12 



LISSOCHILUS roseus. 

 Rose-coloured Lissochiliis. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 

 Nat. ord. Orchidace^. § Vande^. 

 LISSOCHILUS. Supra, vol. 12. vol. 1002. 



L. roseus (Lindl. in Bot. Reg. 1843. misc. 37. Bendroh'mm roseum, Swartz. 

 in Persoou synops. p. 523.) ; foliis lato-lanceolatis erectis plicatis, scapo 

 squamis lanceolatis acutis membranaceis distantibus vaginato, racemo 

 denso oblongo, bracteis ovatis acuminatis ovario brevioribus, sepalis 

 spathulatis acutis concavis reflexis, petalis oblongis apiculatis, labelli 

 trilobi lobis rotundatis intermedio emarginato cum mucrone, disco 

 lamellis tribus undulatis serrulatis tuberculo parvo utrinque. 



Although the terrestrial Orchidacese of hot countries are 

 too often very inferior to the epiphytes, yet there are many 

 exceptions to that rule, among which few are more striking 

 than the present, which will not suifer hy comparison with 

 the Vandas, Saccolabiums, and Dendrobiums of India. 



It is a native of Sierra Leone, whence it was received by 

 Mr. Rucker, in whose magnificent collection of Orchidaceae 

 it flowered in February 1843. The leaves are broad, stiff, 

 and plaited like a reed ; the flower-stem is between 3 and 4 

 feet high. The petals are of the brightest rose colour, set 

 off* with velvety-brown sepals, and a yellowish stain on the 



lip. 



There is another plant in the same part of Africa, which 

 would perhaps excel even this in beauty, and it is much to be 

 regretted that no one should have yet been able to send it 

 home. Its petals, even dried, are an inch and a half long. 

 Sir William Hooker has a specimen in his herbarium, col- 

 lected near Boney, which we named some years ago Lisso- 

 chilus macranthus. 



Fig. 1. shews the inside and form of the lip ; 2. the column; 

 and 3. the pollen-masses. 



