Plate X. 



SCHOMBURGKIA CR1SPA. 



SCIIOMBUKGKIA. 



Sepala ct jwtnla confonniu, patontia, omnin6 libera, boai ceqoalift. Labellum diftnrme, 

 membrniucoutn, trilobum, cucullatum, bnsi cum margine columns coiinattim, 

 supro basin tumidum (intrusum): veins Inmollatia. Columna m&rginata. PoUinia 



octa Rhisoma reigns, nudum, annulatum, psctidobulbigeruiii. Folia cori- 



acca. Scopi terminates vaginati. Bmctcie simthnceie. Flore* speciosi, rucemosi, 

 congest!, 



S. cri$/m; pctalis scpalis I&belliquc lobu medio transverso obtuso 



ITJMllS. 



P" 



This very handsome genus seem* at present to In* confined to British Gunvana, where two 

 species have been discovered by the zealous naturalist Mr. Scltomburgk. after whom they are 

 named. 



Schomburgkia is nearly allied to Epidendnim, from which it b distinguished by its large 

 spathiceoii* bracts, by iu membranous labellum adhering to ilie column only at the base, urn) having 

 below the middle a distinctly marked prominence, which corresponds with an impression on the 

 under side, nud by having eight pollen-masses. In the latter character I trust to a drawing sent 

 home by Mr. Schomburgk. none of the specimens of either specie* Wing in a Mate to show (he 

 structure of the anther. 



Schomburgkia crispft inhabits the interior of British Gtiayana: it was firtt met with on the banks 

 of the Corentyn, but occur™! more frequently afterwards near the river Berbice. 



The accompanying figure has been prepared from a drawing sent home by Mr. Schomburgk. 

 and corrected from dried specimen* in my herbarium. 



It has a stout round kiiizoma, closely marked with annular scars, indicating the place 

 of scales that have fallen off The HEDDO-&ULB8 an* from four to six inches long, fusiform, rather 

 angular from deep furrows, very hard, and covered closely for some time villi firm, brownish, mem- 

 braaous, sheathing, sharp-pointed scales. Kach pseudo-bulb bear* two lanceolate, coriaceous, acute 

 leaves, about nine inches long by two mul a quarter broad. The scape is terminal, erect, nearly 

 three feet long, hard, siitF. completely covered with pale brown, dry, closely pressed, acuminate 

 scales, carinate at the apex, and gradually passing into spalhueeotis, spreading uracts, which 

 are much narrower than lite scales of the stem, brown, dry, spreading, about two inches long, but 

 shorter than the ovary. FLOWfiUS in a dense terminal raceme* spreading, about two and a half inches 

 in diameter; their stalks and ovary together about two inches long. Sepals and petals bright 

 light yellow, not spotted, linear-oblong, acute. exce«*tt ely Crisped and undulated, of nearly the same 

 size, texture, and colour. Labellitm pink, with a deeper coloured apex, membranous, it little 

 wrapped round the column, and united to its edges at the base, oblong, Sdobcd, with a prominence 

 below the middle* and the veins crested at die junction of the middle lobe with the side ones ; side 

 lobes nearly flat, middle lobe senile, transverse, obtuse, very much crisped. Column obovate, 



