1804 



* MAXILLARIA densa. 



Dense-flowered Maxillaria 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 



Nat. ord. Orchide^, § Vande/E, Lindl. {Introduction to the Natiual 

 System of Botany, p. 262.) 



MAXILLARIA.— Supra, vol. W.fol. 897. 



§. 1. AxilUJlorcB. Peduncull axlllares. 

 M. densa ; pseudobulbis oblongis compressis axillaribus inonophyllis, follis 

 oblongo-lanceolatis obtusis cmarglnatis, raccmis axillaribus dcnsissiine aggre- 

 gatis, bractcis cucullatis, periantbils bllabiatis, scpalis lincari-lanceolatls acu- 

 minatis carinatis, petalis paulo minoribus, labello oblongo indivlso apicc 

 recurvo ct canaliculato, medio lineu transversa elevata. 



A native of Mexico, whence it was imported by the 

 Messrs. Loddiges, in whose stove it flowered in January 

 last. 



It belongs to that set of Maxillarias on which the genus 

 was founded by the authors of the Flora Peruviana, and 

 which in some respects appear to differ from those with 

 which we are but acquainted in Gardens. The stems rise 

 some height above the ground, and are closely invested witli 

 brown withered scales, from the axils of which spring the 

 pseudo-bulbs and flowers ; in most Maxillarias on the 

 contrary, there seems to be no stem, but the pseudo-bulbs sit 

 close upon the ground, as in M. plcta and ochroleuca. In truth, 

 however, there is a stem in both kinds ; only it is erect and 

 above ground in the one, and prostrate or underground in 

 tlie other. And so it is with all the pseudo-bulbous Orchideae; 

 their true stem is in most cases a rhizoma, like that of Iris, 

 rooting on the side that touches the ground, and pushing up 

 leaves and pseudo-bulbs on the other. 



* See folio 1428. 



