552 Mr. ScuomBurck on the Identity of three Genera of Orchideous Epiphytes. 
of Monachanthus viridis on a decayed trunk of an Erythrina. Among these 
plants, one produced a scape with the flowers of Catasetum tridentatum: this 
I saw myself: the bulb was young, but the flowers in every respect quite 
perfect. | 
Here we have traces of sexual difference in Orchideous flowers. I have 
seen hundreds of Catasetum tridentatum on savannahs adjacent to the lake 
Capoeya (Arabisce coast of Essequebo), without ever finding one specimen 
with seeds, while those bulbs which, according to Dr. Lindley’s description, 
belonged to Monachanthus viridis, astonished me by their gigantic seed- 
vessels. 
Mr. Bach raised from the seeds of Monachanthus viridis a plant of Catasetum, 
and I have observed individually scapes which bore flowers of both genera, 
while the evidence of the present plant, which has caused these remarks, 
would likewise include the genus Myanthus in the group. Dr. Lindley ap- 
pears to have been prepared for the latter discovery in his Genera and Species 
. of Orchideous Plants, part iii. p. 155. In his diagnosis of Myanthus, he says 
* anthera et pollinia Cafaseti ;" and further on, ** Catasetum cristatum is ìn- 
termediate between this genus and Catasetum :" but I doubt whether he ever 
conjectured the near relationship between Monachanthus and Myanthus, and 
the terms “labellum posticum" and “anticum” will be hereafter of less value 
as generic differences. 
Demerara, August 15, 1836. 
