Botanical Magazine 106 - 1880.pdf - hibiscus.org

adds that these bags may be regarded as show-rooms for
insects which can carry away those bodies (the pollen)
strongly glued to them by their viscid glands. For a
complete account of the structure and formation of the
lip and pollen apparatus of Mormodes I must refer to Mr.
Darwin's work on " The Fertilization of Orchids " (p. 208),
where it is shown how perfectly all the parts are contrived
and arranged to cause the pollen to alight on an insect
visiting the flower, and to be thence carried to other flowers
in a position to secure their fertilization.
M. Ocan• was discovered by the collector Schlim in the
province of Ocaña, at elevations of 4000 to 5000 feet, and
subsequently collected by M. Kalbreyer. The specimen here
figured was cultivated by Messrs. Veitch, with whom it
flowered magnificently in October, 1879.
DESCE. l'seudo-bulbs elliptic-oblong, slightly compressed,
three to three and a half inches long, almost clothed with
the appressed sheathing membranous leaf-bases. Leaves
about a foot long by one and a half inches broad, narrowly
lanceolate, acuminate. Scape very robust, with the raceme
about a foot long, inclined, pale greenish-brown ; sheaths
short, broad, loose, truncate. Raceme six to ten-flowered ;
bracts half an inch long, oblong, obtuse, boat-shaped.
Flowers subfascicled, about two inches in diameter and
three when spread out, uniformly of a dark orange-yellow
colour most closely speckled with red-brown spots. Sepals
and petals similar, lanceolate, acuminate, concave, drooping.
Lip as long as the petals, claw long ; blade three-lobed,
lateral lobes short oblong rounded at the tip, mid-lobe
subquadrate abruptly beaked ; all the lobes have incurved
margins.•J. D. H.
Fig. 1, lip and column; 2, pollen apparatus; 3, column ; 4, anther-case :•all
enlarged.