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Chysis (From chysis melting)

(from chysis, melting; in reference to the fused appearance of the pollen masses). ORD. Orchideae. A small but beautiful genus of stove, deciduous epiphytes. Flowers very showy, colours bright, texture firm, and the surface even and waxy; lip beautifully marked. Pseudo-bulbs thick, fleshy, brittle, about 1ft. long, producing their flowers with the young growth. For culture, see Vanda.

C. aurea (golden).* fl. yellow, disposed in a short spike; produced at different times of the year; lip marked with crimson. Venezuela, 1834. (B. R. 1937.) C. a. Lemminghei (Lemminghe's).* A charming variety, with delicate pink and rose-coloured flowers, which are freely produced in May or June. Guatemala. (W. S. O. 34.) C. bractescens (bracteate).* fl. 2in. to 3in. across, disposed in a short spike or raceme; sepals and petals white; lip three-lobed, saddle-shaped, with a yellow blotch in the centre. April and May. l. oblong, acute. Guatemala, 1840. (B. M. 5186.) C. chelsoni (Chelsea). fl. sepals and petals nankeen yellow, with a large rosy blotch at the apex; lip bright yellow, with red spots and markings. A charming hybrid between C. bractescens and C. aurea. for which we are indebted to Messrs. Veitch and Sons.

C. laevis (smooth).* fl. disposed in pendulous spikes of eight or more; sepals and petals yellow and orange; lip blotched with scarlet or crimson, and fringed round the margin. June. Pseudo-bulbs 15in. long. Guatemala. (I. H. 1863, 365.)