana P. schilleriana P. stuartiana native to Malaya; flowers 3 to 1 inches in diameter, two ranked in long, drooping, six to 15 flowers on racemes; white with the lip marked with yellow and red; blooms from Oc- tober to January. native to Malaya; many flowers to 4 inches across on a drooping raceme to 3 feet long; white; blooms in August. native to the Philippines; three to eight flowers about 2 inches across on stems to 1 foot long; whitish; lip amethyst purple with white side lobes; blooms nearly all the year. native to Malaya; considered by some to be about the same as P. aphrodite, but the flowers are rose pink, 3 to 4 inches across, and appear mostly in winter. native to the Philippines; flowers to 3 inches across in man] - flowered, branched scapes to 3 feet long; rose purple; blooms from February to May. One of the finest of all orchids. native to the Philippines; similar to P. schilleriana: flow* ts to 2 inches across in panicles to 2 feet long; white spotted with red brown, lip yellow spotted with red brown; blooms from January to February and again in May. P/e/one The terrestrial genus Pleione has not been very popular, because the plants are deciduous and the flowers appear after the foliage dies down. The flower- ing plants may be grown with ferns to cover the bare stems. The common species are dwarf, and these have been known as "crocus" in the East Indies. They may be grown in the cattleya house with considerable heat, and are treated about the same as Colon- the, a rest being given after growth is completed. They are best grown in shal- low compost in pans, and demand plent) of water. The flowers are usually solitary, the sepals and petals similar, the lip with fringed keels. P. lagenaria native to Burma: the Bowers about 3 inches in diameter: brilliant rose violet, with the lip yellow at base ami spotted dark red; blooms from October to November. 49] Renanthera The epiphytic Renanthera genus is similar to Vanda, doing best in a warm greenhouse with good drainage and plenty of light. The plants are too tall to be of interest to commercial growers. The flowers are borne in many-flow- ered racemes or panicles, the sepals and petals spreading and usually unequal, the lip small. Two specimens of the epi- phytic Renanthera genus — R. coccinea and R. imschootiana are described in the paragraphs below. R. coccinea R. imschootiana native to Cochin-China and Hainan; has stems up to 10 feet long, with many flowers on a panicle, each up to 3 inches long, the panicle up to 3 feet long; dorsal petals and sepals scarlet; lip yellow striped with red; blooms from April to September. native to Assam, Burma, and Indo-China; flowers about 2% inches across on stems to 2 feet long; dorsal sepals and petals yellow spotted with scarlet, lateral sepals scarlet; lip scarlet with a yellow crest; blooms in May and June. Plants grow well near the roof. Rhynchostylis (Saccolabium) The epiphytic Rhynchostylis genus of orchids is grown by about the same method as is Aerides. It is often sold as Saccolabium. The plants have leafy stems. The flow- ers are in dense racemes, the dorsal sepal and petals similar, the lateral sepals broader, the lip entire and spurred. R. retusa native to India, Burma, Indo-China, Malaya, and the Philip- ( Saccolabium pines; flowers % inch across in many-flowered, pendulous blumei) racemes to 18 inches long; white spotted with red; lip red purple; blooms from June to September. Rodriguezia (Burlingtonia) The epiphytic Rodriguezia species may be treated like many species of Cattleya. The plants do well in shallow pots filled with tough peat fiber so that drainage is good. During the growing season the temperature should be around 65° to 75°. The plants may be rested at 50°, with little water given. Syringing during the growing season is recommended. The plants should be shaded from the direct sun. The plants have one or two leaves and flowers in racemes, with petals and dorsal sepals similar, the lateral sepals united and concave, the lip slightly two-lipped and with a short spur. R. seen ml a It. i ermsta (Burlingtonia fragrans) native to Panama, Trinidad, and northern South America; pale rose to red flowers in