17G0 



■* BLETFA reflexa. 

 Hr flexed Bletia. 



GYNANDRIA MOSA^BRIA. 



Nat. ord. Orchide.^ § Epidendue.i:, Lindl. (Introduction to the Na- 

 tural System of Botany, p. 262.) 



BLETIA.— Supra, vol. M.fol. 1401. 



B. reflexa ; sepalis lineari-lanceolatis lateralibus reflexis, petalis cuneato-lanceo- 

 latls supra columnam connivcntlbus, labelll trilobi lobis lateralibus rotundatis 

 planis intermedio angusto undulato lameliis 5 altis parallclis indivisis ad 

 pedeiTi columnae decurrentibus, foliis angustis ensiformibus plicatis. 



YoXmangusta, ensiforrnia, plicata. Scapus Ih-'i-pedalis, teres, distanter 

 vaginatus, '2-4-Jiorus. Bracteae ohlonyolineares^memlranacece, ovario dupih 

 breviores. Sepala angustolanceolata, ex viridi rubescentia basi alba ; late- 

 raiia reflexa, suprrernum pauVo latins magis erectum, apice tantum rejlexum. 

 Petala ex viridi rubescentia, cuneato-lanccolata, erecta, acuta, collateralia 

 columnam a tergo tegentia. Labellum cucullatum, parte inferiore album, cum 

 basi columnai articn latum, oblongum, trilobum ; lobis lateralibus erectis 

 rotundatis, albis, margine roseis, intermedio elongate pariter rotundato, 

 crispo, atropurpurco, patente, lameliis 5 altis integris subundulatis tolum 

 axim. labelli percurrentibus. CoXnmwa, purpurea, clavata, ajnce alata, dente 

 unico incurvo post cardinem antherce. Pollinia 8, quorum 4 cceteris minora. 



Drawn in the hothouse of the Messrs. Loddiges, in 

 November 1834. It is a terrestrial species, and a native of 

 Mexico. The greenish colour of its flowers, and the remark- 

 ably narrow reflcxed sepals, distinguish it at once from the 

 remainder of the genus. 



The specimen figured was less brilliant in its colours, and 

 altogether smaller than is to be expected hereafter ; for wild 

 specimens now before us, collected by Baron de Karwinsky, 

 and forming part of the Royal Bavarian Museum, have a 

 rich purple cast upon every part of the flowers, and the 

 scapes each bear from two to four blossoms. 



Requires the same treatment as other Blctias. 



* Sec folio 1101. 



