Satyrium
(Satyrion was the name given by Dioscorides to one of the Orchids, from saturos, a satyr; alluding to supposed aphrodisiacal properties). SYN. Diplecthrum. ORD. Orchideae. A rather large genus (nearly fifty species have been described) of stove, greenhouse, or half-hardy, terrestrial, tuberous-rooted orchids, inhabiting the East Indies, the Mascarene Islands, and, for the most part, Southern and tropical Africa. Flowers mediocre or rather large, rarely small, in dense spikes; sepals and petals free, much spreading or reflexed; lip sessile at the base of the column, broad, concave, galeate, or cucullate, undivided, double-spurred, or bisaccate; bracts membranous or somewhat leafy. Leaves few on the lower part of the stem, rarely many at the sides of a tall stem. Tuber undivided. The species in cultivation are described below. Most of them will succeed admirably in a cold frame, in a compost of turfy peat, fibry loam, and sand, with plenty of drainage. S. ciliatum and S. nepalense thrive under similar treatment as regards compost, but require a greenhouse temperature. Propagation may be effected by division of the roots, made as fresh growth is commencing. Except where otherwise indicated, the under-mentioned species are South African.
S. aureum (golden).* fl. deep orange-colour, shaded with rich crimson. July and August, and continuing in perfection a long time. h. 1ft. or more. 1842. A fine plant. (P. M. B. xv. 31.)
S. candidum (white). fl. white, very sweetly aromatic; sepals linear, spreading; petals smaller, ascending recurved at apex; lip inflated, obtuse. September. l. twin, somewhat roundish-ovate, glabrous. h. sometimes 1 1/2ft. 1836.
S. carneum (flesh-coloured). fl. white, suffused with flesh-colour, large; sepals obtuse; petals inequilateral; lip galeate, apiculate, reflexed; bracts rose-margined. June. l. radical, twin, orbicular, fleshy; sheaths leafy, cucullate. h. 1 1/2ft. 1797. (B. M. 1512; F. d. S. 329.)
S. ciliatum (ciliated). fl. pinkish-white; sepals linear, narrower than the petals, ciliated; lip galeate, the spurs very short; bracts very long, leafy; spike oval, imbricated. August. l. ovate-lanceolate, erect. Himalayas, 1880.
S. coriifolium (leathery-leaved).* fl. yellow; sepals and petals linear, obtuse, glabrous, shorter than the orbicular lip; spur cylindrical, obtuse, bearded within; bracts ovate, reflexed; spike few-flowered. October. l. oblong-lanceolate, acute, spreading, slightly scabrous on the margins. h. 1ft. 1820. (B. M. 2172; B. R. 703; S. B. F. G. ii. 3; L. B. C. 104, under name of S. cucullatum.)
S. cucullatum (hooded). fl. green, with an unpleasant odour; intermediate sepal longer than the petals, linear, obtuse, lateral ones larger, all connate at base; lip acute, fleshy; spurs pendulous; bracts concave, reflexed. June. l. twin, orbicular, scabrous-ciliated; sheaths inflated, distant, furfuraceous-ciliated. h. 9in. 1786. (B. R. 416.) SYN. Orchis bicornis (A. B. R. 315).
S. erectum (erect). fl. of a yellowish-orange or pale purple colour; sepals and petals scarcely longer than the galeate lip; spurs filiform; bracts concave, reflexed, longer than the flowers; spike many-flowered. February. l. oblong, obtuse, coriaceous, with cartilaginous margins, scabrous, much-spreading, changing to convolute, imbricated sheaths. Stem 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. high, wholly sheathed. 1838. (B. 117.) SYN. S. pustulatum (B. R. 1840, 18).
S. foliosum (leafy). fl. pale purplish, small, erect; lateral sepals spreading, the middle one decurved; petals obtuse, sub-erect; galea hemispherical, longer than the filiform spurs; bracts longer than the flowers; spike dense, obtuse, imbricated. July. l. oblong-lanceolate, erect, cucullate, imbricated, nearly as long as the stem. Stem 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high, leafy. 1828.
S. nepalense (Nepaul).* fl. rose-pink, fragrant; lateral sepals oblong, middle one and petals linear; lip galeate, apiculate; spurs filiform; bracts reflexed, as long as the flowers; spike oblong, loose, many-flowered. l., radical ones ovate or lanceolate, erect; cauline ones shorter, spreading, sheathing at base. h. 1ft. or more. East Indies, 1882. (B. M. 6625.)
S. pustulatum (pustular). A synonym of S. erectum.