Botanical Cabinet ; but upon comparing the accom pan}/ i no- 

 plate with those of Dr. Hooker and Mr. Loddiges, I find 

 enough to induce me not to suppress the drawing that was 

 made for this work. 



Stanhopea insignis was originally found by Messrs. Hum- 

 boldt and Bonpland on the trunks of old trees in shady woods 

 near Cuen^a in Quito; it has since been procured abundantly 

 from various districts of the north-eastern part of South 

 America. There it fixes its pseudo-bulbs upon branches, 

 clinging to them wath its numerous creeping roots, and sus- 

 pending in the air its stout zig-zag spikes of fleshy wax-like 

 flowers. The species grows freely in a mixture of coarse 

 peat, sand, and broken tiles or potsherds, provided it is 

 kept constantly growing ; but it does not like to be periodi- 

 cally dried up as many others do. In order to see its curious 

 blossoms in perfection the young spikes should be watched 

 for, and as soon as they appear they should be artificially led 

 over the edge of the pot or basket; otherwise their tendency to 

 turn downwards is so great that they are apt to force themselves 

 into the earth and so to become smothered. 



In the annexed plate, the dissections are taken from a speci- 

 men, for which I am obliged to Lord Fitzwilliam, with much 

 richer colours than usual ; fig. 1 . represents a lip seen from the 

 upper side, and 2. the same part viewed from beneath; these 

 figures show the cup-shaped base of this organ, the spotted 

 tongue that terminates it, and the two long fleshy horns that 

 project on each side of it. — Who shall imagine the use that 

 such curious parts are intended for ? 3. and 4. are the hardly 

 less curious pollen-apparatus. 



