17 



DENDROBIUM rhombeiim. 

 Hhomb-lipped Dendrobium. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 



Nat. ord. Orchidace/e, § Malaxed. 

 DENDROBIUM. Botanical Register, vol. l.fol. 548. 



D. rhomheum; caulibus teretibus foliosis, foliis lauceolatis acutis, racemis bre- 

 vibus 4-floris, sepalis ovalibus obtusis, petalis duplo latioribus ovatis, 

 labello rhombeo undulato acuto medio pubescente, columna utrinque 

 tuberculata pone basin cornu deflexo aucta, anthera pubescente. 



This pretty species has much general resemblance to 

 D. aureum, from which however it differs in having smaller 

 blossoms, a labellum without serratures, and the flowers in 

 short racemes instead of pairs. 



It is a native of Manilla, whence it was sent by Mr. Cuming 

 to Messrs. Loddiges, in whose catalogue it stands as no. 319* 

 and with whom it flowered in August last. 



The imported specimen is less vigorous than it may be 

 expected to become hereafter, in which case the number of 

 flowers will probably be augmented. 



Here, as in some other cases, the column is furnished, 

 near the base, with a deflexed horn lodged in a niche just 

 above the insertion of the lip. This is a remarkable process, 

 and is represented at fig. 1. of the accompanying plate ; its 

 nature requires to be investigated. 



Like Maxillaria, the whole genus Dendrobium, with those 

 which are near it, requires a careful revision ; but in the ab- 

 sence of more complete materials from the Indian islands, and 

 especially of Dr. Blume's Java species, it seems premature to 

 undertake the operation. 