many-flowered racemes up to 15 inches long; blooms from February to October. native to Brazil; white, fragrant flowers about l 1 /) inches in diameter, borne on pendulous racemes; last two to three weeks: blooms from January to May. I 50 | Schomburgkia The epiphytic Schomburgkia species rather inconspicuous, borne on stems require about the same conditions as several feel long. The petals art- smallei Cattleya, with liberal watering and more than ilu- -epals and wavy, the Lip three- sun, especially in winter, to induce flow- lobed and united with the base of the ering. The temperature should be be- column, liner specimens S. crispa, S. tween 60° and 65° in winter or up to tibicinU {tibicina), and 5. undulata 70° by day. are described in some detail in the fol- The plants are large and the flowers lowing three paragraphs. 5. crispa S. tibicinis (tibicina) S. undulata native to British Guiana; man) Bowers to 2 i<» 3 inches across at the apex of 3-foot stems; sepals and petals with wa\\ margins; brownish yellow; lip whitish tinged rose and with five keels; blooms in winter. native to Central America; flowers to 3 1 2 inches across, with 10 to 15 flowers on stems to 10 feet high; red lilac, brown, or burnt orange, the lip white, veined in darker color and with yellow center and lilac tip; blooms from February to Vugust Reported to be the best species of the genus. native to Trinidad, Venezuela, and Colombia; flowers l 1 L . to 2 inches across, with many loosely arranged near apex of 3-foot stems; sepals and petals very wavy; purplish brown: lip with lateral lobes pale rose and purple midlobe; blooms mostly in spring. Sobralia This is a genus of strong terrestrial orchids with slender, reedlike stems and showy flowers, which do not last long. The plants are grown in a cool green- house. The compost may be the same as for Coelogyne. The roots should never be permitted to become dry, but the plant requires little water during the rest period. The flowers are solitary or are in ter- minal racemes, the sepals and petals are spreading, the lip is overlapping around the column, forming a tube with expand- ing; limb. 5. leucoxantha S. macrantha S. xantholeuca native to Costa Rica; solitary flowers 4 to 5 inches across on stems to 3 feet high; white; blooms in summer. native to Mexico and Costa Rica: stems are (> to 8 feet long: solitary flowers to inches across may appear in succession, and last about three days; sepals and petals rose violet, lip violet, throat yellow: blooms from May to November. He- ported to be the finest species of the genus, and worth grow- ing as a foliage plant. native to Guatemala; flowers I to (> inches across on stems to 6 feet high: creamy yellow; blooms in summer. [51] Sophronitis This is a group of small epiphytic or- chids from Brazil grown mostly in shal- low pans under the roof. The plants are grown in fern fiber in a cool tempera- ture not less than 50° in winter. They 5. cernua S. grandiflora (coccinea) need semishade — not less than 50 per cent light. Keep the plants moist, but water less when plants are resting. The blooming period of the showy flowers is in winter. native to Brazil; flowers 1 to 2 inches across and one to three to a stem; cinnabar red; blooms in winter, native to Brazil; flowers about 3 inches across and one to two to a stem; scarlet; blooms over a long season but mostly in winter. Stanhopea This epiphytic genus is appreciated in collections, but the individual flowers decline too soon to be of commercial importance. A fragrance of vanilla is present in some species. Stanhopea in- signis was the original species intro- duced, but at least half a dozen kinds are available for collections. Some fanciers consider S. tigrina the best of the genus. S. oculata and S. wardi are among other beautiful species. The plants are grown in crates or baskets suspended from the roof or crossbars, so that the flower stems can push downward through the potting ma- terial — equal parts of chopped sphag- num and fern fiber. They need plenty of shade and liberal watering during the growing season. A rest after blooming is normal. Some Stanhopeas flower twice a year, and flowers may appear early in California. The plants have one large, leathery leaf and two to 10 large fragrant flowers borne on scapes, the sepals and petals reflexed, the lip saccate at the base, with two lateral horns in center, the front lobe keeled. Stanhopea ringspot is a virus disease that has been reported in Cali- fornia. Species of Stanhopea have the peculiar habit of flowering through the sides or bottom of the container. 