: Tas. 8041. 
MORMODES poucctnator var. AURANTIACUM. 
~~ 
Tropical America, 
OrcHipacEs. Tribe VANDEZ. 
Mormopss, Lindl.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 552; Pfitzer in 
Engler & Prantl, Pflanzenf. vol. ii. 6, p. 159. ; 
Mormodes buccinator, Lindl. var. aurantiacum, Rolfe in Jil. Hort. vol. 
xxxix. p. 11, t. 144; a typo floribus aurantiacis differt. 
Herba epiphytica, circiter pedem alta. Psewdobulbi fusiformi-oblongi, 2-3 poll. 
longi, vaginis imbricatis tecti. Folia oblonga vel lanceolato-oblonga, 
acuminata, plicata, membranacea, viridia, 3-9 poll. longa, 13-34 poll. 
lata. Scapt basilares, erecti, 9-12 poll. longi; racemi laxi, multiflori. 
Bractez oblonge, acute, concave, 2-5 lin. longa. Pedicelli 1-14 poll. 
longi. Flores speciosi, aurantiaci. Sepala elliptico-oblonga, subacuta, 
10 lin. longa, incurva; lateralia basi reflexa. Petala sepalis similia, 
incurva. Labellum late unguiculatum, sepalis paullo brevius; limbus 
obliquus, late obovato-oblongus, apiculatus, valde concavus, ecristatus. 
Columna oblique torta, lata, angulata, 5 lin. longa; operculum apicula- 
tum ; pollinia per paria connata; stipes oblongus; glandula orbicularis. 
Reichenbach once remarked that ‘* Mormodes buccinator, 
Lindl., was well known as the most polychromatie Orchid 
of the world, and as variable in shape,” and the point is 
very well illustrated in its history, for no less than seven 
forms described as species have been reduced to this 
species, namely, M. brachystachya, M. flavidum, M. leuco- 
chila, M. marmorea, M. vitellina, M. wagneriana, all of 
Klotzsch, and M, lentiginosa, Hook. (B. M. t. 4455). 
They embrace a wide range of colour, from ivory white to 
light green, deep yellow, brownish purple, and speckled. 
The variety awrantiacum first flowered with Messrs. Linden, 
at Brussels, and is recorded as having been imported from 
Peru. The one now figured was prepared from materials 
communicated by Mr. F. W. Moore, A.L.8., Keeper of the 
Royal Botanic Garden, Glasnevin, in February last, and 
it closely resembles the original in colour, though the 
segments are slightly more acuminate, but a comparison 
with allied species fails to show a nearer affinity. It was 
introduced by Messrs. Sander & Sons last year from an 
unspecified locality. 
OctToBeER Ist, 1905. 
