1879 
* EPIDÉNDRUM bífidum. 
Hare-lipped Epidendrum. 
GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 
Nat. ord. OrcHIDACEZ, $ EPIDENDRER, 
EPIDENDRUM.—Suprà, vol. 1. fol. 17. 
E. difidum ; foliis in pseudobulbos subternis lanceolatis, scapo ramoso foliis 
multô longiore, sepalis oblongis acutis petalisque lanceolatis patentibus, la- 
belli cuneati lobis lateralibus ovatis : intermedio maximo apice dilatato sub- 
reniformi sulcato basi in disco biappendiculato (a columna ferè libero). Gen. 
et Sp. Orch. pl. 100. 
Helleborine flore papilionaceo. Plum, sp. 9. ic. 186. fl. 
Epidendrum bifidum. Aubl. guian. p. 824. Swartz Fl. Ind. Occ. 3. 1489. 
Willd. Sp. pl. no. 3. Redout. Liliac. 84. 
E. papilionaceum. West. St. Cruc. p. 230. sec. Willd. 
In this state E. bifidum appeared when, in July, 1835, a 
specimen was communicated to me by Messrs. Loddiges. It 
was then very pretty, on account of the beautiful veining of 
its lip; but it cannot have been any thing like so handsome 
as Swartz describes it to be, with all the divisions of the 
flower bright purple, and a flowering stem three feet high 
and branching. 
It is a very remarkable and distinct species, with a pecu- 
liar slit lip, by which it is readily known from all, zen 
E. auropurpureum, a kind that appears to be very nearly 
related to it. 
It is described as found upon branches of trees in the 
West India islands, especially St. Christophers, St. Bartho- 
lomews, and Santa Cruz. The Messrs. Loddiges had it 
from Tortola; Aublet found it in Cayenne. 
* See folio 1415, 
