Saccolabium

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Read about Saccolabium in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Saccolabium (name refers to the saccate labellum). Orchidaceae. Epiphytic herbs with erect leafy stems increasing in length by continued growth at the apex, grown in warm glasshouses.

Leaves distichous, leathery and fleshy, usually channeled: infl. lateral, in the cultivated species a long, densely fld. cylindrical raceme; fls. medium or small; sepals subequal, free, spreading, the lateral pair not decurrent on the base of the column; petals similar, sometimes wider; labellum united with the base of the column, spurred, the mouth of the spur open; pollinia on a filiform stipe.—About 20 or more species. Can be prop. by offsets and by cut-backs. Fresh stock is constantly imported.

This interesting genus embraces a number of pretty and distinct species from Borneo, Cochin-China, India, Java, and Philippines. They are closely allied to the genera Aerides, Phalaenopsis and Vanda, and require somewhat similar treatment, but do not always acclimatize themselves as readily to artificial cultivation unless given a location with more or less natural surroundings, although some of the more free-growing species, like S. ampullaceum, S. curvifolium, S. coeleste, and S. Hendersonianum, can usually be grown successfully in the cattleya or cypripedium department. The large-growing species with thick succulent leaves require a warm moist atmosphere where the winter temperature can be retained at 65° to 70° F. by night and about 75° during the day, and in the summer or growing season 10° in advance of this. All succeed best when suspended from the roof in pans, baskets or on blocks where they can have free circulation of air about them at all times, receive indirect benefit of the sun's influence, which will harden their tissue, and where the compost may readily and frequently dry out, during the resting period especially. Grown otherwise the more succulent species, such as S. giganteum (a Vanda), make soft weak tissue, which is susceptible to wet-spot, a usually fatal disease. Clean chopped sphagnum, freely interspersed with broken pieces of charcoal, is the most satisfactory growing material, and this should not be pressed in so firmly as entirely to exclude access of air to the roots, but the plants must always be firmly secured with pieces of charcoal, potsherds or other similar material, or securely fastened with copper wire to keep them in position, otherwise being more or less top-heavy they are liable to work loose, under which conditions they cannot become properly established. Shading should be applied to the glass from February until November to break the sun's direct rays, but during the remainder of the year when the solar light is weak its direct influence will be found beneficial. In bright weather in the growing season the plants need a liberal supply of water, both at the roots and over the foliage, but during the resting period and in wet inclement weather, water and syringing must be carefully and sparingly administered. Judgment in this respect is very essential to the successful culture of these plants. The supply of saccolabiums is kept up by fresh importation. These cultural directions apply also to the genus Rhynchostylis.


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.


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