74 MALAXIDE E. DENDROBIEZX. 
XLVI. METACHILUM. 
Sepala conniventia subeequilonga: lateralibus cum basi elongata columne 
connatis. Petala nana. Labellum ventricosum, integrum, cum margine 
pedis columnae connatum, intüs appendiculatum. Columna stigmate 
prominente apice membranaceo bilobo. Anthera bilocularis, dorsalis. 
Pollen ignotum.—Herbe epiphyte, caulibus pendulis teretibus distichè 
foliosis. Flores parvi, laterales et terminales, spicati, capsulis reflexis. 
A very remarkable genus nearly related to Dendrobium with which it 
agrees in habit, but from which the cohesion of the labellum with the 
margin of the column sufficiently distinguishes it. Its pollen is unknown. 
1. Meracuiuum cyathiferum. Lindl. in Wall. Cat. no. 2022. 
Hab. ad Singapore, Wallich. (hab. s. sp. e Museo Anglo- Indico.) 
Caules penduli. Folia lineari-oblonga, apice oblique emarginata, disticha; 
vagine laxe. Sepala lateralia carinata. Appendix disci labelli cyathi- 
formis. 
XLVII. DENDROBIUM. 
Dendrobium. Swartz nov, act. Ups. 6. p. 82. t. 5. f. 5. Brown Prodr. 1. 332.—Onychium. 
Blume Bijdr. p. 323. t. 10.—Pedilonum. Jb. p. 320. t.36.—Sarcostoma. Ib. p. 339. f. 
45.—Desmotrichum. Jb. p. 329. t. 35.—Grastidium. Ib. p. 333.— Ceraia. Loureiro Fi. 
Cochinch. p. 518. 
Sepala membranacea, erecta v. patentia, lateralibus majoribus obliquis cum 
basi producta columne connatis. Petala sepalo supremo sepitis major? 
nunc minora, semper membranacea. Labellum cum pede column at 
ticulatum v. connatum, semper sessile, indivisum v. trilobum, saepius 
membranaceum, nunc appendiculatum. Columna semiteres, basi long? 
producta. Anthera bilocularis. Pollinia 4, per paria collateralia.— 
Herbe epiphyte, nunc caulescentes, nunc rhizomate repente pseudo 
bulbifero. Folia plana, sepiüs venosa. Flores solitarii fasciculat) V. 
racemosi, speciosi. 
The most genuine form of Dendrobium is no doubt that of having ca 
lescent stems with fascicles or racemes of membranous coloured flowers; 
but there are insensible gradations from this into rhizomata having false 
bulbs, and there are also species in which the flowers are by no means 
conspicuous.and rather fleshy. From Bolbophyllum it is distinguished 
readily by its lip being always sessile, never unguiculate as in that genus 
and also in the texture of the same part being almost always of nearly the 
same consistence as the sepals, while in Bolbophyllum it is always re 
markably fleshy. 
It appears to me that Blume's genera which I have here reduced f? 
Dendrobium, have no characters to distinguish them ; unless Sarcostem? 
be kept apart on account of a slight peculiarity in its pollen masses the 
nature of which however I do not well understand. 
§ I. Rhizoma pseudo-bulbos gerens apice foliosos. _Bolbophyllis proxima. 
1. Denprosium amplum. Lindl. in Wall. Cat. no. 2001. 
D. rhizomate repente squamoso pseudo-bulbos ovatos squamosos diphyllos 
gerente, foliis ovato-oblongis emarginatis petiolatis, floribus solitary 
longipedunculatis axillaribus e bracteis duabus oblongis petaloideis pt? 
