[Illustration: PL. 102. PLEIONE HUMILIS TRICOLOR.] PLEIONE HUMILIS TRICOLOR. [Plate 102.] Native of the Indian Alps. Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ lagæniform or bottle-shaped, that is, ovate with the neck narrowed, at the flowering period leafless. _Leaves_ produced subsequently to the flowers, oblong-oblanceolate, five-nerved, membranaceo-herbaceous, of a dark green colour, paler beneath, the base enclosed in a tubular sheath. _Peduncles_ short, one-flowered, furnished with sheathing bracts, the upper of which is oblong-lanceolate, petaloid, longer than the ovary, and becoming at length contracted, leaving the peduncle exposed. _Flowers_ proportionately large, showy, four inches across and three inches deep, produced before the leaves are developed; _sepals_ narrow-lanceolate, spreading, and of a delicate blush or pale rosy purple tint; _petals_ similar in form and colour, recurved; _lip_ large, obovate, emarginate, closely frilled at the edge, and distinctly fringed with long hair-like teeth, sulphur-yellow, the central portion having about six longitudinal fimbriated veins, alternating with a corresponding number of pale tawny brown lines, the broad margin wavered by irregular divergent bars and blotches of the same colour. _Column_ free, erect, winged. Pleione humilis tricolor, _Reichenbach fil. MS_. _Pleione_ is a small genus, an offshoot of _Cælogyne_, distinguished, perhaps, mainly by habit, which we are pleased to bring before our readers, since the species form a charming group of dwarf-growing free-blooming plants, easy of cultivation, and blossoming at a time—autumn and winter—when flowers are most useful. They may, indeed, be grown on a shelf in any warm house. Several of them are very beautiful in colour, such as _P. Wallichiana_, which is of a deep rose; _P. Reichenbachiana_, lilac-purple and magenta; _P. maculata_, white and crimson; _P. lagenaria_, mauve and white; besides which there are several others of almost equal beauty. In those we have here mentioned, however, we get a charming contrast, and they flower about the same time. In their native country the Pleiones are called Indian Crocuses, a very appropriate name for them, as they are low-growing and destitute of leaves when flowering. In our houses this apparent defect can be met by intermixing them amongst Ferns, setting their flowers just above, and the Ferns as a carpet or border for them. The variety of _P. humilis_, figured in the accompanying plate, is a most beautiful one, which was bloomed at the Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, and was named by Professor Reichenbach. It is quite distinct from those already mentioned, and it blooms very freely in winter, which makes it a desirable plant for cultivation.