52] S. eburnea S. insignis S. oculata S. tigriiva native to Guiana; flowers about 1 to 5 inches tu ross and one to two to a stem; ivorj \\ r i i t « • : blooms in summer. native to Brazil and Peru; flowers about 1 to 5 inches across and one to four to a stem; dull yellow; blooms in summer. native from Mexieo to Honduras; four to eight flowers on stem to 14 inehes long; light yellow with numerous red-purple spots resembling eyes; blooms mostly in summer. native to Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and Venezuela; flowers to 7 inches across and two to four on a raceme; yellow spotted with violet, the Lip tipped with white; blooms from May to July. Trichopilia The epiphytic Trichopilia genus is worthy of consideration because the flowers last well on the plant or when cut. The plants should be grown in a temperate house near the window. They may be grown in peat, with good drain- age. The surface is well elevated above the rim of the pot. The plants have one leaf and flowers on nodding scapes, the petals and sepals similar, the lip entire, overlapping around the column. T. crispa T. marginata (coccinea) native to Central America; similar to T. marginata but with more robust panicles; usually two-flowered; sepals and petals red, often with a yellow- white border; lip purple crimson in the throat; petals not twisted; blooms from April to June, native to Costa Rica and Panama; flowers 4 to 5 inches across; sepals and petals pale brown or reddish margined with green or white; lip whitish outside and crimson inside; petals somewhat twisted. Tricopilia fragrans bears almond-scented flowers that bloom from summer to winter Individual blooms are short-lived. I 53 | T. tortilis native to Central America ; inflorescence, one- to two-flowered, with peculiar corkscrew-like sepals and petals; purplish brown or dull rose edged with greenish yellow; lip white; blooms from February to June and again from September to December. Wanda The epiphytic Vanda group wants little shade, with none from November to February. The winter temperature should be 70° to 75° during the day and 60° to 65° at night. The summer temper- ature may be ten degrees higher, with good ventilation. V. amesiana, V. coeru- lea, and V. kimballiana tolerate a cooler temperature than many other species. There should be plenty of moisture at all seasons, and a damp atmosphere should V . amesiana be maintained in summer. Chopped sphagnum about the roots, with a little charcoal added, has been recommended. The stems are leafy, and the flowers are in axillary racemes, the sepals and petals similar and spreading, the lip three-lobed, spurred or saclike, united with foot of column. The vandas bloom two or three times a year, and include some of the most beautiful orchids that are grown. V . coerulea (caerulea) V. kimballiana V. sanderiana I . suavis V. teret native to Burma and Indo-China; dwarf, free-flowering spe- cies with flowers to 1^2 inches across, 15 to 20 on an erect scape to 20 inches; white with rose lip edged with white; blooms from December to April. native to the Himalayas and Burma; flowers 4 to 5 inches across in dense racemes with three to 11 flowers; usually light blue but color varies from pale to dark blue; blooms from July to January, but mostly in summer. Vanda ringspot is a virus disease that has been found on some plants of this species. native to Burma and China; flowers to 2 inches across with four to 12 or more on nodding scapes; white and wavy, with dark-rose lip with yellow side lobes spotted red; blooms from August to November. native to the Philippines; flowers to 5 inches across and seven to 15 to a raceme; yellow and rose; lateral sepals larger, greenish or brownish yellow with purple-red veining; blooms in summer. native to Java; flowers