Tab. 5679. 

 DENDEOBIUM Benson. 



Mrs. Benson 's Bendrobe. 



Nat. Oi-d. Okchidej;. — Gtnanbria Monanbeia. 

 Gen. Char. {Vide supra, Tab. 4755.) 



-Uendkobium Bensonice ; oaulibus suberectis striatia (floriferis aphyllis) 

 teretiusculis, nodis non tumidis, folds linearibus acutia emarginatisve, 

 floribus ad nodos solitariis v. in pedunculis 2-3-iIoris dispositis, 

 bracteis minutis acutis, sepalis oblongo-lanceolatis obtusis albis, 

 petalis late oblongo-rotundatis albis, labello orbiculato concavo inte^ro 

 albo, disco tomentoso lsete aureo maculis 2 purpureis basin versus 

 notato, marginibus denticulatis. 



This beautiful plant belongs to a puzzling set of Den- 

 drobcs. natives of the Malayan peninsula, Burma, and Assam, 

 of which I). Bierardi (Tab. 2584) is the oldest known 

 member, and I), crcpidatum (Tab. 4993 et 5011), B. nodatum 

 (Tab. 5470), and I). Bullerianum (Tab. 5652), more recently 

 discovered members. To the B. nodatum the present is, indeed, 

 most closely allied, but differs in the much larger flowers, 

 broader petals, and orbicular labellum, which is rounded at 

 the apex. That intermediate forms, connecting some of these 

 together and with others, will be found, cannot be doubted ; 

 meanwhile, as objects of cultivation they differ materially, 

 and it is most important that they should be well figured 

 for ulterior botanical purposes. 



B. Bensonice is a native of Moulmein, and was sent to 

 Messrs. Veitch by an indefatigable collector and horti- 

 culturist, Colonel Benson, after whose lady it is named at 

 his own request. Along with it Colonel Benson has sent, as 

 a smaller form, a plant with more acute petals and sepals, 

 and a tendency to have a pointed lip ; this is probably refer- 

 able to B. nodatum. 



Descr. Stems tufted, one to three feet long, suberect and 

 pendulous, terete, nodes not tumid, internodes one inch long, 



BECEUBEK 1st, 1S07. 



