quite so large in llie (lower, but there are three blossoms to 

 each spike. 



That from which our drawing w^as taken was pro- 

 duced at Syon, in the collection of his Grace the Duke of 

 Northumberland, by whose permission w^e are enabled to 

 publish it. It was not quite so fine as what we have repre- 

 sented, but considering what the native specimens are we 

 have felt quite justified in forming our figure between the 

 two. The flowers in the accompanying plate, though larger 

 than those on the plant at Syon, are considerably smaller 

 than those we possess in spirits. 



Nothing can exceed the flowers of this plant in delicacy 

 of texture or softness of colour, the deep purple of the petals 

 softens away to the margin, and seems to melt as it were 

 into the purer white of the sepals, while the rich crimson 

 and yellow of the lip renders the brilliancy of the other 

 parts still more conspicuous. 



We found the plant had been managed by having its 

 stem covered with moss, which if kept damp would maintain 

 the surface in a uniform state. We do not, however, perceive 

 any trace of the roots in our wild specimens having been 

 growing among moss, and we consider it probable that it 

 will succeed as w^ell if the roots are exposed freely to the 

 air. 



