Vanda Parishii, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, 1870, 890.
This glorious thing, as Professor Reichenbach calls it, was first discovered by the Rev. C. Parish in 1862, and then lost sight of, but was rediscovered in 1870, from which discovery, we presume, the first plants were obtained by Mr. S. Low, of the Clapton Nursery; since then we have received living plants of it on several occasions, and the plant now figured was from one of these importations. It is a small and distinct growing _Vanda_, and is well worthy of a place in every collection on account of its compact habit of growth, which resembles that of a _Phalænopsis_. The Vandas are for the most part large growers, but, as will be seen from the accompanying figure, _Vanda Parishii_ is an exception to the general rule. Our plate was prepared from a plant which bloomed in the collection of the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, M.P., of Birmingham—a gentleman who is making a grand collection of Orchids, and is a great admirer of them. The plant above referred to was a well-grown specimen, bearing a good spike of flowers.
The leaves are about eight inches in length by four inches in breadth, and of a lively green colour; and the flower-spike reaches from ten to twelve inches in length, the flowers being as large as those of _Vanda gigantea_ and _V. lissochiloides_. The sepals and petals are greenish-yellow, freely spotted with reddish-brown; the base of the lip, which is keeled, is white, the front lobe violet-mauve, faintly margined with white. Altogether it is a very distinct species, and is very strongly scented, with a peculiar odour; it lasts for several weeks in bloom.
_Vanda Parishii_ requires about the same treatment as other Vandas, and should be grown in the East India-house, in sphagnum moss, with plenty of drainage. It would appear never to attain more than about a foot in height, being unusually short and stout in growth. It is best grown in a basket or pot suspended from the roof, and should be well shaded from the sun. It revels in a good supply of water during the growing period, which extends over summer and autumn; but in winter only just sufficient water should be given to keep the moss damp, for if allowed to become over-dry it will shrivel, having no pseudobulbs to support it. Thrips and scale are sometimes found on this plant; these should be diligently searched for and destroyed, as the leaves, being of a fleshy nature, would otherwise soon become disfigured by the onslaught of these pests.