Plate III. 



DENDROBIUM NOBILE. 



DciHlrobium nuhile. Gen. et $/k Orch. p. SO. 



The first knowledge that we linil of this churming plant was from a Chinese drawing in the 

 library of the Horticultural Society; ami from that drawing, made in China under the eye of 

 Mr. Reeves, the short character above referred towns taken. Alive plant brought home l>v Mr. 

 Ilceves wis presented to Messrs. Loddiges* with whom it flowered for the first time, and in great 

 magnificence, in February, 1837. 



Dendrohium is one of the handsomest of the Asiatic genera of this order, and 1 rliiuk 

 D, nobilcmust \w considered the handsomest of all Dendrobiu. Its very stems an* so bright utmI 

 transparent that they form a Iwnutiful object* and the effect of tin* bright green veins of tin 

 leaf-sheaths seen through the semttninspareiH skin is very sinking. The (lowers an* unrivalled for 

 delicacy of texture, and gracefulness of form ; at first nodding as if their slender stalk* were 

 unable to sustain their weight ; and then, as they disentangle their ample folds, assuming a horizontal 



position, vrilh the rich trutnpetohaped lip funning an apparently solid centre, they seem purpose!} 

 jo raise themselves to the distinct view of the beholder. 



This species is most nearly nil ted to D. moniliforme. figured in (he Botanical Register, t. 1:114, 

 from which it differs in having a downy lip with u rounded terniiuation. and much more obtuse as 

 well as larger petals. 



It is not known in what part of China this species is found wild. Mr, Reeve* bought it in 

 the market at Macau. 



Stkms erect, clustered, light green, u foot and more high, rather compressed, with deeply 

 furrowed joints about three-quarters of an inch long. Leaves rather distichous, narrow-oblong, 

 obliquely eiuargiitute. linn, llat, obtuse; with thin semitrnnspurent sheathe, which c|tiitc surround 

 the stem at the base, ami permanently clothe it when lite leaves themselves have dropped off. 

 PEDUZfCLIS ascending. 2-tfdio wired, bursting through the leaf-sheaths at their back, about twoiiiche* 

 long, with short, membranous, acuminate bmcts at the base of the pedicels. Flowrrs when in hud 

 nodding, when expanded horizontal, quite spread open, two inches and three-quarter* urn*^. 

 Sepals broadly linear, nearly equal, obtuse, the lateral a very little lengthened at the (wise, pale 

 greenish yellow tipped with rich bright purple. Petals oblong, obtuse, rather wavy, very delicate 

 and transparent, the same colour as the sepnk Lip rolled up, very shortly urigiiiciilntr, downy 

 both inside and outside ; in form obovatc* with a deep notch on each side, separating it into three 

 obscure lobes, of which the lateral are crisp at the edge, the central one even, rounded, obscurely 

 cuspidate ; in colour deep blood-red in the tube, pale greenish yellow at the edges and disk, tinged 

 with purple at the end ; a linear downy space passes upwards along the centre from the unguis till 

 it loses itself in the disk. 



