Satyrium

Read about Satyrium in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Satyrium (Greek, satyr; Satyrion was the name given by Dioscorides to one of the orchids). Syn., Diplecthrum. Orchidaceae. Terrestrial orchids with tuberous roots, some of the species adapted to the warmhouse, others to the coldframe. Tuber undivided: lvs. few, on the lower part of the st., rarely many at the sides of the tall st.: fls. medium-sized or rather large, in often densely fld. spikes; bracts membranaceous or somewhat leafy, sometimes imbricate in the young spike and often strongly reflexed, in a dwarf species overtopping the fls.; sepals free, rather similar to the petals; labellum erect, broad-concave, galeate or cucullate undivided: caps. erect, oblong, not beaked.—About 125 species, India, Mascarene Isls., Trop. and S. Afr. Most of the species, of which several are more or less commonly cult. abroad, succeed well in a coldframe, in a compost of turfy peat, fibry loam and sand with plenty of drainage. Prop. by division of roots, made as fresh growth is commencing. S. aurantiacum, T. S. Ware, is a species with broad lvs., long and compact fl.-spike and rich orange fls. Probably of garden origin. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Satyrium macrophyllum Lindl.Pencil and watercolour by Harry Bolus

Satyrium is a genus of orchids.