1904 
* IONOPSIS ténera. 
Delicate Ionopsis. 
GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 
' 
Nat. ord. OrcHIDAcEA, $ VANDEA. 
IONOPSIS, Kunth. — Perianthium clausum. Sepala lateralia basi 
approximata, (v. connata) cum basi labelli connata. Petala ur conformia. 
Labellum sepalis multò majus, basi saccatum, ungue bicalloso columná parallelo, 
laminà explanatà patente bilobà. Columna erecta, aptera, semiteres, rostello 
rostrato. Anthera 1-locularis rostrata. Pollinia 2, posticè sulcata, caudiculá 
lineari inclusá, glandulá obovatã.— — Herbee epiphyte, acaules. Folia coriacea. | 
o paniculati, vaginati. Flores parvi, pallidi. Lindl. Gen. € Sp. 
rch, 193. 
I. tenera ; foliis carinatis acuminatis, scapo subsimplici, sepalis acutis lateralibus 
liberis labello cuneato obliqué truncato bilobo crenulato duplò brevioribus. 
The species of this genus are but little known. It is seldom that they 
appear in gardens, in consequence of the difficulty attending their preser- 
vation on shipboard, and when imported they are difficult to manage and 
soon are lost. In their native woods they grow upon the smaller branches 
oftrees, or upon dead sticks, which their white slender delicate roots 
quickly overspread. When cultivated they require all the aid ofa hot 
and damp stove. 
Materials to illustrate this genus are so uncommon, that there is much 
difficulty in ascertaining what species it contains. I think, however, four 
may be safely characterized, exclusively of I. pulchella and testiculata. 
The first of these is figured in the Collectanea Botanica, under the name 
of I. utricularioides ; it is a smaller plant in all respects than the other 
three, has a panicled scape; and its labellum is not much lon er than the 
sepals, which are acute; a second is Sir William Hooker's Tantha palli- 
diflora, which has a large lip with a little Fs at its margin, 
and extremely obtuse er? and petals. The third is that now repre- 
sented, which differs from I. pallidiflora in its sepals being acute, and its 
pera 
* Literally Violet-faced ; «o» a violet and ope look ; why so named 1 do not 
ow. rd 
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