Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1893-07-12
STRANGE TROPICAL ORCHIDS.
Limbs of Giant Trees Decorated with the
Beautiful Epiphytes.


Limbs of Giant Trees Decorated with the
Beautiful Epiphytes.
Among the most interesting plants in
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 pay
ment for the accommodation they re-
ceive they decorate the brawny limbs
of the trees with their beautiful flow
ers. Different species have various
methods Of storing up water against a
drought The ''bromelias, which like
wise cling to the trees far aloft, have a
method of storing water that is pecu-
liar to themselves. Their leaves, tight
ly 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 a
Judgment and hourishes.
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
numbers Here live those species which
delight in plenty of moisture. On
branches which project over the water
other kinds of orchids are plentiful
such as the "catasetumS" These latter
have developed a faculty that is almost
unique in plants-namely, that of pro-
IL L. l.
cording to circumstances One variety
has three distinct shapes of flowers
which differ SO much from each other
that, until a 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 a
spike of female or hermaphrodite flow
ers, which are thick and fieshy, re-
sembling an old-fashioned womans
cap or sunbonnet These blooms re-
quire special effort on the part of the
plant to produce them, and they can
only be satisfactorily produced when
the plant is in good condition. During
a drought, when it is half-starved, it is
cordingly, under such circumstances, it
brings forth few lighter and more
elegant male flowers
Hanging from a creeper or branch
may be seen here and there an oval
bag-like mass of aerial roots, above
which are the bulbs and leaves of that
wonderful orchid, the ''coryanthes. :"
After throwing out two or three roots
to attach itself to its support, it de-
velops an interlacing network all
around. At first sight it would be hard
to say what purpose could be served by
such a con trivance, but strike or shake
the plant and it will be seen that it is
nothing less than veritable ants nest
The orchid is, like other plants, subject
to the attacks of many foes, such as
cockroaches and larve, which are par
ticularly fond of the aerial roots. To
protect itself against these the ''cor-
yanthes' chooses to provide comfort
able nest, wherein a garrison of carniv-
orous ants find shelter. In return for
the accommodation they are ready to
come out and fight at the first alarm of
an enemy. There is another kind of
orchid, the ''Epidendron bicornutum, "
which adopts a like expedient for the
sake of protection. Being provided
with long cylindrical bulbs, it leaves
these hollow, and makes a slit in each
one for about a quarter of an inch at
the base. In these well-protected homes
the ants live and thrive, and, in return
for their lodging, are a terror to in
vaders.
Having provided a guard against
crawling vermin, the ooryanthes pro-
ceeds to develop most wonderful
flower, which is designed to attract one
particular kind of inseot--namely, a
beautiful metallic green bee. From the
base of one of its bulbs long flower
stem is produced which extends straight
downward. Upon this it hangs mum.
Der of beautiful cups, into each OF
which a liquid drips from two horn-like
processes in the upper part of the flow.
er. Take china teacup with spread
! ing mouth, hang some little flags over
the handle and stick model of a fig
urehead Of a Polynesian canoe opposite
and you have something like one OF
them, as it opens itself in the early
morning from a bud resembling the
swathing of Chinese lady's foot. The
odor of these blossoms is not pleasant
to human nostrils, but it is very agree
able to the bees, which immediately
on the opening swarm around
in great numbers. Flying toward the
flower, as moth to candle, the bee
falls into the liquid which covers the
bottom, and, wetting it's wings, is un
able to use them. Look into the cur
and you will see dozen bees swim
ming round and round, or vainly trying
to climb the slippery sides. If it is the
second day after opening, one or tive
may be seen drowned. 1t was never
the intention of the flower, however
that their lives should be sacrificed
but, on the contrary, that they should
escape, and in doing SO perform the
Office for which the whole contrivanct
has been made. Under the flags is 8
narrow opening, through which the
bee can push its way out In doing 81
it ruptures the pollen case and carrie:
off some of the pollen grains on it,
back. Crawling over the spike of bios
SONS the insect conveys the pollen II
the stigmas of other flowers of tn,
same plant, thus fertilizing them
Washington Star.
The Accommodating BOarder.
The boarder was grumpy that morn
ing and the landlady was doing tn