Roebelin to make a thorough investigation. His enterprise and sagacity
were rewarded, as usual. After floating round for twenty-five years
amidst derision, the rumour proved true in part. _Ph. Sanderiana_ is not
scarlet but purplish rose, a very handsome and distinct species.
To the same collector we owe the noblest of Aerides, _A. Lawrenciae_,
waxy white tipped with purple, and deep purple lip. Besides the lovely
colouring it is the largest by far of that genus. Mr. Roebelin sent two
plants from the Far East; he had not seen the flower, nor received any
description from the natives. Mr. Sander grew them in equal ignorance
for three years, and sent one to auction in blossom; it fell to Sir
Trevor Lawrence's bid for 235 guineas.
[Illustration: COELOGENE PANDURATA.
Reduced to One Sixth]
Many of the Coelogenes classed as cool, which, indeed, rub along with
Odontoglossums, do better in the stove while growing. _Coel. cristata_
itself comes from Nepaul, where the summer sun is terrible, and it
covers the rocks most exposed. But I will only name a few of those
recognized as hot. Amongst the most striking of flowers, exquisitely
pretty also, is _Coel. pandurata_, from Borneo. Its spike has been
described by a person of fine fancy as resembling a row of glossy
pea-green frogs with black tongues, each three inches in diameter. The
whole bloom is brilliantly green, but several ridges clothed with hairs
as black and soft as velvet run down the lip, seeming to issue from a
mouth.
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