Botanical Magazine 106 - 1880.pdf - hibiscus.org

tions of the rosteîlum can be finely graduated together,
even within the single tribe of Yande•; and still more
closely by commencing with the minute oval atom of mem-
brane to which the caudicle of Orchis adheres, passing
thence to Habenaria bifolia to that of IL chlorantha with
its drum-like pedicel, and thence through many forms to
the great disc and pedicel of Gataseta" If the transition
steps in the development of the appendages to which the
pollinia attach themselves, can be thus traced from plants
so different in this respect as Orchis and Catasetum, how
much easier must that be from Epidendre• to Vandece I
The subject of the present plant is a very lovely one ; its
graceful form, and the purity and brilliancy of its white,
and the vividness of its reds, render it one of the most
beautiful Orchids of its type and habit, which remind one a
good deal of some Celogynes. It was sent from the west
coast of tropical Africa (probably Old Calabar) by Mr. W.
Kalbreyer, who desired that it should commemorate the
services of the late G. Thomson, a well-known resident on
that pestilent coast. I am indebted to Mr. Veitch for the
loan of the specimen here figured, which flowered at the
Royal Exotic Nurseries in October, 1879.
DESCE. Pseudo-bulbs seated on a running rhizome, one
inch in diameter, orbicular, depressed, covered with mem-
branous scales. Leaf solitary, six to eight inches long,
lanceolate, acuminate, membranous, plaited. Peduncles one
or two from the base of each pseudo-bulb, ascending, slender,
pubescent, with one or two spathes, two-flowered ; bract
sheathing, subacute. Flower three to three and a half inches
across the petals ; perianth widely spreading. Sepals and
petals pure white; dorsal sepal erect, oblong-lanceolate,
acuminate, margins reflexed below the middle ; lateral sepals
smaller and narrower. Petals horizontal, lanceolate, acumi-
nate. Lip trifid, side-lobes erect, conchoid, subquadrate,
streaked with red inside ; mid-lobe elongate-triangular, one
inch long, gradually tapering to a recurved point, white
with broad red streaks. Golumn arched, semi-terete, green
streaked with red. Anther deflexed, ovate-lanceolate, obtuse.
Pollinia eight in two bundles, small, pyriform, their caudicles
united into one thick one seated on a small gland.•J. D. H.
Fig. 1, flower with sepals and petals removed; 2, column and lip ; 3, anther;
•I, pollinia:•all enlarged.