The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-08-03
STRANGE TROPICAL ORCHIDS.
Etmbs of Giant Trees Decorated with
the Beautiful, Epiphytes.

Among the most interesting plants
in a tropical forest are the orchids.
Far above the grounds the limbs Of the
giant trees are decorated with these
curious epiphytes. The latter simply
grow upon their hosts, not living at
their expense. They are the most in
dependent of things vegetable, obtain
ing their support from the air. In
payment for the accommodation they
receive they decorate the brawht
linn bs of the trees with their beautifra
flowers. Different species have various
methods of storing up water against
dronth. The "bromelias," which like
wise cling to the trees far aloft, have
method of storing water that is pecu-
liar to themselves. Their leaves,
tightly overlapping one another, form
cups, which will retain stores of water
for several weeks. In these little
vases a certain kind Of aquatic plant
finds lodgment and fourishes.
Beyond the fringe of dense vegeta-
ton along the bank nothing can be
seen from the stream; but behind the
veil of grasses and creepers orchids
may be found growing luxuriantly in
great mum bers. Here live those species
which delight in plenty of moisture,
says the Washington Star. On
branches which project over the water
other kinds of orchids are plentiful
such as the "catasetums." These lat
ter have developed faculty that is
almost unique in plants-namely that
OF producing male or female blossoms
according to circumstances. One
variety has three distant shapes of
flowers which differ so much from each
other that, until q naturalist found
them all growing on the same plant,
they were described as belonging to as
many separate genera. The shapes
are male, female and hermaphrodite.
When the plant has plenty of food it
produces spike of female or her.
maphrodite flowers, which are thick
and tieshy, resembling in shape an old
fashioned woman's cap or sunbonnet.
These blooms require special effort
on the part of the plant TO produce
them, and they can only be salts
factorily produced when the plant is
IN good condition. During a drouth,
when it is half-starved, it is unable to
support such a strain. Accordingly.
under such circumstances, it brings
forth a few lighter and more elegant
male flowers.
Hanging from creeper or branch
may be seen here and there an oval
bag-likc mass of aerial roots, above
which are the bulbs and leaves of that
wonderful orchid, the "c0ryanthes."
After throwing out two or three roots
to attach itself TO its support, i
develops an interlacing network all
around. At first sight it would be hard
to say what purpose could be served
by such contrivance, but strike or
shake the plant and it will be Seen that
it is nothing less than 4 veritabc ants
nest. The orchid is, like other plants,
subject to the attacks of many foes,
such as cockroaches and larvH, which
are particularly fond of the aerial
roots. To protect itself against these
the "coryanthes" chooses TO provide
comfortable nest, wherein a garrison
of carniyOrOus ants finds shelter In
return for the accommodation they
are ready to come out and fight at the
first alarm Of an enemy. There is an
other kind of orchid, the "epidendron
bicornutum, which adopts a like ex-
pedient for the sake of protection.
Being provided with long cylindrical
bulbs,it leaves these hollow, and makes
a slit in each one for about 4 quarter
Of an inch at the base. In these we'll
protected homes the ants live and
thrive, and, in return for their lodging,
are 4 terror to invaders.
Having provided guard against
crawling vermiH, the coryanthes pro-
ceeds to develop q most wonderful
Hover, which is designed to attract
one particular kind of insect-namely,
beautiful metallic green bee. Frsm
the base of one of its bulbs long
flower stem is produced, which extends
straight downward. Upon this it
hangs number of beautiful cups, into