In habit _O. Insleayi_ is quite indistinguishable from _O. grande_; and although its flowers are far inferior in beauty to those of that glorious species, they bear a certain sort of resemblance to them in their colouring and general arrangement. The structure is however entirely different, for while _O. grande_ has no bristle-like appendages to its column, and therefore belongs to the section of the genus which has been called XANTHOGLOSSUM by Dr. Lindley, the processes in question are clearly present (see Dissections) in the case of _O. Insleayi_, thereby bringing it under the preceding section, to which the title of EUODONTOGLOSSUM has been given by the same authority. The time and mode of flowering are also different in the two plants, for while in _O. grande_ the flower-scapes appear almost simultaneously with the leaves, and are usually in perfection in July, those of _O. Insleayi_ are not produced until long after the pseudobulbs have been matured, nor do they expand their blossoms until late in the autumn.
As is the case with most of its congeners, there are many varieties of _O. Insleayi_, some of which are much less attractive in their colouring than the one represented in the Plate, while others have much larger flowers, as in the example given in the vignette which is copied from an old woodcut in the Journal of the Horticultural Society. Unfortunately this latter variety has, I greatly fear, been lost to the country, but collectors should endeavour to reintroduce it.
I have already referred to Dr. Cauty's success in the treatment of the subject of the present Plate, but his skill and care are equally conspicuous in the management of a miscellaneous collection of Orchids, which he contrives to grow under circumstances such as would have deterred most men from attempting to grow any plants at all. The house in which he lives is in the very centre of Liverpool, and has in its rear a small back court, such as is usually devoted to dustbins and coal-holes, but where Dr. Cauty has found space for three little Orchid-houses of different temperatures in which the Orchids of different climes are perfectly at home. I can really see no reason why in all large towns--in London more especially--Dr. Cauty's example should not be extensively followed, and the luxury of an Orchid-house be thus brought within the reach of many who now consider it quite beyond their grasp.