but with a change in the form of the lip occurs in these plants 

 a most material alteration in the form of the labellar pro- 

 cesses, and both are connected with other peculiarities in the 

 appearance of the two species. 



The variations that experience tells us occur in the struc- 

 ture of the same species of tropical Orchidaceae are principally 

 in colour and size, just in fact as happens in those of Europe. 

 Our common wild Orchises have purple or white flowers 

 indifferently, and in some specimens they are much larger 

 than in others, as is more particularly shewn by Orchis lati- 

 folia. Just so with the epiphytes. The flowers of Catase- 

 tum tridentatum, for instance, are spotted or quite green, and 

 much larger in some varieties than in others. The well known 

 Oncidia ornithorhynchum and ampliatum exhibit great dif- 

 ferences in the size and depth of colour of their flowers ; so 

 do Lycaste Skinneri and Cattleya Forbesii ; indeed, if one can 

 judge from Mr. Hartweg's collection, it is very common for 

 species found on the west of the Cordilleras to have much 

 smaller flowers than when they occur on the east side. As to 

 differences in form again, the greater or less breadth of the 

 petals and the lobes of the lip is very uncertain in Orchis 

 militaris and its allies ; and in the same way Catasetum triden- 

 tatum, Cyrtochilum maculatum, and other epiphytes differ 

 among themselves. But so far as is yet known, there is 

 nothing peculiar in the tendency to variation among tropical 

 Orchidacese, beyond what we find in all other plants, with the 

 exception, as we have already said, of the masquerading 

 species of Catasetum and Cycnoches. 



The plant now figured was drawn in July 1 842, from a 

 specimen, .received by Messrs. Loddiges from Mr. Cuming, 

 who found it at Sincapore. Fig. 1. represents the lip and its 

 peculiarities. 



It should be grown in turfy heath-mould, of rather closer 

 texture than that commonly used for Orchidaceous plants. 

 The pot should be well drained, in order that all superfluous 

 water may pass off freely, otherwise the roots will perish. 

 Like some other species of the genus, this requires an ample 

 supply of water at all times ; and the atmosphere to be kept as 

 moist as possible, especially during the growing season. To 

 prevent the leaves from being scorched, the house should be 

 slightly shaded in sunny weather. In summer the temperature 

 should never be allowed to rise much above 80° by day, nor 

 to fall below 68° at night ; but in winter it should never be 

 raised higher than 64° by artificial means. 



