44 NEW OR RARE ORCHIDES. 
[Tas. CXV. CXVI. CXVII.] 
NEW OR RARE ORCHIDEZ. 
Unben this head, I propose offering, from time to time, figures 
and descriptions illustrative of new or little known individuals 
of this most singular and interesting tribe of plants, which owe 
so much to the labours of Swartz, and Richard, and Thouars, 
upon the Continent, and of Brown, Bauer, and Lindley, in 
our own country. These authors have thrown a new light 
upon this previously obscure family, and have established 
generic and divisional characters upon a truly philosophical 
basis. It is impossible, at this time, to form an idea of the 
limits of the species. Linnzeus reckoned 100 kinds; Per- 
soon, in 1806, 477 ; Sprengel, the most recent author who has 
attempted to give a complete catalogue, includes 799 species. 
But daily experience assures us how much yet remains to be 
discovered in the warmer parts of the globe. Our gardens 
abound in such as was once thought impossible to cultivate — - 
and our Herbaria contain much novelty: but all these 
will find a place in the invaluable ** Genera et Species Or- 
chidearum” of Professor Lindley. The Hortus Siccus, how- 
ever, it is to be regretted, from the succulent nature of the — 
subjects, conveys but a very inadequate idea of the form and — 
structure of the recent plant; and it is only by the assistance 
of the most perfect state of the flower, or, what is better, 
the flower yet unexpanded, that they can be satisfactorily de” 
termined. As often as possible, some specimens should be 
preserved in spirits. In this state I have the good fortune to — 
possess not a few kinds, from which many of the analyses will 
be made. In particular, I have been favoured with several 
from Mauritius, by Charles Telfair, Esq. and Professor Bojer; 
and some of these, which are not hitherto figured at all, or, if 
figured, inaccurately so, will form a part of the subject of the 
present brief sketch. 
