Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-09-30
ORCHIDS AT HOME,

CRCHiDS AT HOME.
Beautiful as are the ground orchids
of Europe and America, it is only in the
tropics that the plants of this order
reach their highest development In
the great primeval forests near the
equator the orchids generally cease
growing in the earth, and exist in the
greatest profusion high up among the
branches of the tree.
One of the earliest of generic names
for epiphytal orchids was Epidend,ltna.
in allusion to their tree-dwellino habits.
and it is self-evident that the later name
of Dendr0btum is of similar derivation
and meaning. Tree trunks in Bor-
mean forest rise straight and tall all
around you, lianas and rattans stretch
from bough to bough, or sweep upward
from the ground in curves as graceful
as those of a ships rigging. You are
on the floor of natures cathedral. and
the giant boles rise pillal-lke all
around, but where, you ask, are the
orchids, since nothing but few ferns
and aroid leaves grow on the ground at
your feet. The truth is that the orchids
snakes and the monkeys, are on the
tree-tops far above you, and you feel
ridiculously small and helpless as YOU
try to catch a glimpse of the flowers so
far out of your reach. Above Won is a
whole world of flower life baskng in
the sunshine, and you envy the monkeys
as they swing themselves rapidly out of
sight among the leafy branches over
head. Some species are very anomalous
in their mode of growth. For example.
the Mexican Cdttley0 cityipa naturally
hangs head downward, and but rarely
succeeds in our lighthouses except so
grown. At least two epiphytal species,
viz, Ang9ctm fitaalc and AerideS
tgRaie, are absolutely leahess all the
usual leaf-work being carried on by the
chlo.ophyl which exists in their band
or throng like roots. Adaptive as all
vegetation is now known to be under
various local or climatic surroundings,
we have but few examples of Adaptable
ty more striking than are these two
lealless orchids. Lows "Aloth Orchid"
(HdlGR0psiSl. which naturally exists
on exposed limestone rocks in Moul-
the dry monsoon every year, and even
other leafy species of this genus are re-
markable for the extreme vitality which
exists in their tleshy roots, One Of the
most recent horticultural discoveries
indeed, is that, under certain condi-
TONS the exposed roots of these Moth
Orchids" may develop adyentitous buds,
which in their turn produce young
plants.
Remembering that the majority of
tropical orchids are "tree-dwellors, y or
true epiphytes, the question why they
are so naturally arises In tropical
countries where heat and moisture are
excessive, tree growth is rapid, and
most of the trees themselves are both
outrageous and evergreen, hence it
follows that all low-growing plants
which mainly depend on sunshine for
life and strength to reproduce them
selves must do one of two things, Z. C.,
either adapt themselves to the shade
below, or climb to the tree-tops. Many
palms, figs and aroids actually do this
by lengthening their slender stems. In
cold countries the honeysuckle, or ledge
clematis, in fact, all climbing and trail
plants. act in the same way; but the or
chids, ferns, and bromeliads seldom
adopt this mode of growth. True, one
curious Burmese orchid (EyBthr0rchtS
ScandenS) grows up trees to height OF
fifty to one hundred feet rs do its rela-
tives, the Vanilla orchids; but these
few exceptions only prove the rule that
most orchids are comparatively dwarf
and tufted in habit. and owe their
elevated position to the fact that their
seeds are light and easily carried up
ward among the branches and into the
light and sunshine, where they vegetate
freely, while those which fall to the
ground below are lost. The orchid
hunter abroad must face MANY dill
cuties, and often carries his life in his
hand, so to speak. However successful
he may be- he also runs peculiar risks
which those at home can scarcely real
ize. In order to discover new species
he must often venture where no White
mans foot has been before, and must
consider himself fortunate if hunger
and thirst or bodily fatigue are the only
difficulties he meets with At one time
dreuched TO the skin. nj another scorch-
ed BY tropic sun, bitten by mosquitoes
and jungle leeches, or stricken by fever
he must never relinqush his object
Dangerous routes must be traversed'
often with the most faithless natives as
guides swollen rivers must be crossed;
and all the risks from climate and wild
animals ana reptiles be taken as = mere
matter Of course. and sometimes long
and tedious journey is made only TO
tind that a rival has beet before you:
As an illustration OF disappointment OF