ee aaa ee 
" 
Tas. 6679, 
COMPARETTIA MACROPLEOTRON. 
Native of New Granada. 
Nat. Ondi OrcHIDEZ.—Tribe VANDEX. 
Genus CompareErtia, Pepp. et Endl.; (Benth, et Hook.f. Gen. Pl. vol. iii. 
p. 558, ined.) 
CompParETTIA macroplectron; foliis lineari‘oblongis acutis crasse coriaceis supra 
convexis marginibus recurvis subtus pallide ferrugineo-irroratis, racemo 
gracile pedunculato pendulo subsexfloro, bracteis parvis, sepalo postico oblongo 
acuminato, lateralibus in laminam cymbiformem acuminatam labello suppo- 
sitam dorso in calcar unicum longissimum productam connatis, petalis obovatis 
acuminatis pallide roseis rubro-punctatis, labello amplo roseo maculis pallide 
rubris consperso, ungue brevi utrinque auriculato medio carina elevata acuto, 
lamina transverse oblonga breviter 2-fida sinu acuto lobis undulatis. 
C. macroplectron, Reichb. f. et Triana in Gard. Chron. 1878, vol. ii. p. 524, e¢ 
1879, vol. i. p. 398; Williams Orchid Album, t. 65. 
_ The genus Comparettia consists of but few species, of 
which this is far the handsomest; it inhabits the rich 
Orchid districts of the Andes, from Mexico to New Granada, 
where the species here figured was discovered by Senor 
Triana. Though a much larger flowered plant, it is much 
inferior in the colour of the flower to DL. falcata, Poepp., 
figured at Plate 4980 of this work, the vivid hues of the 
lip in which are scarcely to be surpassed : it further differs 
remarkably from that plant in the great length of the spur. 
O. macroplectron was, I believe, first imported into and 
flowered in England by Messrs. Low, but the specimen 
here figured was sent in 1881 to the Royal Gardens by Mr. 
Jeuman, when Superintendent of the Jamaica Botanical. 
Gardens in that island, and it flowered in October of last 
year. . 7 | 
Desor. Pseudobulbs none; base of very short stem 
clothed with distichous rigid bases of oldleaves. Leaves two 
to three, four to five inches long, by one-half to one and a 
MARCH lst, 1883, 
