57 
PILUMNA laxa. 
Loose-flowered Pilumna. 
GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 
Nat. ord. ORCHIDACEE. § VANDEZ— BRassiDE. (OrcHIDS, 
Vegetable Kingdom, p. 181.) 
PILUMNA, Lindl. in Bot. Reg. 1844. misc. 74.— Ovarium tricostatum. 
Sepala et petala sequalia patula obliquè inserta. Labellum basi columns 
adnatum, subintegrum, unguiculatum, convolutum, inappendiculatum. Co- 
lumna clavata, teres, clinandrio cucullo dentato membranaceo circumdato ; 
buccis duabus carnosis semiclausum. Stigma verticale. Pollinia 2, posticè 
fissa, caudicula brevi et glandulee ovatee adnata. —— Herb epiphyte, pseudo- 
bulbis vaginatis, foliis coriaceis, pedunculis radicalibus.—— Genus Aspasise 
proximum, clinandrio cucullato, columná. tereti, nec non stigmate verticali 
nec faciali diversum. 
P. lava (Lindl. | c.); pseudobulbis tenuibus ancipitibus, folio oblongo 
subtus maculato, racemo laxo multifloro breviore, bracteis laxis cucul- 
latis obtusis, sepalis petalisque lineari-lanceolatis, labello oblongo indiviso 
rotundato medio constricto per axin unilamellato. 
. This new and very distinct genus of Orchids has been 
hitherto known only from the account given of it in the 
miscellaneous matter of this work for 1844, at no. 74, where, 
speaking of the present species, it is remarked, that its general 
appearance may be understood by its having been mistaken 
for a Trichopilia. Its flowers are produced in loose erect 
racemes, out of broad obtuse short membranous spotted bracts. 
The stalks and ovary are an inch and half long; the latter 
with three very stout and strong ribs. The sepals and petals 
are a pale watery green, erect, linear-lanceolate, equal, faintly 
tinged with purple. The lip is cream-colour, rolled round 
the column at the base, to which it also is united at the lower 
end. The column has a singular fringed hood, overlying the 
anther, and a nearly vertical stigma, closed in by fleshy in- 
flected cheeks. In these circumstances it differs from Aspasia, 
to which the genus is nearly akin. 
We suspect that another species, allied to this, exists in 
collections, with green flowers; but we know too little of it 
to be able to define it. Our memoranda relating to it refer 
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