characters being its habit, many-flowered spike, and some- 
times longer stipes of the pollen, no notice being taken 
of the position of the lip. 
In the endeavour to settle this question of the generic 
validity of Xylobiwm, I have relied chiefly on the species 
figured in this Magazine and other illustrated works, for to 
make an exhaustive examination of the sixteen species 
described under Xylobiwm,and the hundred under Mazillaria, 
could not under the circumstances be undertaken. The 
result is, that the plicate leaves, superior lip, and spicate’ 
flowers of the former genus are its absolute characters as 
distinguishing it from Mavillaria, for I find no difference 
whatever in their pollen-masses, which in species of both 
genera may consist of two pairs, or of one pair only by the 
coherence or confluence of those of each pair; and the pol- 
linia are sessile on the scale in most species. 
With regard to Bifrenaria, it differs from Xylobium, in 
so far as I have examined materials, in its few-flowered 
scape, inferior lip, and usually two stipitate pollinia. 
Xylobium leontoglossum has a wide range in South 
America. It was discovered by Mathews, in Peru, upwards 
of half a century ago, and has been collected in various 
parts of New Grenada, from St. Martha and Ocaiia south- 
wards, and in Equador, by subsequent travellers. It has 
been imported on several occasions. 
The Royal Gardens are indebted to Messrs. Sander for 
the plant from which the accompanying figure was taken, 
and which flowered in March of the present year. The 
species varies greatly in the length and breadth of the 
leaves, which sometimes attain nearly three feet in length 
and four to five in breadth.—J. D. H. 
Fig. 1, Column and lip; 2, lip; 3, column; 4, anther; 5 and 6, pollen :— 
all enlarged, ; 
