50 



65. COLAX. 



Several years ago I proposed the establishment, under this 

 name, of a genus which eventually proved the same as Maxil- 

 laria ; and which was therefore abandoned. I would now pro- 

 pose to apply it to a small set of plants of the Maxillaridous 

 division of Vandese, at present included in the genus Maxil- 

 laria itself. These species, consisting of my M. viridis and 

 jugosa, and the M. placanthera of Sir W. Hooker, have the 

 closed, scarcely ringent, flower of Promenaea and Warrea, but 

 they have a caudicula quite unlike any thing at present known 

 among their race. It has no distinct gland, but consists en- 

 tirely of a thin wavy membrane, strengthened by an elevated 

 line in the middle, and gradually narrowing to the point, 

 where the gland is usually found. It has also a thick fleshy 

 crested anther, whose cells are planted on its lower side. I 

 cannot but regard these circumstances as sufficient to justify 

 the separation of the plants in which they are found as a dis- 

 tinct genus. The following characters will indicate the limits 

 of the genus and its species. 



Colax. Flores subglobosi, vix ringentes, in mentum breve 

 producti. Sepala et petala subsequalia. Labellum ungui- 

 culatum, trilobum, inappendiculatum, planiusculum (vix 

 cucullatum). Columna paulo elongata semiteres, clinan- 

 drio marginato. Anthera carnosa, cristata. Pollinia 4, 

 in paribus globosis colligata, caudicuke obovatae membra- 



nacese adnata; glandula nulla ; rostello fisso.. Herbse 



pseudobulbosa) ; folia terminalia et radicalia, plicata. Pe- 

 dunculi radicales, erecti, uniflori, vaginati. Flores vire- 

 scentes. 



1. C. viridis (Maxillaria viridis, Lindl. in Bot. Reg. t. 1510.) ; sepalis peta- 



lisque conniventibus oblongo-subrotundis obtusis subsequalibus, labelli 



brevis trilobi lobo medio transverse rhomboideo unguiculato piano. 



Brazil. Flowers green, with a dingy violet lip. That it differs from 



C. placanthera, in the manner stated under that species, I know from 

 having preserved the specimen from which the figure in the Botanical 

 Register was taken ; which figure well represents the peculiar rounded 

 form of the sepals. I believe it is no longer in our gardens ; for C. pla- 

 canthera is usually cultivated under its name. 



2. C. placanthera (Maxillaria placanthera, Hooker in Bot. Mag. t. 3173. 



Lindl. in Bot. Reg. 1841. misc. 103.) ; sepalis lineari-oblongis obtusis 

 intus Becus medium seriatim maculatis, petalis angustioribus omnin6 

 conformibus maculatis, labelli angusti trilobi minute pubescentis laevis 

 laciniis lateralibus acutis nauis intermedia dilatata rotundata cuneata, 

 columna apice lobata versus basin bisulca pubescente. Brazil. 