to 2 inches across; free flowering with eight to 10 flowers on short racemes; sepals white, petals spotted with purple at base; blooms from February to July. Large aerial roots like to run under other foliage in the greenhouse. native to the Himalayas and Burma; climbing in habit; flowers to 4 inches across in three- to five-flowered racemes to 1 foot long; sepals nearly white, petals violet with rose lip, yellow at base, spotted with red; blooms from May to Au- gust. Flowers last from four to five weeks, but plants are rather shy bloomers. Needs plenty of water and air, and should be cut back each year. [54 V. tricolor native to Java; flowers 2 to 3 inches across and five to nine in a raeeme; whitish yellow but there arc several color forms; very fragrant and fleshy; blooms from February to July. Zygopetalum This is an epiphytic genus of orchids that is of fairly easy culture when given intermediate heat and compost similar to that required by Phaius (Phajus) . The plants may be grown on a raft or in a basket. The plants have two or more leaves and rather large flowers, solitar) or in three to 10 flowers on racemes, tin sepals and petals similar, the lip three-lobed with a broad, spreading midlobe or entire. Z. gairrianum Z. mackayi Z. maxillare native to Ecuador; handsome, large, solitary flowers; violet tipped with black purple above; the lip purplish rose with 15 to 17 radiating keels; blooms in summer. native to Brazil; flowers to 3 inches across; sepals and petals yellowish green spotted with brown purple; blooms from November to June, and flowers last a long time. native to Brazil; handsome flowers to 1Vl> inches across in six to eight flowers, drooping racemes, with as many as 70 flowers on the plant at a time; sepals and petals barred with brown; lip violet blue with paler margins and purplish cresl : free flowering, and blooms at different times in the year. Some hints to the orchid breeder on lines of crossing Both interspecific hybrids (between species within a genus) and intergeneric hybrids (between species of different genera) are widely grown. Some inter- specific hybrids have already been listed under the appropriate genus. New forms of orchids have been obtained by cross- ing species in different genera, and the possibilities along this line are almost unlimited. Sanders' Complete List of Orchid Hybrids names most of the hy- brids and gives their parentage. The American Orchid Society has helped dis- tribute this reference in America. Un- fortunately, it is now out of print. Refer- ence copies may be found in some public libraries. Among some of the generic parents may be listed Brassavola, Cattleya, Kpi- dendrum, Laelia. Ly caste, Miltonia. Odontoglossum, Oncidium, Phaius ( Phajus). Phalaenopsis, Schomburgkia, Sophronitis, I anda, and Zygopetalum. The results of such crosses now bear [55] standardized names recognized by or- ganized orchid fanciers. Thus Brassolae- liocattleya results from crossing Brassa- vola with Cattleya and with Laelia. Lae- liocattleya results from crossing Laelia with Cattleya. Persons who intend to cross different genera might well review the literature to see what crosses have been made and which seem to produce the most popular hybrids. Within each particular type of hybrid there may be numerous varieties. The parentage of any particular variety can be determined readily by consulting the Sanders' reference, which also tells who made the cross and in what year. The orchid breeder should save a great deal of time and accomplish more by carefully studying crosses that have al- ready been made and by planning future crosses. The breeder will probably under- take some special line of crossing, and he should be familiar with crosses re- ported, as well as with the recognized names of the crosses. A few illustrations may be of interest. Brassavola digbyana, with its fine, fragrant, greenish-white flowers up to 5 inches across, was used to give the fringed lip to its offspring in the crosses shown below. Cattleya labiata was crossed with C. warscewiczi to produce Cattleya Ama- bilis. In turn, C. Amabilis was crossed with C. mossiae to give Caracas and with C. trianae to give