ing, distichous, striated Jeaves, two inches broad, singularly ob- 
lique at the apex, carinate in the lower half. From between the 
lower leaves many stout radicles descend from the stem. Pe- 
duncle arising from near the base of the stem, jointed, sheathed 
with scales, bearing a spike of very large green and white flowers, 
which overtops the longest leaves. ‘These flowers are distichous 
rather than secund, and are placed alternately back to back, with 
the apices of their labella all pointing one way. Sepals and petals 
very much spreading, green, lanceolate. Labellum very large, 
broadly cordate, ivory-white, thick and fleshy im texture, concave 
in the centre, and bearing there an elevated cleft ridge, the apex 
is suddenly but shortly acuminated. Column very short, thick, 
greenish-white, bearing a hemispherical anther, firmly attached 
to its clinandrium*. Pol/en-masses two, bipartite, yellow, broad, 
cuneate, waxy, approximate, with a narrow caudicle arising from 
a large, canaliculate, triangular g/and. Stigma quite sunk in a 
hollow, and concealed beneath the clinandrium. 
The plate represents an entire plant, on a very reduced scale, the apex of a leaf, 
and the chief portion of a spike :—xat. size. Vig. 2. Pollen-masses :—-magnified. 
* Dr. Lindley observes on this structure, and that of the concealed stigma, 
“This plant offers.a striking instance of the precaution which Nature seems to 
have taken, to prevent direct contact between the pollen and the stigmatic sur- 
face, and at the same time of the skilful means by which an indirect. communica- 
tion is substituted, so that no impediment may in reality exist to the process of 
fertilization, notwithstanding the apparent obstacles to its taking effect. The 
pollen is locked up in an anther, so firmly united to the top of the column, that 
nothing but actual force can remove it; while the stigma is situated upon the 
face of the column, far beyond the reach of contact with the pollen. To establish 
the requisite communication, a narrow slip of the top of the column, proceeding 
from the edge of the stigma to beneath the anther, gradually separates from the 
surrounding tissue: the face of the anther opens along the middle of the cells, 
contracts, and allows the pollen-masses to glue themselves to the narrow slip, 
which is the caudicula ; at the same time, while this operation has been in pro- 
_ gress, a triangular portion of the front of the edge of the stigma has been adher- a 
ing to the caudicula, and thus establishes the direct communication which is re- 4 
quired, afterwards separating, with the caudicula, under the form of the gland.” ; 
