1927 

 * BURLINGTONIA Candida. 



Snow-white Burlingtonia. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 



Nat. ord. Orchidace.e, § Vande.«. 



BURLINGTONIA. PeHdnthiuin memhranaccam, convolutum, obliquum. Se- 

 pala uiiguiculata, labello breviora, basi a petalis distincfa ; lateraUa basi concava, con- 

 nata, labello supposita. Petala uiiguiculata, labello parallela, sepalis longiturtine a'qualia, 

 sed latiora. Zabellum unguiculatum, bilobum, basi cornutum aut muticum, cum column^ 

 parallelum, apice dilatatuni; ungue canaliculato, lamellato. Col urn na teres, loiige cla- 

 vata, nunc apiee appendicibus duabus coloratis aucta; cliuaudrio dorsali, stigmate utrin- 

 que coriuito. Anthei'a uniloculaiis. Pollinia i, postice excavata, caudiculae eubulatse 

 elasticEE adnata. Herbce epiphytte, pseudobulbis l-i-phyllif, basi foliatis. 



B. Candida ; racemis pendulis, sepalo anteriore apice bilobo supremo petalisque obtusis, 



labello seriebus duabus laiiiellarum carnosarum in disco. 

 Rodriguezia Candida. Bateinan in litt. 



Folia oblon/ja, apicem ver.nis paulu latioia, subcanalieulata, snlitaria. Racemus 

 pendulus, 6-Jlorus. Flores candidi, mendjranaceij seinidiaphani ; venis quibusdam luteis 

 in labello,' duos pollices longi. Sepalum siipremum obovatum, planum, emarginatmn ; in- 

 ferius canalieulatum, bifidum, basi concavum, ad calcar Incurcitm labelli recipie?iduin, a 

 pefalis distinctuni. Petala obovata, apive pafida, circa columnani valuta. Labellum cum 

 columnfi parallelum, ungue canaliridirfu, apice utrinque unidentato, apice dilatatuni, sub- 

 cuneatum, bilobum, veni^ lutei^cenfibus ornatunl ; lamellis plurihus distiehiscarnosis in disco, 

 quaru/n anteriores mnlto Inngi^res. Columna gracilis, teres, clavata, apice dentibus 

 duabus carnosis stignuiti adstantibus ; clinandrio decliui imniarginato. 



The vegetable kingdom comprehends nothing more perfectly lovely 

 tlian the delicate flowers of this plant, in which not a tinge of colour sullies 

 the snow-white transparency of the petals, unless it be a faint dash of 

 straw-colour on the lip. For its introduction to this country we are 

 indebted to Mr. Bateman, who imported it from Demerara, and flowered 

 it in his rich collection at Knypersley, in April 183.J. 



In many respects it agrees with the genus Rodriguezia, especially in 

 its lower sepals being united in one, in its lip having a short horn at the 

 base, in the column being taper, and in the structure of the pollen masses ; 

 and I was at first disposed to refer it thither; but its membranous and 

 convolute (not herbaceous, or coloured and spreading) flowers, its ungui- 

 culate (not sessile) petals and sepals, its long slender (not dwarf) column, 

 and its membranous 2-lobed lip, so much longer than the other parts, have 

 satisfied me that it is a trulv distinct genus. 



The species now represented does not stand alone in solitary beauty, 

 but it belongs to a little family, at present consisting of five, each of which 



* Those who have the honour to be acquainted with the Countess of Burlington will 

 feel that no compliment was ever more justly conveyed, than in the dedication of these 

 most lovely flowers to the amiable and accomplished Lady whose name they are hence- 

 Ibith to bear. 