Trimabilis. C. bow- ringiana crossed with C. trianae has given Barbara. C. dowiana has been an important parent in many crosses, using either species or varieties as the other parent. C. Hardyana resulted from cross- ing C. dowiana and C. warscewiczi, and in turn has been crossed with many va- rieties to produce popular new varieties. Cymbidiums have been very popular in California, and some of the varieties have already been listed. Butterfly is the result of a cross between Cymbidium insigne and Lowio-Grandiflorum. Hugh Evans is a cross between Curlew and Lowianum. Crosses of similar nature will continue, and orchid fanciers interested in breeding will find the parentage given in supplementary literature issued from time to time. The Cypripedium group of orchids, known to some botanists as Paphiopedi- lum, has been used in crossing to pro- duce popular hybrids, such as Cardinal Mercier, which has been used as a parent in many of the best later types such as Cardinal. C. Morganiae is a cross be- tween C. stonei (Paphiopedilum stonei) and C. superbiens (P. superbiens) , and is considered to be one of the best of this hardy group of terrestrial orchids. Laelia purpurata was used in the crosses shown below. Odontoglosswm invites hybridization with a near relative, Cochlioda noezli- B. digbyana x Cattleya Hardyana = Brassocattleya Heatonensis x Cattleya dowiana = Brassocattleya Mrs. J. Leeman x Cattleya mendeli = Brassocattleya Digbyano-Mendeli x Cattleya mossiae = Brassocattleya Digbyano-Mossiae x Laelia cinnabarina = Brassolaelia Mrs. M. Gratrix X Laelia purpurata Brassolaelia Digbyano-Purpurata L. purpurata xCattleya labiata = Laeliocattleya Bella , x Cattleya mossiae = Laeliocattleya Canhamiana x Cattleya warscewiczi - Laeliocattleya Callistoglossa x Cattleya dowiana = Laeliocattleya Dominiana x Cattleya leopoldi = Laeliocattleya Elegans [56] ana. The latter was crossed with 0. crispum to produce Odontioda Brad- shawiae; with 0. ardcniissimum to pro- duce Odontioda Cooksoniao; and with 0. pescalorei to produce Odontioda Vuylstekeae. 0. crispum has been crossed with Miltonia warscewiczi to produce Odontonia Lairesseae. Cochlioda noezli- ana was crossed with Oncidium incurvum to produce Oncidioda Charlesworthi. A cross between Miltonia vexillaria and M. roezli was made by Bleu in 1889, and this cross is now known as M. Bleu- ana. Bleuana has been used further in crossing to provide many other varieties. These few illustrations will show how the orchid breeder may use the reference on hybrid orchids to determine parent- age and perhaps make it easier to select promising parents for further crossing. Cattleya and Laelia species have been crossed to produce Laeliocattleya. In turn, the offspring have been crossed with Brassavola \>> produce Braseolaelio- cattleya Mackayi. Breeders in tin- future may want to know thai Brassot ola di (inn was crossed wild Laeliocattleya Ele- gans back in L903 b) Chamberlain at Hughbury, Moor Green, Birmingham, England, to produce tlii- li\ l»i id. It is difficult to predict the nature of the offspring, f«»r seedlings may !"■ dif- ferent and an- occasionally better than either parent. Sometime- the) closel) resemble one parent, as Laeliocattleya Callistoglossa and Lc. Canhamiana, which closely resemble their Laelia pur- purata parent, while Laeliocattleya Do- miniana resembles the Cattleya dowiana parent. Schomburgkia tibicinis has been crossed with Laelia lenebrosa to pro- duce Schombolaelia Tibirosa, and with Cattleya mossiae to produce Schombo- cattleya Spiralis. Fanciers may greatly increase such hybrids if they bo desire. REFERENCES Boyle, Louis Morris 1947. My observations on growing cymbidium orchids out of doors. 47 p. Published by the author, Ojai, California. Briscoe, T. W. 1946. Orchids for amateurs. 3d ed. W. H. and L. Collingridge, Ltd., Loudon, i Unpaged.) Fairburn, D. C. 1944. "Gravel" culture for orchids. Missouri Botanical Garden Bui. 32:133-51, October. Harrison, C. Alwyn, and T. W. Sanders 1925. Orchids for amateurs. 140 p. Lockwood Press. London. Hocc, R. B. 1947. Orchids for everybody; a complete handbook on all phases of orchidology. 