Tas. 4446. 
SOBRALIA MACRANTHA. 
Large-flowered Sobraha. 
- Nat. Ord. OrcH1DEH.—GYNANDRIA MonNANDRIA. 
Gen. Char. Perianthium maximum, petaloideum, subzequale ; sepalis patentibus 
(petalis erectis, Lindl.). Labellum cucullatum columnam amplexans, basi angus- 
tatum, disco plicato-barbatum, apice bilobum. Columna elongata, marginata, 
clavata, apicis trifidi, lobo medio cucullato antherifero. Stigma rcinatum, 
basi gibbero gemino nectarifero. Anthera terminalis, stipitata, semiquadrilocu- 
laris. Pollinia farinacea 4, compressa, postice coherentia et contortuplicata, ecau- 
diculata.—Herbze Americe equinoctialis, terrestres, simplices, sepe triorgyales, 
foliosissime ; foliis plicatis ; floribus racemosis terminalibus vel axillaribus geminis 
niveis roscis, sanguineis, violaceisve. Lindl. 
SoBRALIA macrantha ; elata, foliis patenti-recurvis lato-lanceolatis rigidis tenui- 
acuminatis floralibus triplo minoribus, racemo terminali folioso paucifloro, 
perianthio amplo’ patentissimo, sepalis oblongis, petalis latioribus margine | 
superne undulato-crispato, labelli apice latissimo rotundato-bilobo margine 
undulato. 
SoBRALIA macrantha. Lindl. in Sertum Orchid. sub. t. 29. Gen. et Sp. Orchid. 
p.431. Bot. Reg. 1842, Mise. n. 65. 
© 
This belongs to a very fine genus of Orchideous plants, as 
Dr. Lindley observes, having reed-like stems and handsome flowers, 
natives of tropical America ; and the finest of all the species Is 
the one here figured for the first time, from plants growing in 
the Royal Gardens, collected by Mr. Skinner in Guatemala. 
Our figure is no exaggerated representation of the plant: no 
point of colour it falls far short of reality, for it 1s of that deep 
purplish-rose colour, which every botanical artist knows is so 
difficult to imitate upon paper. . 
Descr. Terrestrial;  Sfems erect, aggregate, erect, terete, » 
glabrous, jointed. Leaves from every joint, patent-reflexed, 
broad, lanceolate, rigid, much and very narrowly acuminate, 
almost caudate, plaited, the base forming @ brown sheath around — 
the stem. Flowers very large, few on each stem, terminal; one — 
flower (on each stem) is open at a time, having at its base a large, — 
leafy bract, resembling the stem-leaf, but much smaller. Pert 
JUNE Ist, 1849. G Sa 
