1832 



SARCOCHILUS falcatus. 



Falcate-leaved Sarcochihis. 



Nat. ord. Orchidace^e § VANDEiE. 



SARCOCHILUS, R, Br. Perianthium patens. Sepala hteraWa. cuin 

 ungue labelli subtus connata. Petala coiiformia. Labellum ecalcaratum, cum 

 ungue columnaj continuum, calceiforme ; lobo intermedio c^rnoso solido, laterali- 

 bus ascendentibus petaloideis. Columna brevissima, marginibus tenuibus inflexis. 

 Anthera bilocularis, valvis antherae inferioribus deflexis erosis. Pollinia caudi- 



cula linear! affixa glandula deltoidea. -Epiphyta acaulis, vel brevissime cau- 



lescens. Folia disticha, lineari-lanceolata, subcoriacea. Racemi axillares, 

 erecti, 3-6-Jlori, secundi, Bractese breves, lata, ovatce. Flores mediocres. 



S. falcatus. R. Br. Prodr. 332. Lindl. g. & sp. orch. 142. 



This rare plant has been sent me both by Mr. Bateman 

 and Messrs. Loddiges. The drawing was made in the col- 

 lection of the latter gentlemen in April last. 



It is a native of New Holland and near Hunter s River ; 

 but so rare that I have never yet received a single native 

 specimen except an imperfect one for which I was some 

 years since indebted to Dr. Brown, who however saw it only 

 in an imperfect state. 



The flowering specimens, with which my garden friends 

 have supplied me, while they have enabled me to complete 

 my account of it, have also shown that this hitherto little 

 known species is really an extremely pretty little plant, 

 which, without any of the gaudy colours of many of its tribe, 

 is so neat and simple in its appearance as to be sure to capti- 

 vate the feelings of every lover of nature. 



It must be treated just like other Orchideous Epipliytes. 



