35 
EPIDENDRUM vitellinum. 
Yolk-of-egg Epidendrum. 
GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 
Nat. ord. ORCHIDACEA, $ EPIDENDREA. 
EPIDENDRUM. L. 
Sect. ENcvcL1A.  Pseudobulbosa, labello sublibero. 
E. vitellinum ; pseudobulbis ovatis acuminatis diphyllis, foliis oblongo-ligu- 
latis acutis basi vaginantibus racemo terminali erecto multifloro brevio- 
ribus, sepalis petalisgue ovato-lanceolatis acutis subsequalibus patulis, 
labello lineari apice angustato abrupté acuto basi calloso et bifoveato 
semilibero. 
E. vitellinum. Genera $ Species Orch. page 97. 
A dried Mexican specimen in Mr. Lambert’s herbarium 
conveyed the first knowledge of the existence of this heau- 
tiful plant, and for many years no additional information 
concerning it was received. It was afterwards found without 
a locality among Karwinski’s dried plants in the Munich 
museum, and in September, 1839, the specimen now figured 
produced its flowers in Mr. Barker’s collection at Birming- 
ham. Neither this, however, nor any of the dried materials, 
conveyed a true idea of the natural appearance of this species 
when in health and flowering under favourable circumstances. 
It was not till specimens, collected on the Cumbre of 
Tetontepeque in Mexico, at the elevation of 9000 feet above 
the sea, were received from Mr. Hartweg, that I had any 
conception of the superb appearance of the plant. One of 
them now before me has a spike covered with fifteen large 
orange-coloured flowers, all expanded at once, over a space of 
more than six inches in length, and forming a most conspi- 
cuous object. The flowers are fully thrice as large as those 
now represented. * : 
To the roots of this specimen are sticking fragments of a 
Jungermannia and a foliaceous Lichen, so that no doubt can 
June, 1840. N 
