44 



A caulescent species, with lanceolate leaves seven or eight 

 inches long. The flowers are small, pink, smooth, in close 

 spreading racemes much shorter than the leaves. The column 

 is dark purple at the top. Mr. Prince originally found it at 

 Sincapore, and communicated it to Dr. Wallich. Messrs. 

 Loddiges, have since received it from the same place through 

 Mr. Cuming. It is a pretty plant, worth cultivation. 



57. PITCAIRNIA micrantha. 



P. micrantha; foliis ensiformibus acuminatis basi extus pubescentibus, ra- 

 cemo tenui paniculato, floribus minutis, petalis basi nudis lanceolatis 

 acutis. 



'* This singular little species was found among some 

 Orchidaceous plants imported from Rio, in Decemher, 1841, 

 by Lieut. Christopher Smith, of H. M. Packet "Star," and 

 presented to Sir Charles Lemon, Bart. M.P. It flowered at 

 Carclew in March, 1843, and proves to be very distinct from 

 any other of the genus to which it belongs, as well as the 

 smallest that has yet come under my notice. It requires the 

 constant heat of a damp stove ; and thrives very well either 

 in loose vegetable matter, or on the decayed branch of a tree. 



^^ Leaves numerous, flat, undulated at the margin, flaccid, 

 spreading and recurved, linear-lanceolate acute, from nine 

 inches to a foot long, and about an inch wide ; of a deep green 

 above, and a pale glaucous green beneath, without any spines 

 at the edges. Scape erect, nine inches long, issuing from the 

 centre of the plant, of a brownish green, remarkably slender, 

 round and downy, with several linear bracts along the stem, 

 which is half its length, covered with flowers. Floivei^s white, 

 not exceeding a quarter of an inch across, drooping and open- 

 ing one or two at a time in succession, from the base upward. 

 Pedicel round, very short, almost concealed by a brown- 

 coloured acuminate bract to each. Sepals three, of a pale 

 green, ovate acuminate, alternate with the petals, and about 

 half their length. Petals three, recurved, lanceolate acute. 

 Filaments half as long as the petals, very slender, bearing 

 long yellow anthers, which roll up and appear as if they were 

 round when the flower has been some time expanded. Ova- 

 rium about the length of the sepals, deep green, roundish 

 oblong, crowned by the style, which is round and slender, and 

 a little shorter than the petals." — Wm. B. Booth. 



