1795 



*G0VEN1A supcrba. 



Superb Govenia. 



GYNANDIUA MOh'A'NDRlA. 



Nat, ord. OucHiDEyE, § Vande^e, Lindl. (Introduction to the Natura I 

 System of Botany, p. 262.) 



GOVENIA, Lindl. Pcrmw^/iiuT/i bilabiatum. Sepala lateialia falcata, 

 labello supposita, basi paululum connata, supremo paulo majora. Petala sub 

 sepalo supremo conniveiitia, breviora, obliqua. LaheUum iiitegerrimum, ecalca- 

 ratum, concavum, cum basi parum producta column* articulatum, sessile. Co- 

 lumna basi paulo producta, teres, subfusiformis, apice utrinque marglnata. 

 Antkera calyptriformis, l-locularis. PoUinia 4, solida, incumbeiitia, caudicula 

 'brevi, glandula minore triangulari. Terrestrcs. Folia plicata. Spicu} radi- 

 cates , multiJlor(B. Vlores speciosi. Lindl. gen. et sp. Orch. 153. 



G. superha ; labello ovato-cordato, spica cylindracca, bracteis acuminatis^ foliis 



oblongis acuminatis basi angustatis scapo aequalibus. 

 G. superba, Lindl. in Lodd. Bat. Cab. t. 1709. Gen. ^- Sp. Orch. I.e. 

 Maxillaria superba. Lexarsa et Llave Orch. Mex. 2. 13. 



Caulis cum foliis 5-pedalis. Folia 3-pedalia, et ultra, basi vaginis 

 purpurascentibus vestita. Racemus \-]h'pedalis, cylindraceus, Jloribus 

 onustus. Sepala 7 tineas lonr/a, lateralia semi-oblong a. Petala oblique 

 rhomboidea acuminata. Labellum 3 tineas tantum longum, lividum, ungui- 

 culatum, cordatum, ovatum, obtusum, suprd, canaliculatum. 



This noble species was originally discovered by Messrs. 

 Lexarza and La Llave on the mountains near Valladolid, a 

 town of Mexico, flowering in August. The native name is 

 Azuzena amarllla. It is one of the handsomest plants of the 

 Avhole order of Orchidege, and is especially remarkable for 

 its stately appearance;, the rich orange of its flowers, and the 

 long time they continue to open. The specimen in Messrs. 

 Loddiges' collection grows to the height of a man; that from 

 whicli our drawing was made was furnished by Mr. Bateman, 

 in February 1834. 



* So called in compliment to James Robert Gowen, Esq. under whose care 

 were conducted many of the curious experiments upon cross fertilization at iligh- 

 clere, the seat of the Earl of Carnarvon. 



