Tas. 7431. 
PLEUROTHALLIS Scarma. 
Native country unknown, 
Nat. Ord. OrcHipE&.—Tribe EprpgnDREA. 
Genus PLevrotHattiis, Br.; (Benth. & Hook. J. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 488.) 
PLevrRoTHALLIs (Acuminatse) Scapha; glaberrima, caulibus erectis gracilibus 
teretibus internodiis inferioribus maculatis, 1-foliatis, vaginis appressis, 
folio oblongo-lanceolato crasse coriaceo suberecto basi angustato, dorso 
acute carinato supra saturate viridi subtus pallidiore, racemo folio multo 
longiore pendulo laxifloro, rachi gracillima, bracteis tubulosis albis, 
oblique truncatis, floribus 23-3 poll. longis gracile pedicellatis, sepalis 
lanceolatis in caudas filiformes lamina multo longiores recurvas angus- 
tatis, lateralibus connatis albis rubro striatis, dorsali rubro-purpureo, 
petalis sepalis equilongis e basi angusta caudato-acuminatis pallidis 
patenti-recurvis, labelli lobis lateralibus falciformibus decurvis, interme- 
dio duplo longiore lineari carnoso integerrim glaberrim, columna 
acuta medio dorso incrassata, anthera mitriforme. 
P. Scapha, Reichb. f. in Gard. Chron, (1874) vol. ii. p. 162. Xen. Orchid. vol. iii. 
p. 86, 247, f.1. Hemsl. in Gard. Chron. (1881) vol.i. p. 784, £. 139, vol. ii. 
p. 42. : 
Pleurothallis Scapha has been long known in cultivation, 
having been introduced by Mr. J. Day before the year 
1874, when it was described by Reichenbach. It belongs 
to Lindley’s section Acwminatex, characterized by the leaves 
narrowed at the base, the long racemes and the acuminate 
sepals, and to the subdivision of this with long-pedicelled 
flowers. Its nearest ally is P. insignis, Rolfe (Tab. 
6936) which has much fewer and larger flowers, and a li 
bearded at the tip. ‘The native country of both these 
species is unknown, but P. insignis has been supposed to 
have been sent from Caraccas. 
The specimen figured was communicated to the Royal 
Gardens by Mr. Moore, A.L.S., Keeper of the Glasnevin — 
Gardens, Dublin. It flowered in a cool house in January _ 
of the present year. : : 
Deser.—Stem two to five inches high, erect, rigid, terete, 
as thick as a crow-quill; internodes one to one and a half 
inch long, lower pale brown spotted with dark red, upper — 
Aveust Ist, 1895. a eae ae 
