44 



STANHOPEA Martiana; var. bicolor. 

 Two-coloured Von Martins' Stanhopea. 



GYNANDRIA MONANBRIA. 

 Nat. ord. Orchidace^e, § Vande^e — Maxillarid e. 

 STANHOPEA. Supra fol. 1800. 



S. Martiana ; labello medio parum constricto, hypochilio brevi eessili scroti- 

 formi, epichilio oblongo-lineari obscure 3-dentato, cornubus rectiusculis 

 apice cirrhosis, columnse pubescentis subclavatae marginibus parum 

 dilatatis. 



S. Martiana. Bateman in Bot. Reg. 1840, misc. 109. Orch. Met. and 

 Guat. t. 27. 



A native of Mexico, discovered by Baron Karwinski in 

 1827, and afterwards by M. Galeotti. It is one of the most 

 distinct and magnificent species of the genus, and in the mag- 

 nitude of its blossoms is second only to S. tigrina. The sepals 

 are straw-coloured, or almost white, faintly and sparingly 

 marked with clusters of little vinous dots ; the petals appear 

 transparent white, with large spots of intense crimson ; the 

 lip is also a clear ivory white, except a slight discoloration at 

 the base. The horns are of great size and strength, and taper 

 into a kind of tendril, besides which they are exactly parallel 

 with the epichilium, the form of which is almost linear, the 

 two edges being as nearly as possible parallel with each other, 

 and not a great deal broader than the column ; a mark by 

 which the species is immediately recognized. 



The present variety is a lovely plant, with large pure white 

 flowers, richly but sparingly spotted with crimson. In the 

 original S. Martiana the sepals are straw-coloured, and much 

 more dotted with purple. Messrs. Rollisson have lately 

 flowered it, and believe they obtained it from Mexico. It « 

 as fine a thing as S. tigrina would be if its flowers were white, 

 and is very sweet-scented. 



Now that the number of species of Stanhopea has been 

 greatly increased, and that opportunities of examining them 

 in a living state have occurred, it has become desirable that 

 the genus should be reconsidered, partly for the sake of denn- 



September, 1843. 8 