204 p. .1. Bisset, Sydney, N.S.W. Locan, Harry B., and Lloyd C. Cosper 1949. Orchids are easy to grow. 312 p. Ziff-Davis Publishing Co., Chicago, III. Lumsden, David 1947. Culture of orchids. U. S. Dept. Agr. Leaflet 206:1 8. Wash., D.( :. Sanders, T. W. 1927. Sanders' orchid guide. 452 p. Sanders. St. Albans. England. 1946. Sanders' complete list of orchid hybrids. 307 p. Sanders. St. Albans, England. 1951. Sanders' popular orchid growing. 75 p. \\ aterlow and Son-. London. Watkins, John Vertrees 1942. Orchids in Florida. Florida Agr. Ext. Bui. 116:1-17 1948. ABC of orchid growing. 134 p. Ziff-Davia Publishing Co., Chicago. 111. White, E. A. 1942. American orchid culture. 276 p. (3d vi\. rev. and enl.i A. T. Dc La Mare Co., NVu York. I 57 | Table 1. Orchid Flowers Month by Month JANUARY Cattleya percivaliana (I) Coelogyne cristata (C) Dendrobium phalaenopsis (W) Laelia superbiens (I) Lycaste skinneri (I) Oncidium cavendishianum (C) Phaius grandifolius (I) Phalaenopsis schilleriana (W) FEBRUARY Cattleya percivaliana (I) Dendrobium bigibbum (W) Dendrobium brymerianum (W) Dendrobium super bum (W) Dendrobium wardianum (W) Odontoglossum crispum (C) Odontoglossum rossi (C) Oncidium sphacelatum (I) Schomburgkia (I) MARCH Cattleya lawrenceana (I) Cattleya skinneri ( I ) Cymbidium insigne (C) Cypripedium callosum (W) Dendrobium bensoniae (W) Dendrobium nobile (W) Lycaste cruenta (C) Odontoglossum pescatorei (C) APRIL Cattleya mossiae (I) Coelogyne massangeana (C) Coelogyne mooreana (C) Cypripedium bellatulum (W) Dendrobium dearei (I) Laelia grandis (C) Laelia ma jalis (C) Odontoglossum cirrhosum (C) Schomburgkia tibicinis (W) MAY Aerides crassifolium (W) Calanthe veratrifolia (C) Cattleya intermedia ( I ) Cymbidium lowianum (C) Cypripedium concolor (W) Laelia pur pur ata (I) Maxillaria sanderiana (I) JUNE Aerides lawrenciae (W) Brassavola digbyana (I) Cattleya warscewiczi (I) Cypripedium lawrenceanum (W) Dendrobium injundibulum (C) Laelia pur pur ata (I) Masdevallia veitchiana (C) Miltonia vexillaria (C) JULY Aerides odoratum (W) Cattleya dowiana (I) Cattleya gaskelliana (I) Coelogyne corrugata (I) Cypripedium lawrenceanum (W) Epidendrum nemorale (C) Odontoglossum harry anum (C) Stanhopea tigrina (I) AUGUST Catasetum macracarpum (W) Cattleya lueddemanniana (I) Cypripedium godefroyae (W) Oncidium flexuosum (C) Sobralia leucoxantha (C) Vanda coerulea (W) *Orchid fanciers often want flowers each month of the year rather than most of the blooms at one time. It is possible to predict within certain limits what kinds of orchids will bloom in a certain month. Many species and varieties bloom over a period of months and may occasionally bloom out of season. With the hope of aiding beginners this table is given, but it may need to be changed somewhat for special conditions that affect the time of flowering. (C = cool or not under 50°F; I = intermediate or not under 55 F; W = warm or not under 65°F.) [58] SEPTEMBER Catasetum rnaculatum (W) Cattleya bowringiana (I) Cypripedium charlesworlhi (W) Dendrobium deari (I) Epidendrum skinneri { I ) Odontoglossum citrosmum (C) Oncidium crispum (C) NOVEMBER Ingraecum eburneum I \\ I t no/a densi flora (\\ I Calaiuhe vestita (C) C ) f>i ipedium villo.su tn (C) Dendrobium chrysotoxum (\) Laelia autumnal is (C) Phalaenopsis stuar liana C\\ | OCTOBER Cattleya bowringiana (I) Cattleya guttata ( I ) Cypripedium insigne (C) Odontoglossum grande (C) Oncidium ornithorhynchum (I Phalaenopsis amabilis (W) Vanda sanderiana (W) DECEMBER Angraecum sesquipedale (W) Cattleya trianae (W) Laelia anceps (C) Ly caste skinneri (I) Phalaenopsis aphrodite | \\ I Zygopetalum mackayi (C) Table 2. Some Orchids with Flowers of Large Diameter Species Diameter, in inches Number of flowers to cluster Predominating color Angraecum sesquipedale 6 5-8 6 6-8 6-8 6 7 6-8 5-8 5-7 6-7 6-8 5-6 6 6-9 6-9 6 5-7 5-7 2-5 1-3 6-10 2-6 2-7 2-7 2-7 2-3 3-5 3-5 2-3 2-7 1 1-2 3-9 2-5 1 4-7 2-4 ivory white variable light green nankeen yellow bright rose lilac rose flesh color rose white light rose deep rose light rose deep rose greenish rose rose white reddish brown white yellow red and yellow Brassocattlaelia hybrid Brassia brachiata Cattleya dowiana Cattleya labiata Cattleya loddigesi Cattleya