I follow Ruiz and Pavon and Professor Linptey in keep- 
ing this South American OrnitHoeAtum distinct from the O. 
Arabicum of the Old World; although, as the latter author 
observes, “ it is very like it, and perhaps a mere variety ; 
remarkable, however, for being a native of a country far 
distant from any in which O. Arabicum has yet been found.” 
—Still it must be allowed, that no distinctive character can 
be pointed out; and I cannot help suspecting, that it was 
introduced into Chili (where it is apparently wild) and into 
Peru (where it is only cultivated in gardens, and whence 
our bulbs were sent by Mr. M‘Lean) by the early Spanish 
visitors. Be this as it may, it isa most desirable acquisition 
to our collections. The true O. Arabicum, if not a rare 
plant, is, according to Mr. Gawxer (Bot. Mag. t. 728.) a 
very shy flowerer ; while our bulbs blossom most readily, 
and bear so many and such large flowers in each raceme, 
that there is at this season of the year (March) scarcely a 
more desirable inmate of the greenhouse. Its fragrant 
flowers, we are told by Ruiz and Pavon, are used to orna- 
ment the hair by the Peruvian females. 
Fig. 1. Bractea. 2. Stamen. 3, Pistil.—magnified. 
