Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1895-04-24
STRANGE TROPICAL ORCHIDS
Limbs of Giant Trees Decorated with tn,
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 paw
ment for the accommodation thew 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
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
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
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-
ducing male or female blossoms ac-
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
spike of female or hermaphrodite flow
ers, which are thick and feshy. re-
sernbling an old-fashioned woman's
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
drought, when it is half-starved, it is
unable to support such strain. Ac-
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 y
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 continuance. but strike or shake
the plant and it will be seen that it is
nothing less than a verita BILE ants nest
The orchid is, like other plants, subject
to the attacks of many foes, such as
coclToachcs and larvae, which are par
! ticularly fond of the aerial roots. To
protect itself against these the s'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, tic ''Epidendron bicornutum, -
which adopts d like expedient for the
sake OF protection. Being provided
with long cylindrical bulbs, it leaves
, these hollow, and makes slit in each
| OEe for about 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 guard against
| aY.~lV IiF.Cr hn
ceeds to develop a most wonderful
flower, which is designed toattract one
particular kind of insect-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 liquid drips from two horn-like
processes in the upper part of the flow
er. Take china teacup with a spread
| ing mouth, hang some little flags over
the handle and stick a model of a fg.
urehead of Polynesian canoe opposite
and you have something like one Oh
them, as it opens itself in the early
morning from a bud resembling the
swathing of a 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 a 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 two
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 q
narrow opening, through which the
bee can push its way out. In doing 81
it ruptures the pollen case and carries
off some of the pollen grains on it,
back. Crawling over the spike of bios
SONS the insect conveys the pollen tx
the stigmas of other flowers of thu
same plant, thus fertilizing Them
Washington Star.
The Accommodating Boarder.
The boarder was grumpy that morn
ing and the landlady was doing tn,
| best she knew how