470 MB. J. p. M. WEALE ON THE STUrCTUKE 



Notes on the Structure and Fertilization of the genus Bonafea, 

 with a special Description oi a Species found at Bedford, South 

 Africa. By J. P. Maksel "WeaSm, B.A. Communicated by 

 Chakles Dabwix, Esq., M.A., F.E.S., F.L.S. 



r 



[Read March 7, 18G7.] 



Bonatea Darwinii, sp. n. FoUis vagina elongata concavis, raceme 

 dense, sepalis anticis contortis concavis falcato-acuminatis, extrorsum 

 emarginatis pone petala antica depressis, petalorum parte postica lata 

 patente, stigmate supra subextrorsum lateraliter canahculato. 



Tubera ovato-oblonga. Caulis 6 poll, ad 1 ped, altus, undique foliatus- 

 Foliorum vaginae elongatse caulem arete includentes, laminae patentes, 

 2-7 poll, longae, 2-6 Un. latse, concavae, lineari-lanceolatae v. ovato- 

 lanceolatae ; foUa superlora abrupte ad vaginas reducta. Racemus 6- 

 24-florus, densus. Bractea membranaceae, lanceolato-acuminatae, 

 ovaria arete vaginantes. Floras galeati ; galea e sepalo postico concavo 

 segmentisque posticis petalorum anticorum composita ; sepala antica 

 contorta, concava, falcato-acuminata, extrorsum emarginata, pone 

 petala antica depressa, petalorum pars antica sepalis aequllonga, usque 

 ad basin bipartita sinu rotundato, segmento postico lineari-lanceolato, 

 subfalcato, antico lato patente a'd apicem frontem et tergum versus 

 contorto; labellum tripartitum, lobo medio angusto lineari-filiformi 

 verrucis 3 subinflatis instructo, lateralibus latissimis patentibus falcatis 

 leviter incurvis; nectarium extrorsum cxurvatum ovario sublongius. 

 Stigma quam in B, speciosa brevius, carnosum, supra subextrorsum 

 lateraliterque canaliculatum. 



Hab. Bedford, in damp hollows on banks near watercourses, 

 August and September. 



This flower resembles a white Lepidopter, such as Pieris or 

 AntJiocJiaris, and might truly be called the Butterfly Orchis of 

 South Africa. 



The posterior portion of the petals is tinged with greenish; 

 the rostellum and anthers are also yellowish green ; the sepals are 

 bright green, and the labellum and anterior portion of the petals 



pure snow-white. 



It is nearly allied to both Bonatea speciosa and Hahenaria 



{^Bonatea) Saundersice, Harv., to which last it is most closely 

 connected, although differing in the very important point of its 

 petals being divided. It is also, in some respects, allied to B. 



Boltoni, Harv. 



I have for some years been busy examining the fertilization of 

 Orchids and Asclepiads in South Africa, but, owing to various 

 reasons, I have been unable to prosecute their study with the unin- 

 terrupted attention which is so desirable for a complete and satis- 



