M. purpuratum, Lindl. (t. 5936) = M. mazimum, Lindl., 
on the authority of Mr. Rolfe; and M. minutum, Rolfe 
(t. 7314), the smallest of the genus. WM. platyrhachis is 
the largest, though perhaps not the most attractive species. 
The plant figured was received at Kew from Zomba, 
British Central Africa, in 1899. It begins to flower in 
July, and the same inflorescence, Mr. Watson states, goes 
on flowering for three months. 
Descr.—Readily distinguished by the large size of the 
flattened axis of the inflorescence. Rhizome thick, woody. 
Bulbs produced at intervals, oblong-ovoid, acutely 5- or 
6-angled, two to three inches long, two-leaved, invested to 
the middle by large, brown, acute scales. Leaves thick, 
oblong, obtuse, five to six inches long; veins immersed, 
inconspicuous. Scapes from below the bulbs, solitary ; 
peduncle terete, erect, about six inches long, furnished 
with a few closely sheathing, obliquely truncate bracts ;_ 
rhachis greenish-yellow, spotted with white and brown, 
finally changing to a red-brown, very much flattened, strap-_ 
shaped, undulate, crenulate, lengthening during the flower- 
ing period, bearing flowers in one row on each side, fully 
developed about a foot long, and an inch and a half broad 
in the middle, more or less twisted, acuminate, tapering to 
the base. Bracts triangular, acute, about three lines long 
and about four lines apart, at first closely covering the 
flower-buds, then closely recurved on to the rhachis. 
Flowers numerous, yellowish green, about half an inch in 
diameter, thickly spotted with purple brown, in lines along 
the lateral sepals, about half an inch in diameter, solitary and 
nearly sessile in the axils of the bracts, opening successively 
from the base of the rhachis upwards, strongly reflexed 
and facing the rhachis in a downward direction. Sepals 
ovate-lanceolate, acute, dorsal longer than the lateral. 
Petals similar to the sepals, but smaller. Labellum hinged 
to the foot of the column, thick, fleshy, tongue-shaped, 
recurved, margin minutely papillose or fringed below the — 
middle; lateral lobes very small. Column short, broad 
at the base, two-winged or auricled at the sides.— 
We Be: 7 
Fig. 1, a flower; 2, the same from which the sepals and tals have been 
removed; 3, anther-cap; 4 and 5, pollinia :—all salror .- ce 