lueddemanniana Cattleya mendeli Cattleya mossiae Cattleya percivaliana Cattleya schroederiana Cattleya warneri Cypripedium villosum Laelia grandiflora Laelia purpura ta Laelia tenebrosa Maxillaria sanderiana Odontoglossum grande Stanhopea tigrina [59] Table 3. Some Orchids with White Prevailing Aerides falcatum Laelia albida Aerides fieldingi Laelia crispa Aerides odoratum Laelia rubescens Angraecum articulatum Lycaste Candida Angraecum citratum Maxillaria grandiflora Brassavola glauca Maxillaria venusta Brassavola nodossa Miltonia phalaenopsis Calanthe veratrifolia Odontoglossum cirrhosum Coelogyne barbata Odontoglossum citrosmum Coelogyne corrugata Odontoglossum crispum Coelogyne cristata Odontoglossum pescatorei (nobile) Coelogyne mooreana Odontoglossum pulchellum Cymbidium erythrostylum Peristeria elata Cypripedium niveum Phalaenopsis amabilis Dendrobium bensoniae Phalaenopsis aphrodite Dendrobium dearei Phalaenopsis stuartiana Dendrobium formosum Pleione maculata Dendrobium infundibulum Sobralia leucoxantha Dendrobium nobile Vanda suavis Dendrobium sanderae * See white hybrids in lists from nurseries. See also varieties listed under Cattleya (such as Barbara Billingsley, Barbara Dane, Bow Bells, St. Petersburg, and White Empress) and under Cymbidium (such as Balkis, Miranda, and Swallow). Table 4. Some Orchids with Yellow Prevailing Species Diameter, in inches Species Diameter, in inches Cattleya citrina (tulip orchid) 3 2-3 2 2 2-3 4 VA VA 2-3 5-7 Odontoglossum halli Odontoglossum schlieperianum 3-5 4-5 VA 1-2 2 1 3 3 3 1 2H Cirrhopetalum Cyrtopodium andersoni Dendrobium brymerianum . Dendrobium chrysotoxum . . Dendrobium densiflorum. . . Dendrobium heterocarpum faureum) Epidendrum brassavolae . . Epidendrum stamfordianum Epidendrum wallisi Laelia flava Oncidium altissimum ...... Oncidium bicallosum Oncidium cavendishianum. . Oncidium lanceanum Oncidium sphacelatum Oncidium splendidum Oncidium tigrinum Oncidium varicosum Oncidium wentworthianum . Schomburgkia crispa Odontoglossum grande I 60 I Table 5. Some Orchids with Red to Reddish Brown Prevailing Species Predominating color Bulbophyllum careyanum Cochlioda hybrids reddish brown red to rose orange scarlet cinnabar red cinnabar red orange red orange scarlet reddish brown bright vermillion dark red chestnut brown chestnut brown chestnut brown reddish red brown reddish crimson blood red vermillion reddish brown cinnabar red scarlet red and yellow Epidendrum radicans Epidendrum vitellinum Laelia cinnabarina Laelia harpophylla Laelia monophylla Laeha tenebrosa Masdevallia veitchiana Maxillaria tenuif olia Miltonia Candida Odontoglossum harryanum Odontoglossum luteopurpureum Oncidioda hybrids Oncidium longipes Oncidium papilio Renanthera coccinea Renanthera imschootiana Schomburgkia tibicinis Sophronitis cernua Sophronitis grandiflora Stanhopea tigrina [61] Table 6. Some Orchids with Many Flowers to a Cluster or Stem Species Bletilla hyacinthina Cattleya bowringiana Cochlioda hybrids Coelogyne pandurata Cymbidium lowianum Cymbidium tracyanum Dendrobium brymerianum Dendrobium formosum Dendrobium nobile Epidendrum brassavolae Epidendrum skinned Laelia flava Lycaste tricolor Odontioda hybrids Odontoglossum pescatorei (nobile) . Odontoma hybrids Phaius grandif olius Phalaenopsis schilleriana Vanda coerulea Vanda sanderiana Number to cluster or Diameter, in inches Predominating color spray 6-12 1 light purple 5-20 2-3 rose purple 10-15 1 red to rose 5-15 4 green 15-36 4-5 yellowish green 5-15 4-5 yellowish brown 7-15 2-3 golden yellow 7-15 3-4 white 4-18 2-3 white 10-20 4 yellow 15-30 1H rose 8-10 5-10 canary yellow 10-30 1H whitish rose 5-20 1-3 variable over 20 2-3 white 5-15 3-4 whitish 10-20 3-4 yellow brown over 20 3-4 light rose 7-15 3-4 light blue, variable 7-15 5 yellow and rose [62 Table 7. Some Good Hybrid Orchids Laeliocattleya Hybrids Bella (X. purpurata X C. labiata; Callistoglossa (L. purpurata X C. war- scewiczij (rosy, middle lip dark purple ) Canhamiana (L. purpurata X C. mossiae), especially Alba (light rose and purple lip, throat orange ) Dominiana (L. purpurata X C. dowianai Elegans (L. purpurata X C. leopoldij (rose; a natural hybrid) George Baldwin (Princess Margaret X Enid) Lustre Callistoglossa X C. lueddemann- iana* 'very good dark orchid Marie Dobrott Callistoglossa X Lustre Mme. Brasseur Hye Lc. Aphrodite X C. Metior Princess Margaret Profusion X Clotho (dark orchid; Queen Mary, Westonbirt's Variety Lus- tre X Peetersi S. J. Bracey Mrs. Medo X Thebes White Queen Britannia X C. mossiae (white i Brassocattleya Hybrids Digbyano-Mendeli (B. digbyana X C. mendeli) Digbyano-Mossiae (B. digbyana X C. mossiae) Digbyano-Trianae (B. digbyana X C. tri- anae) Heatonensis (B. digbyana X C. hardy- ana) Mrs. J. Leemann (B. digbyana X C. dowiana) Rosalind (B. digbyana X C. mossiae X Enid) Montecito (an Armacost and Royston va riety) Brassolaeliocattleya Hybrids The Baroness (chartreuse to yellow Brassolaelia Hybrids with Odd Colors Digbyano-Purpurata (B. digbyana X L. Mrs. M. Gratrix tB. digbyana X L. cinna- purpurata) barina) * See catalog listings for full color descriptions. Table 8. Some Orchids Commonly Grown in Osmunda Fern Fiber (Epiphytic orchids) Aerides Maxillaria Angraecum Miltonia Brassocattleya, etc. Oncidium in part) Cattleya Phalaenopsis Coelogyne Schomburgkia Cycnoches Sophronitis Dendrobium Stanhopea Epidendrum (in part) Vanda Laelia Table 9. Some Orchids Grown in Leafmold and Gravel Mixtures (mostly terrestrial but some epiphytic) BletiUa (Bletia) Calanthe Cymbidium Cypripedium (in part) as insigne parishi spicerianum villosum Lycaste Odontoglossum (epiphytic) Phaius (Phajus) (in part; mostly terres- trial) Pleione Sobralia Zygopetalum (epiphytic) Table 10. Some Cool-House Orchids for Beginners (50 F minimum) Species Size of flowers, in inches Predominating color Calanthe vestita 3 3-4 3-4 mostly 2-4 4-5 3 5-6 4 2-3 1 3-4 4 1 4-6 2-3 5-7 1-2 1-2 2 3 3 3 creamy white white white various greenish white white greenish white yellowish green red and yellow cinnabar red deep rose deep purple golden yellow whitish rose yellowish green white yellow yellow greenish brown yellowish green yellow scarlet green and blue Coelogyne cristata Coelogyne mooreana Cymbidium Cypripedium insigne Cypripedium spicerianum Cypripedium villosum Dendrobium infundibulum Epidendrum cochleatum Epidendrum obrienianum Epidendrum vitellinum Laelia anceps Laelia autumnalis Lycaste aromatica Lycaste skinneri Odontoglossum bictoniense Odontoglossum citrosmum Odontoglossum grande Oncidium cavendishianum Oncidium crispum Oncidium leuchochilum Oncidium tigrinum Sophronitis grandiflora Zygopetalum mackayi [64 Table 11. Some Intermediate House Orchids for Beginners (55 F minimum) Species Size of flowers, in inches Predominating color Cattleya amethystoglossa Cattleya bicolor 4 4 2-3 6-8 5 6-8 6 6-8 5-8 5-7 6-7 2-3 6-7 6-8 2 3-4 2-3 6-9 6-9 VA l 3-4 3-4 2-3 rose purple bronze green rose purple nankeen yellow rose purple bright rose lilac rose rose white hght rose deep rose hght rose rose purple hght rose deep rose golden yellow yellowish rose white rose white reddish brown yellow yellow yellow brown white and bufE reddish brown Cattleya bowringiana Cattleya dowiana Cattleya gaskelliana Cattleya labiata Cattleya loddigesi Cattleya mendeli Cattleya mossiae Cattleya percivaliana Cattleya schroederiana Cattleya skinneri Cattleya trianae Cattleya warneri Dendrobium chrysotoxum Dendrobium moschatum Dendrobium nobile Laelia purpurata Laelia tenebrosa Oncidium altissimum Oncidium sphacelatum Phaius (Phajus) grandifolius Phaius (Phajus) wallichi Schomburgkia tibicinis [65 Table 12. Some Warm-House Orchids for the Beginner (65 F minimum) Species Size of flowers, in inches Predominating color Aerides crassifolium 1H 1 3 3-4 4-5 3-4 2V 2 3 1-2 3-4 5 4 3-4 13^-3 3-4 5 2-3 2-3 rose purple white creamy white light yellow whitish green satiny white white deep rose yellowish green reddish crimson white white light rose white light blue, variable yellow and rose white whitish yellow Aerides odoratum Cypripedium bellatulum Cypripedium concolor Cypripedium lawrenceanum Cypripedium niveum Dendrobium dearei Dendrobium phalaenopsis Oncidium luridum Oncidium papilio Phalaenopsis amabilis Phalaenopsis aphrodite Phalaenopsis schilleriana Phalaenopsis stuartiana Vanda coerulea Vanda sanderiana Vanda suavis Vanda tricolor I 66 I