17 



MAXILLARIA stapelioides. 

 Stapelia- like Maxillaria. 



GYNANDRIA M0^'A'ND'R1A. 



Nat. ord. Orchidace/E, § Vande k. 

 MAXILLARIA. Fl. Peruv. 



M. stapelioides ; pseudobulbis ovatis tetragonis 1-2-phyllis, foliis tenulbus lan- 

 ceolatis patentibus pallid^ glaucis reticulatis, pedunculo diifuso bifloro, 

 sepalis petalisque subrotundo-ovatis acutis patulis subtequalibus, labello ob- 

 longo trilobo : laciniis lateralibus erectis linearibus obliquis obtusis inter- 

 media ovato-oblonga basl cucullata, crista transversa flexuosa carnosa intiis 

 dente carnoso ovato aucta. 



M. stapelioides. Lind. et Otto abbild. 111. ^.52. Gen. et Sp. orch. 146. 



This is one of the Brazilian Maxillarias, whose pseudo- 

 bulbous habit separates them in appearance so widely from 

 the caulescent species upon which the genus was originally 

 founded. For remarks upon this point, the reader is referred 

 to plate 8 of the present volume. 



The species whose singular speckled flowers have sug- 

 gested the comparison with a Stapelia, inhabits the Organ 

 Mountains, where it was found by Mr. Gardner, (No. 651) ; 

 but it was long before obtained from Brazil by the director 

 of the Berlin Garden, by whom it was named. It is now 

 common in collections, where it is at once recognized by its 

 pallid glaucous thin leaves, which look as if suffering under 

 the attack of red spider. It is one of the most easy species 

 to cultivate. 



Brazil will doubtless be found to contain many such 

 plants. M. Rollissoni {Bot. Reg. 1838, t. 40) is one, and a 

 plant called by Descourtilz " Epidendre Jonquille,'* because 

 of its colour not its smell, for it is scentless, is another. 



