252 MB. H. N. BIDLET's MONOGBAPn 



ovate-lanceolate. They do not drop off abruptly, but wither on 

 the stem. Their distribution is that of the genus. 



The CoBiii'OLi^, including Thouars's Distichis, have distinct 

 pseudobulbs, oval to conical in shape, the leaves stiff and 

 leathery, usually two in number, and lanceolate, breaking off 

 abruptly when dead from the top of the pseudobulb, and leaving 

 a scar, never withering on the pseudobulb. They are usually 

 epiphytic, and are confined to the tropics of the OJd AVorld. 



It is true that these sections pass into each other, as Bentham 

 and Hooker (Gren. Plant, iii. p. 495) state, but they are certainly 

 the most satisfactory and natural. 



LiPABis, L, C. Btchard, 

 Mem. Mns. Par. iv. p. 52 ; Benth. Sf Hook.f. Gen, PZ. iii. p. 495. 



Sturmia, ReicTienbach^ Conspectus^ p. 69 ; Iconogr. Bot. t. 956. 

 Alipsa, Hoffmannsegg^ Linncea^ xvi. 



Malaxis, auctorum veterum. 

 Empusa, Lindleyy Bot, Seg. sub 825. 

 Empusaria, ReicTib. Consp. p. 69. 

 Platystylis, Lindley^ OrcJi. PL p. 18. 



Herbae perennes, epiphyticae vel terrestres, caulibus primariis 

 plus minusve repentibus, ramis ssepe pseudobulbosis, brevibus et 

 crassis, vel longioribus angustioribus, foliis vaginantibus ssepe 

 albescentibus membranaceis tectis, arete approximatis vel rarius 

 dissitis. Folia evoluta, 1-6, membranacea, ovata petiolata vel lan- 

 ceolata, aut carnosa vel coriacea, lanceolata spathulata, in apicem 

 pseudobulbi subrosulata vel raro dissita in rhizomate. Scapi 

 singuli ex apice pseudobulbi orientes, teretes,vel angulatiet alati. 

 Eacemus ssepius lax us pauciflorus aut aliquando densus multi- 

 florus. BractesD sajpissime ovariis breviores lanceolatse, raro 

 bifariam distichse. Flores mediocres vel uiinores, baud raro 

 minimi ochrei flavidi vel virides, rarius purpurascentes. Sepala et 

 petala omnia libera reflexa (perpaucis exceptis) angusta linearia, 

 vel lanceolata, petala semper linearia, ssepissime quam sepala 

 angustiora, nunquam latiora. Labellum unguiculatum, ungue 

 sa?pius ad columnam parallelo, lamina latiora Integra vel bifida, 

 rarius subtrifida velirregulariter laciniata, callis nullis vel duobus 

 conicis rarius singulo ad basin. Columna apoda ssepissime 

 gracilis arcuata, alis brevibus duabus subtriangulis ad latera 

 foveae, rarissime (in una specie) alia quatuor. Anthera ovata 



r"^ ■- f> 



