Tas. 8273. 
MEGACLINIUM PURPUREORACHIS. 
Congo. 
Orcatpacear. Tribe EprpENDREAE. 
Mecaotinium, Lindl.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 505. 
Megaclinium purpureorachis, Wildem. Not. Pl. Utiles, Congo, p. 126; Ktudes 
Fl. Bas et Moyen Congo, vol. i. pp. 116, 235, t. 29; Rolfe in Orch. Rev. 
— 1909, p. 155; Gard. Chron. 1909, vol. xlv. p. 298, fig. 126; a M. maximo, 
Rimi “seg et rhachi fere duplo latioribus et floribus scabrido-velutinis 
istinctum. 
Herba epiphytica, rhizomate crasso lignoso. Pseudobulbi elliptico-oblongi, sub- 
compressi, 6-8 em. longi, 2°5-3°5 em. lati, diphylli, basi vaginis ovatis 
conduplicatis membranaceis striatis obtecti. Folia subsessilia, oblonga vel 
elliptico-oblonga, subobtusa, coriacea, 20-30 cm. longa, 4-5 em. lata, subtus 
minute nigro-puncticulata. Scapi laterales, validi, suberecti, 30-35 cm. 
longi, basi vaginis ochreatis numerosis obtecti ; rhachis complanatus, Jatus, 
subtortus, undulatus, copiose purpureo-punctatus, scabrido-puberulus, 
15-20 cm. longus, 3-4 cm. latus, multiflorus; bracteae ovatae vel ovato- 
oblongae, apiculatae vel acuminatae, apice recurvae, basi utrinque transverse 
decurrentes, 8-10 mm. longae; pedicelli circa 4mm longi. Flores brunnei, 
extus scabrido-velutini. Sepalum posticum ovato-oblongum, subacutum, 
concavum, incurvum, apice reflexum, circa 8 mm. longum; sepala lateralia 
obliqua, triangulari-ovata, acuminata, apice falcata, circa 8 mm. longa. 
Petala \ineari-falcata, acuminata, 5-6 mm. longa; labellum orbiculari- 
ovatum; recurvum, cbtusum, complanatum, 4 mm. longum. Columna 
lata, 4 mm. longa: dentes validi, apice bidentati, Capsulae oblongae, circa 
2-5 em. longae.—M. Bufo, Hort., Gard. Chron. 1909, vol. xlv. p. 289; non 
Lindl.—R. A. Rote. ; 
Megaclinium purpureorachis, much the largest species of 
this genus yet known, was first met with by Mr. Gentil on 
_ the Upper Lomami, a tributary of the Congo, in January, 
1903, and was described and figured by Professor de 
Wildeman from fruiting specimens. The flowers remained 
unknown until September, 1908, when the plant from 
which our plate has been prepared came into flower at 
the Royal Botanic Garden, Glasnevin, whence material 
was supplied by Mr. Moore. A plant was subsequently 
exhibited by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., at a meeting of 
the Royal Horticultural Society in April, 1909; in this 
instance under the name M. Bufo. It is, however, very 
different from the plant thus designated, which was 
SepreMbeER, 1909. 
