( 3116 ) 

 Peristeria elata. Lofty Dove-Flower. 



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Class and Order. 

 Gynandria Monandria. 



( Nat. Ord. — Orchide^. ) 



Generic Character. 



Flores subglobosi. Petala subcarnosa, 3 ext. aequalia, 

 valde concava, 2 int. lato-obovata. Labellwn obovatum, 

 carnosum, truncatum, cum basi columns articulatum, disco 

 cristato crasso. Columna basi petalorum adnata, apice 

 solummodo libero, inferne longe produeta, insigniter dila- 

 tata alata, alis erectis obtusis carnosis crassis intus uniden- 

 tatis. Anthera bilocularis. Masses pollinis 2 clavatae, corn- 

 pressae, hinc lateraliter fissae. 



Specific Name. 

 Peristeria * elata. 



Descr. A parasite. Bulb, when it has attained its full 

 size, as large as a swan's egg, broadly ovate, green, ob- 

 scurely striated and somewhat wrinkled, having at its base 

 the remains of old, membranous, sheathing scales, at the 

 summit bearing from three to five leaves, which are from 

 two feet to forty inches in length, and six inches in breadth 

 at their greatest diameter, lanceolate, or almost sword- 

 shaped, acute, with several strong ribs, prominent at the 

 back, and having many plicae and striae ; the outer ones 

 sessile and sheathing, the inner tapering at the base into a 

 sort of petiole. From the base of the bulb arises the 

 Jlower-stem or scape, four feet high, terete, glabrous, having 



below 



* From ffspw-Tipa, a dove, from the resemblance in the shape of the column 

 to that bird. 



VOL. V. N 



