53 



DENDROBIUM compressum. 



Flat-stemmed Dendrohium. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDBIA. 

 Nat. ord. Orchidace.e. § Malaxe^e — Dendrobid^. 

 DENDROBIUM. Supra, vol. 15. fol. 1291. 



Sect. Dendrocoryne (Lindl. in Bot. Reg. 1842. misc. 7^) ; caulibus 

 clavatis, ssepius apice tantum foliatis. 



D. compressum (Lindl. in Bot. Reg. 1842. misc. 76) ; canle obovato com- 

 presso 2-6-phyllo, foliis ovalibus acutis striatis basi dilatatis membrana- 

 ceis amplexicaulibiis, racemis subqiiadrifloris cernuis, sepalis petalisque 

 ovatis erectis, cornu elongate obtuso, labello cuneato Isevi per axin 

 sulcato. 



This singular species was discovered in the island of 

 Ceylon by Mr. Nightingale, and by that gentleman sent to 

 his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, from whose col- 

 lection at Syon we were permitted to obtain a figure in August 

 1842, The year of its importation was 1840. 



The curious flattened stems are not more than three or 

 four inches long, and resemble those of no species hitherto 

 discovered. They appear however to bring the plant into a 

 section of the genus to which the name Dendrocoryne (Kopvprj 

 a club) may be applied, and which will also contain D. densi- 

 Jlorum, tetragonum, Griffithianum, and Macrcei. 



The singular form of the labellum, fig. 1, which is that of 

 a wedge drawn out at the point, and furrowed along the mid- 

 dle, distinguishes this plant, independently of its habit. 



It should be potted in turfy heath-mould. The pot in 

 which it is grown, should be half filled with potsherds, in 

 order that all superfluous water may pass ofi"; the soil must be 

 considerably elevated above its brim. During the growing 

 season an ample supply of water should be given, and the 



