37 
CALANTHE Masuca. 
Lilac Calanthe. 
GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 
Nat. ord. ORCHIDACE®. $ VANDER. 
CALANTHE. Botanical Register, t. 720. 
C. Masuca (Lindl. Gen. & Sp. Orch. p.249. Bletia Masuca, Don. Prodr. 
fl. nep. 30. Amblyglottis veratrifolia ? Blame Bijdr.); scapo erecto 
foliis latis oblongis petiolatis acuminatis subtus pubescentibus longiore, 
racemis multifloris, labello tripartito basi tuberculis seriatis 5-cristato, 
seriebus intermediis elevatioribus ; laciniis lateralibus linearibus subfal- 
catis intermedià multd majore cuneatä emarginatä in unguem linearem 
laciniis lateralibus sequalem angustatá, calcare longissimo falcato clavato, 
columná brevi obliquä anticé bifoveatä, ovario pubescente. 
For the figure of this charming plant we. have to thank 
Messrs. Rollisson of Tooting, with whom it flowered in 
June, 1843. 
It is a native of Nepal, and may be regarded as the gayest 
of the terrestrial species of that rich country, being conspi- 
cuous both for the large size of their flowers and their fine 
colour. 
From the other purple species allied to it, this is readily 
known by the leaves as well as by the flowers. C. versicolor 
has leaves smooth on both sides ; C. purpurea downy on both 
sides, especially beneath; while this has, down only on the 
under side. C. versicolor has white sepals and petals; C. pur- 
purea, and this, purple ones. While however C. purpurea 
agrees in the colour of its flowers, its lip is altogether diffe- 
rent, being very narrow, with the lateral lobes quite round. 
In order that there may be no confusion among these nearly 
allied plants, the characters of C. purpurea and versicolor are 
given below. 
C. Masuca should be potted in turfy heath-mould, mixed 
with a few pieces of potsherds. In summer it should receive 
