y 



3 



be confounded. It appears however to be a Barkeria as far 

 as that genus has any character to separate it from Epiden- 

 drum ; that is to say, it has the winged column, and the 

 labellum with a thin membranous border down far below the 

 head of the column. It is however to be observed, that in the 

 original Barkeria the labellum was absolutely free and sessile ; 

 while in the present species it has a distinct unguis connate 

 with the base of the column. 



The flowers of this plant are of a rich deep purple ; the 

 sepals and petals are of equal size, linear-lanceolate, and dis- 

 posed in the same plane, directed forwards in the same man- 

 ner as in the original species ; the petals are however rather 

 broader than the sepals. The labellum is rather more than 

 three quarters of an inch long, exactly oblong, and rounded 

 at each end, terminating in front in a small mucro, and 

 abruptly narrowed at the base into a short unguis united to the 

 base of the column ; it is of the same rich purple as the other 

 parts, but somewhat deeper, except in the centre, where it is 

 nearly white; two elevated keels pass upwards along the 

 ' ; middle, and lose themselves near the point of the lip ; and a 



pi third keel much shorter is placed between them towards 



the point; so that the lip is bicarinate in the middle and 

 tricarinate below the apex. The column is slightly winged, 

 pretty exactly wedge-shaped, and 3-toothed at the point. The 

 anther is sunk within those three teeth, and is depressed 

 in the middle, while it is elevated at each side ; it is very 

 fleshy, and contains four cells, in which are located as many 

 pollen-masses, each having a powdery strap bent back upon it. 

 The plant is a native of Costa Rica, whence it was sent to 

 Mr. Bateman by Mr. Skinner. In a letter received from 



I 



^ 



the former of these gentlemen it is stated that this most 

 charming species " has been fully seven weeks in flower, and 

 yet the blossoms first opened are as fre-h as ever, a case quite 

 without parallel among orchidaceous flowers of its colour." 



\j - — W %J 



6. DENDKOBIUM discolor. 



Bot. Reg. 1841. t. 38. 



Upon re-examining the species of this genus I have found 

 that the plant published lately under the above name, although 



from Java, is the same as D. undulatum found by Dr. Brown 



^ 



