The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening

Every genus a Victorian gardener could grow — Abelia to Zygopetalum across four volumes, with each plant's history, species, and culture, by the Curator of Kew.

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Galeandra (From galea a helmet and aner)

(from galea, a helmet, and aner, andros, a stamen; referring to the crested male organ on the top of the column). ORD. Orchideoe. A genus of about half-a-score species of stove terrestrial orchids (included by some authors under Eulophia), natives of tropical America, from Brazil to Mexico; having slender, erect, fleshy, jointed stems, from the tops of which the flower-spikes are produced, just after the growth is finished. Leaves narrow, lanceolate, two-ranked, sheathing. The species are somewhat difficult to cultivate, and require strict attention during the growing season, in order to keep the leaves free from the attacks of Red Spider and Thrips. This may be done by syringing them twice a day in warm weather. Galeandras should be cultivated in pots of peat, in the East-Indian house. When growing, a plentiful supply of water should be given; but while at rest, they should be placed near the glass, in a Cattleya house, and kept moderately moist. G. Baueri lutea (Bauer's yellow).* fl. yellow), beautiful, in drooping racemes; lip with parallel purple lines near the apex, which has wavy margins. June to August. l. veined, lance-shaped. Stems cylindrical. h. 6in. Guiana, 1840. A very rare but desirable species. (B. M. 4701.) G. cristata (crested). fl. pink and dark purple; spike drooping June to August. h. 1 1/2ft. South America, 1844.

G. Devoniana (Duke of Devonshire's).* fl. white, elegantly penciled with pink, about 4in. across, produced in pendent spikes from the top of the pseudo-bulbs. Blossoms at various times of the year, and remains a considerable period in full beauty, h. 2ft. South America. (B. M. 4610.) G. Harveyana (Harvey's). fl., sepals and petals sepia-brown; lip light yellow, with tuft of hair over the anterior part of the disk. Tropical America. G. minax (projecting). fl. yellowish-copper, whitish, purple. June. Columbia, 1874 G. nivalis (snowy).* fl. in nodding racemes, each about 2in. long, with narrow reflexed rich olive-coloured segments, having a large funnel-shaped white lip, marked with a central violet blotch. Tropical America. A beautiful and rare species. (G. C. n. s., xvii. 537.)

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