Perianth, if it may be so called, since it is, especially i 
bud, much shorter than the organs of fructification, spring- 
ing from the fleshy base of the united stamens, of three 
leaflets; the two upper the smallest, ovato-lanceolate, 
nearly erect, often with a tooth at the base (as at fig. A); 
the lower, or anterior one, large, labelliform, thick and 
succulent, notched at the extremity, the margin thickened 
’ and revolute, having two curved linear teeth-like processes, 
one on each side, at the base, which stand forward. All 
these parts, when viewed under a magnifier, appear minute- 
ly papillose. Stamens united into a white, fleshy, slipper- 
shaped cup, embracing the Germen, with a red spot in 
front and a sulcus, the mouth oblique, furnished with six 
teeth (the free portion of the filaments) whereof three, in 
front, bear broadly-oval, yellow anthers, whilst the poste- 
rior three are abortive, or sometimes wanting altogether. 
Germen globose, three celled, many seeded. Style cylindri- 
cal: Stigma subtriangular. Capsule three valved, three 
celled: dissepiments occupying the centre of the valves and 
bearing a row of seeds on each side. 
It will be seen that I have taken a view of the structure 
of the flower in this most curious plant rather different 
from that which has been given by my friend Mr. Linptey, 
in his admirable account. of the genus, in the Botanical 
Register. If I am correct in my idea, then, the number of 
parts in the flower corresponds sufficiently with that which 
prevails in the Monocotyledonous tribes. The pistil has 
the ternary division, both in the germen and the style. 
The cup, formed by the stamens, has clearly six divisions 
or teeth, three bearing anthers, and three imperfect. Around 
this body, and, evidently, springing from its base, are con- 
stantly three processes or leaflets (one having the form of 
the labellum in an Orchideous plant) which are regularly 
arranged round the axis of the flower, and which appear 
to me, collectively, to constitute the perianth. But around 
this there are, as Mr. Linpxey justly observes, four, 
three, or two other processes, bearing no relation, either in 
their number or arrangement, to the outer segments or 
Monocotyledonous perianth. 
Now, upon a careful dissection of many specimens, I 
_ have universally found, that these small processes have 
their origin from the base of the segments of the perianth; 
and hence, as well as from the fact of their varying in num- 
ber and in form, I am rather disposed to consider these as 
teeth-like appendages to the perianth, and, perhaps, even a 
kind of monstrosity, similar to what Mr. Laypxey has ee 
serv 
