I V. CI 1 1 LOSC] [ISTA USNEOIDES, 



Chiloschista usncoidcs. Genera §• Species of Orchidaceous Plants, p. 219. 

 Epidendrum usncoidcs. D. Don Prmlromus Floras Ncpalemis, p. 37. 

 Acridcs convnllarioidcs. Wallich m&s. 



The lower pari of the wreath, on the left hand, consists entirely of this singular plant, whose 

 green entangled roots serve it in place of Icnvcs, of which organs it does not appear to possess a 

 trace. This is one in addition to the countless instances of the power with which nature adapts one 

 part of n plant to perform the office of another, as if she delighted in displaying the endless variety 

 of her resources. Wit hour the green apparatus usually arranged u|ion the stem in the form of u 

 loaf, a plant can no more digest its food than an animal deprived of a stomach : without the pale and 

 succulent fibres which we call roots, n plant can no more feed than an animal deprived of a mouth ; 

 but by combining what is most essential to both organs into one. the root is made both to feed 

 according to its proper nature, and in addition to digest like n leaf. That this is the case in the 

 present instance is obvious ; by what exact means (lie amalgamation of such different organs as root 

 and leaf is effected, remains to be ascertained by some one who can examine the plant in a fresh 



slate. 



Dr. Wallich found it in 1818. growing on the trees in Nopal in many different places, and 

 described it to the following effect. Roots consisting of numerous bundles of long, fleshy, glaucous. 

 simple fibres. Of leaves there is no trace. Raceme* numerous, arising from the crown of the 

 root ; i. e. from the centre of the radical fibres, from six to eight inches long, erect, and downy. 

 PBDUSCLB brownish, taper, slender, an inch long : furnished with a few alternate membranous bracts, 

 which are ovate, amploxicaul, acute, deciduous, and densely clothed with herbaceous soft semi- 

 transparent hairs ; finally passing into a ttcxuose racbis. which becomes elavatc when old. Fiowbm 

 stalked, alternate, .he size and colour of Lily of the Valley, but scentless, drooping: placed on 

 stalks half an inch long, very slender, with a broad, ovate, subcordntc, and semi transparent acute 

 deciduous braet at the base. Segments of the flower oblong, obtuse, spreading ; the petals broader 

 than the others, and with the lateral sepals adhering by their whole base to a long foot, which quits 

 the luLse of the column almost at a right angle. Lauellum standing at the back of the flower 

 gibbons at the base and slightly saccate, very small, attached to the extreme point of the foot of the 

 column ; slightly tinged with pink, bearded inside, thrcc-lobed at the apex; the lateral lobes linear 

 parallel, obtuse, that in the middle two-toothed and minute, or rather wanting, i, 9 place being sup- 

 plied by two little revolute teeth. Column very short. Anther terminal, deciduous, ovate! two- 

 celled. Eoxuw-iMsstt two, rounded, two-lobcd at the back, waxy, smooth. Capsule two inches 

 long, somewhat cylindrical, pink, curved. 0/«. The four lateral leaves of the perianth being inserted 

 at the sides of the much elongated ascending base of the column, almost so that the sepals which 

 arc Dearest the labcllum cover very little of the margins of the petals, which occupy the middle of 

 the column, may be said to be place.! all in one line. The very base of the column is terminated bv 

 tbe laMlum there only inserted. 



Of No. 4. the left hand figure represents the labcllum seen in front, and that on the right a 



flower, both magnified, 



single 



