57 



* BOLBOPHYLLUM bracteolatum 



i% 



i 



^ # 



JBracteolate BolhopJiyllum. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 



Nat. ord, Orchidace^, Malaxide^. 

 BOLBOPHYLLUM. Bot. Reg. vol. 23. foL 1942 



ens 



h 



oblongis camosis patentibus, scapo radical! pendulo rachi fuslforaii spars^ 

 multiilora pluries breviore, floribus caniosis extCis bibracteolatis, sepalis 

 ovatis acutis lateralibus basi connatis, petalls ovatis multo brevioribus, labello 

 solido triquetro acuto canaliculate dorso serrate. 



Florea parvi, rachi duploangustiores. Bracteolas ovatce, minut<s, peta^ 

 lorum basi sitee, ejusdem colore et textura sepali supremi carnei apice atro- 

 purpurei. Sepala lateralia lutescentia dorso sanguinea. Petala late purpurea. 

 Labellum luteum, sangui7ieo-punctalum, apice violaceum. 



A most curious little epiphyte, native of Demerara, 

 whence it was obtained by Messrs. Loddiges, with whom it 

 flowered in July 1837. It and B. setigerum, and probably 

 some others offer the singular instance of the existence in 

 America of a genus hitherto discovered only in the Old 

 World. 



In habit this species is much like B. pusillum and clava- 

 tunif two species not yet introduced from the Mauritius. 



When magnified the flowers are beautifully variegated 

 with flesh-colour, yellow, red, and violet, but what is more 

 remarkable there exists on each side of the flower, at the 

 base of the petals, a small ovate bract, the rudiment of which 

 is also met with in B. setigerum, in the form of a minute 

 tubercle. This additional part has never before been noticed 

 in the order, and is possibly the explanation of the true nature 



See folio 1942. 



