- marked by the strongly 2-lipped corolla with the lateral 
lobes more or less adnate to the hood and by the solitary 
posticous disk-gland. Our plant may be readily distinguished 
from the other species in cultivation by its spreading calyx 
and its convex, hairy, reddish leaves with much reflexed 
margins; the sepals resemble miniature leaves. It also 
differs in its prostrate habit and in the exceptional size and 
brightness of its flowers. Seven other Columneas of the 
same section have already found a place in this work. 
The finest of these is C. magnijica, Kl. & Hanst., a native 
of Central America, fignred in t. 8225. Allied to C. mag- 
nifica are three West Indian species: C. rotundifolia, Salisb., 
figured as “©. scandens” in t. 1614; the true C. scandens, 
Linn,, t. 5118; and C. hirsuta, Sw., t. 3081. A_ pretty 
little plant with small ovate or ovate-oblong glabrous 
leaves is C. Oerstediana, Kl., from Costa Rica, figured in 
t. 8344; and C. Schiedeana, Schlecht., from Mexico, given 
in t. 4045, is remarkable for the colour of its flowers, the 
calyx being brick-red, aud the corolla yellow with red spots. 
Lastly C. crassifolia, Hook., also Mexican, figured in t. 4330, 
is striking on account of its long, suberect, linear-lanceolate 
leaves. <A comparison of the figures to which reference 
has been made will show that some of the best diagnostic 
characters are afforded by the shape and indumentum of 
the leaves and by the nature of the calyx. At Kew C. 
gloriosa is cultivated in a basket suspended from the roof; 
the long pendent shoots, which retain their leaves through- 
out the year, produce flowers freely during the summer. 
The plant requires tropical conditions with abundant 
moisture and shade from bright sunshine. 
Description. — Fer) : epiphytic, perennial, — Stems 
prostrate or, under cultivation, pendent; rather densely 
clothed somewhat spreading hairs. Leaves opposite, those 
of a pair somewhat unequal, shortly stalked, ovate or ovate- 
oblong, obtuse, base rounded and slightly unequal, $-14 in. 
long, 2-3 In, wide, very convex with reflexed margins, 
densely hairy above with the nerves sunk, beneath the 
herves raised and hairy, elsewhere faintly puberulous; 
lateral nerves 3-4 on each side, oblique; petiole about 
: lin. long. Flowers axillary, solitary, erect, on peduncles 
4-1 in long. Sepals 5, faintly connate at the base, spreadings 
va 
