Dendrobium Draconis, _Reichenbach fil._, _Botanische Zeitung_, 1862, 214; _Id._, _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, N.S., xix., 598.
Dendrobium eburneum, _Parish MS._; _Bateman_, in _Botanical Magazine_, t. 5459; _Id._, _Second Century of Orchidaceous Plants_, t. 166; _André_, _Revue Horticole_, 1883, 132, with coloured plate.
Some confusion in reference to the name of this handsome Dendrobe has arisen in gardens where it has for about twenty years been known as _Dendrobium eburneum_. This name, a MS. one of the Rev. C. P. S. Parish, was attached to it in the _Botanical Magazine_ for 1864, and by mistake attributed to Professor Reichenbach, who had published the name _D. Draconis_ for the same plant in the _Botanische Zeitung_ for 1862. The name _Draconis_, of course, takes precedence.
The plant which we now introduce to our readers under its correct name, is a most beautiful Indian Dendrobe, one which is quite distinct in growth, belonging to the nigro-hirsute group of which _Dendrobium formosum_ is an example; it is, however, smaller, and a much better grower, and, in fact, more closely resembles _D. infundibulum_ and _D. Jamesianum_, both in its habit and its flowers, which are produced very freely, as may be seen from the faithful representation of the plum and flowers which our artist has made. The drawing was taken from a specimen which bloomed in the Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, one of a large importation we received last year as _D. eburneum_, the true name of which, on submitting flowers to Professor Reichenbach, we learned to be _D. Draconis_. We have subsequently bloomed others with much larger flowers. It will become a most valuable plant for decoration, as its blossoms last so long after being cut, and being white it will be always in request.
_Dendrobium Draconis_ grows about a foot in height. It is an evergreen plant, with dark hairy stems, producing deep green foliage and short racemes of flowers. The sepals and petals are pure ivory-white, and the lip is also white, with a bright vermilion throat. It flowers in May, June, and July, and lasts about six weeks.
This plant does well in pans or pots suspended from the roof of the East India house, near the light, as like all the Dendrobes it requires all the light possible in order to ripen its stems, but the burning sun must be kept from it. We have grown it in the stove hanging under a plant of _Stephanotis_, where there is little shade from the foliage of the Stephanotis, and with this treatment it has bloomed very freely. The best potting material for it consists of rough fibrous peat and sphagnum moss, with a liberal supply of water at the roots in the growing season. When the growth is completed give just enough to keep the stems in a plump state. It will grow either in pots or baskets suspended from the roof, and also on blocks of wood with live sphagnum moss about the roots, but under the latter circumstances when in vigorous growth the plants will require more water and attention.