Aganisia
(from aganos, desirable; in reference to the beauty of these neat little plants). ORD. Orchideoe. A small genus of epiphytal Orchids, requiring to be grown upon a block of wood suspended from the rafters of the stove. A damp atmosphere, syringing the roots and leaves freely when in a growing state, and shade during very bright sunshine, are primary points to be observed in their cultivation. Increased by dividing the pseudo-bulbs just previous to starting into new growth.
A. coerulea (dark blue).* fl., peduncles axillary, few flowered. "The colour is the well known one of Vanda coerulea. There are, however, darker blue blotches quasi-tesselated over the flower. The lip is veiled, and has two very small basilar teeth, and then a veiled middle lacinia, that is sacciform, bordered with most remarkable long bristles, and with a deep violet blotch on its middle part beneath. The white column has two cartilaginous quadrate arms close to the stigmatic hollow." l. cuneate, oblong, acuminate. Pseudo-bulbs distichous, depresso-ovoid. Brazil, 1876.
A. fimbriata (fringed).* fl. white; lip blue. Demerara, 1874. This species has also a sacciform, fimbriate lip, but, when compared with the foregoing, its flowers, leaves, and bulbs are much smaller, and the lip is not slit up to the apex, but the sac is round.
A. graminea (grass-leaved). A weedy looking species, of no garden value. Guiana, 1836.
A. ionoptera (violet-winged). The flowers, not very much larger than those of the Lily of the Valley, are white, with violet petals, and violet tips and streaks on the sepals. Peru, 1871.
A. pulchella (pretty).* fl. white, with a blotch of yellow in the centre of the lip; the spike is produced from the bottom of the bulb. h. 8in. Demerara, 1838. It blossoms at different times of the year, and lasts two or three weeks in perfection. This species is very rare and pretty, and is best grown in a pot, with peat, and good drainage; requires a liberal supply of water at the roots, and the hottest house.