without leaves or scales, clothed with glandular hairs. Inflo- 
rescence a spiked raceme. Bractes three at the base of each 
pedicle \onger than it: external lower one largest, oval- 
acuminate, with a round gland at its base ; two internal ones 
shorter, linear. Calyx persistent, superior, bilabiate : lips 
divaricate, when the flower first opens apparently quite 
entire, but, after the blossom is fallen, the one. evidently 
two- the other three-toothed. Limb of Corolla five-cleft, 
four of the lacinze ovate, spreading, two upper ones some- 
what Jarger than the lower: the fifth (or labellum) smaller, 
linear, recurved, having two small, subulate, upright ap- 
pendices at its base : tube longer than calyx: faux beset with — 
eight thread-like, glandular processes, erect, unequal. Column 
flattened-cylindrical sigmoid, bearing at its extremity two 
two-lobed anthers with lobes extremely divaricate; and. be- 
tween them the green stigma, more evident after the anthers 
have discharged their pollen; the margin of the receptacle 
of the anthers is surrounded by lucid hairs, when magnified 
resembling icicles. Germien after the fall of the corolla ovate, 
_ inflated, two-celled, cells parted by a very thin dissepiment + 
ovula many, attached to the centre of the dissepiment. 
There are several species of Styztipium which possess a 
singular irritability of the column, and, perhaps, this property 
is in none more remarkable than in the present plant; in 
which the column is, in its natural state, bent over. the re- 
flected labellum, so as to bring the capitulum, containing the 
anthers and stigma, nearly in contact with the germen; when 
_ slightly touched near the base, the column suddenly springs up, 
' carrying the capitulum with a sudden jirk over to the opposite 
side of the flower. When left quiet, after a short time the 
column gradually resumes its former position, ready to spring 
again when exposed to any irritation, but probably with 
diminished force every time. — 7 ee 
~ That the real stigma is situate in the centre of the capi- 
tulum, terminating the column, is; we believe, now generally 
admitted, though for some time warmly disputed. "he ase of 
the above mechanism is not very evident ; to us it appears most 
probable, that it is intended to disperse the pollen, to insure 
the fertilization of the ovary, which, notwithstanding the close 
approximation of the anthers and stigma, is, perhaps, imp0s- 
sible to be effected by its own individual anthers, from. the 
stigma not being exposed till after the bursting of these. 
Our drawing was made from a plant kindly communicated 
by Mr. Lex, of the Hammersmith Nursery, in December last, 
at which time they were generally in blossom, though not 
forced by artificial heat, but merely protected from frost. 
