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Physurus (From physa a bladder and oura)

(from physa, a bladder, and oura, a tail; in allusion to the shape of the spur). SYNS. Erythrodes, Microchilus. ORD. Orchideae. A genus comprising about a score species of stove, terrestrial, leafy orchids, with root fibres usually fasciculate, in a creeping rhizome, inhabiting the warmer regions of Asia and America. Flowers small or mediocre, disposed in loose or dense, often elongated, almost sessile spikes; sepals and petals nearly equal, the lateral sepals placed beneath the lip, and the dorsal agglutinated to the petals; lip parallel with the column, concave, constricted below the apex, and extended downwards into a freely-swollen spur; column free or adnate to the bottom of the lip, straight and attenuated into an ultimately bifid rostellum, having the anther at the back, containing two sectile pollen-masses attached to an oblong or subulate gland. Leaves stalked, loosely-sheathed, often beautifully marked with veins. The species here described are those introduced to cultivation. For culture, see Anaectochilus (to which the present genus is closely allied).

P. argenteus (silvery).* l. 2 1/2in. long and 1 1/2in. broad, light green, with well-defined, silvery markings. Stems 4in. in height. Brazil. An elegant, free-growing species, which does well in a warm house without a bell glass; a shady situation, and a plentiful supply of water to the roots, are important elements in its culture. SYN. Anaectochilus argenteus. P. decorus (comely). fl. very indifferently small; sepals white, with green lines; lip small, with a yellowish-green spur. l. cuneate-oblong, acute, dark green, with whitish, longitudinal stripes. Probably Sumatra, 1873. P. maculatus (spotted). l. 2 1/2in. long, dark green, with two rows of white, oblong spots lying parallel with the midrib. h. 6in. Guayaquil, 1862. (B. M. 5305.) P. nobilis (noble).* l. broadly ovate, dark green, marked with silvery veins. Brazil, 1865. A large and beautifully marked species. Very similar to P. pictus, but differing in its fringed lip. SYN. Anaectochilus nobilis. P. Ortgiesii (Ortgies'). l. dark green, with a whitish midrib; spots of the same colour distributed over the entire surface. Columbia, 1873. Distinct, and very pretty. (F. & P. 1872, 243.) P. pictus (spotted).* l. 3in. long, 1 1/2in. broad, edged with dark green, and having a handsome, silver-frosted band down the centre, from which radiate a network of white veins. h. 6in. Brazil. A distinct and most desirable, free-growing species. (Ref. B. 73.) SYNS. Anaectochilus argenteus, pictus, Microchilus pictus.

P. querceticolus (Oakwood-dwelling). fl. borne in loose spikes; lip three-toothed at apex. l. 2in. to 3in. long, ovate, acute, light green, blotched with silvery-grey on each side of the midrib, imparting an appearance to the intervening spaces of being silvered over. h. 3in. to 4in. or more. New Orleans. A distinct, free-growing species.