ARACHNANTHE (from arachne, a spider, and anthe, a flower; in allusion to the shape of the flower). SYN. Arachnis. Including Esmeralda. ORD. Orchideae. A genus comprising about half-a-dozen species of stove, epiphytal Orchids; one is Himalayan, and the rest inhabit the Malayan Archipelago. Flowers showy; sepals and petals free, spreading, rather thick; lip articulated at the base of the column, erect or spreading, neither saccate nor spurred at base, the lateral lobes erect or rarely obsolete, the middle one fleshy, polymorphous, often gibbous or with a very short spur at back; column short, thick; pollen masses two; peduncles lateral, elongated, simple or branched. Leaves distichous, fleshy-coriaceous, sometimes very long, sometimes shorter or falcate, often obliquely bilobed at apex. Four species call for mention here. For culture, see Aerides, p. 31, Vol. I. ARACHNANTHE bella (pretty). fl., sepals and petals light ochre, barred cinnamon, straight, cuneate-oblong; lip white, the lateral segments striped purplish-brown, the middle one very broad, tumid, the basilar, roundish callus white, spotted brown; raceme four-flowered. l. 5in. long, 1in. broad, unequally bilobed at apex. 1888. SYN. Esmeralda bella. ARACHNANTHE Cathcarti (Cathcart's). The correct name of the plant described on p. 133 as Vanda Cathcarti. ARACHNANTHE Lowii (Low's). The correct name of the plant described on p. 283, Vol. III., as Renanthera Lowii. ARACHNANTHE moschifera (musk-bearing). fl. creamy-white or lemon-colour, spotted purple, large, resembling a spider, delicately scented like musk. Java. A peculiar and rare plant. The old spike produces flowers for a long time, and should, therefore, not be cut. SYNS. Epidendrum Flos-aeris, Renanthera Arachnites, R. Flos-aeris.