Tas. 4923. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM MEMBRANACEUM. 
Membrane-sheathed Odontoglossum. 
Nat. Ord. OrncHIDEmM.—GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 
Gen. Char, (Vide supra, Tas. 4878.) 
ODONTOGLOSSUM membranaceum ; pseudobulbis ovatis angulatis, foliis solitariis 
oblongis in petiolum canaliculatum angustatis, scapo 2—4-floro, bracteis va- 
ginisque membranaceis acutissimis equitantibus, sepalis membranaceis un- 
guiculatis lanceolatis, petalis latioribus oblongis obtusis, labello cordato ob- 
tusissimo unguiculato, ungue carnoso cyathiformi pubescente antice biden- 
tato medio tuberculato, processubus 2 ante cyathum elongatis pubescenti- 
bus, columnee pubescentis auriculis rotundatis. Lindl. 
ODONTOGLOSsUM membranaceum. Sert. Orchid. sub ¢. 25. Bot. Reg. 1845, 
Mise. 60.10. Bot. Reg. 1846, ¢. 34. 
A very fragrant Mexican Odontoglossum, and Dr. Lindley justly 
observes that this and Odontoglossum Cervantesii may be re- 
garded as among the finest species of the country. He remarks 
also the great similarity of the two species, and that they may 
be possibly varieties of each other. I think our plant here 
figured will confirm that view; it partakes of the character of 
both without being identical with either: it has the pure white 
colour and larger flowers, and the shorter teeth on the labellum 
of O. membranaceum ; but it wants the spots of the base of the 
lip, the rounded apex, and has the larger tubercle at the unguis 
of the lip: in these respects agreeing with O. Cervantesii. The 
species flowers in the stove of the Royal Gardens in April. Both 
kinds, we believe, are natives of the vicinity of Oaxaca. 
Duscr. Pseudobulés small, about as big as a pigeon’s egg, 
clustered, ovate, rather compressed, and slightly keeled on two — 
opposite sides; partially clothed with large membranaceous 
scales, as long as or longer than the pseudobulb. Leaf soli- 
tary, terminal on the bulb, oblong, acute, pergamineous, faintly 
striated. Scape radical, from within a scale at the base of the : 
JUNE Ist, 1856. : 
