10 



13. MAXILLARIA Skinneri. 



M. Skinneri; pseudo-bulbis subrotundo-ovatis triphyllis foliis lanceolatis 

 acutis plicatis scapo laxe vaginato ascendente duplo longioribus, bractea 

 berbacea acuta cucullata ovario multd longiore sepalis patentibus ob- 

 longo-lanceolatis acutis, petalis 2-plo brevioribus ovalibus erectis supra 

 columnam convolutis apicibus reflexis ; labelli trilobi lobis lateralibus 

 erectis truncatis, intermedio longiore ovato rotundato deflexo, appendice 

 carnosa linguaeformi inter lacinias laterales locata ; columna subtns pu- 

 bescente. Bateman MSS. 



" This, the facile princeps of all known Maxillarias, has 

 at length flowered in the collection of the Rev. John Clowes, 

 with a vigour and beauty that could not be exceeded in its 



haunts 



The flowers actually measure upwards of 



inches across, from the tips of the lateral sepals, while the 

 latter are nearly an inch and half wide in the broadest part. 

 The colours of this flower are peculiarly delicate, the sepals 

 being pure white, faintly tinged with crimson at the base ; 

 the petals of a more rosy hue, while the lip is almost covered 

 with spots and streaks of the most brilliant carmine. The 

 column again is pure white at the apex, and mottled with 

 crimson spots at the base j while a number of woolly hairs 

 are scattered on its under side. 



" The habit of the plant is stately, and its growth free and 

 vigorous, more nearly resembling M. Deppii than any other 

 species. It will shortly be figured in the Orchidaceje of 

 Mexico and Guatemala. 



"It is a native of Guatemala, and is another of the bril- 

 discovenes of the gentleman to whom I have ventured 



it, and who, after an absence of four years in the 

 most glorious countries of the New World, has lately returned 

 once more m safety to the shores of his native land ; in which, 

 1 must be allowed to remark, there is scarcely a collection of 



dedicate 



i 



Carclew in flowered in the December following. At first sight 

 it resembles S. ophioglossoides, from which its half terete 

 fleshy leaves distinguish it at once. The flowers are extremely 4 



small and just project beyond the rim of membranous trun- 

 cate bracts ; the sepals are roundish ovate, three-veined, and 

 quite distinct from each other. The petals, which is un- 

 usual in this genus, are as thin as the sepals or thinner, and 

 broader than long ; the labellum is fleshy, ovate, acuminate, 

 with two small rounded side lobes. The plant has no beauty. 







