17 
* SOBRALIA sessilis. 
Sessile-flowered Sobralia. 
GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 
Nat. ord. ORCHIDACER, § ARETHUSES. 
SOBRALIA. Fl. Peruv. Perianthium maximum, petaloideum, sube- 
quale; sepalis patentibus vel reflexis, petalis erectis. Ladellum cucullatum, 
columnam amplexans, basi angustatum, disco plicato-barbatum, apice bilo- 
bum. Columna elongata, marginata, clavata, apicis trifidi lobo medio cucul- 
lato antherifero. Stigma marginatum, basi gibbere gemino nectarifero. 
Anthera terminalis, stipitata, semiquadrilocularis. Pollinia farinacea, 4, com- 
pressa, posticé coherentia et contortuplicata, ecaudiculata. Herbea Ame- 
rice equinoctialis, terrestres, simplices, sepe triorgyales, foliosissime ; foliis 
plicatis ; floribus racemosis terminalibus, vel axillaribus geminis, niveis, roseis, 
sanguineis, violaceisve. Omnes fered species loca rupestria, sicca, aprica, cali- 
dissima eligunt, dumeta sepius ampla formantes. Gen. & Sp. Orch. p. 430. 
S. sessilis ; caule foliisque subttis nigro-pubescentibus, foliis sessilibus ob- 
longo-lanceolatis acuminatis 2 terminalibus squameeformibus acuminatis 
herbaceis, floribus sessilibus, labello rhombeo-oblongo glabro lamellis 
2 intramarginalibus pone basin. Bot. Reg. misc. 1841. no. 11. 
Some of the finest Orchidacee known are species of this 
genus, which inhabits Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Demerara, and 
no doubt the intermediate districts. They are like Evelynas 
in their manner of growth, or to use a more familiar compa- 
rison, they resemble reeds loaded with large red, or white, 
and often fragrant flowers which always grow from the extre- 
mity of the reed among the large plaited grassy leaves. One 
species, S. Liliastrum, is figured in the Sertum Orchidaceum, 
from drawings made by Mr. Schomburgk, and has most lovely 
white or rosy blossoms, but it does not exist in our gardens. 
Another species with stems from twelve to twenty feet high is 
«Flower of Paradise” of the Peruvians, and bears large 
* So called by the authors of the Flora Peruviana, after Don Francisco 
Martin Sobral, a botanist of their acquaintance. 
March, 1841. sod 
