51 



GONGORA filva. 

 Tawny -flowered Gongora. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 



Nat. ord. Orchidace^, § VANDEiE. 

 GONGORA, Fl. Peruv. Botanical Register, vol. 19./o/. 1616. 



G.fulva; hypochilii convex! cornubus lateralibus elongatis capitatis aristis seta- 

 ceis, epichilio acuminato aequilongo, pedicellis columna triplo longioribus. 



The drawing of this plant has been lying in my portfolio 

 since the month of July, 1836, when I received a specimen 

 from Mr. Barker with the following memorandum. 



" The leaves of the plant are very similar in form to the 

 Gongora maculata, but are somewhat larger, and perhaps a 

 little finer or thinner. The bulbs are deeply ribbed, and 

 a little longer than maculata. It is highly fragrant, scenting 

 the whole house ; the scent approaches nearer that of the 

 violet than any thing I know." 



Mr. Barker considered the plant a variety of Gongora 

 maculata, already figured in this work at fol. 1616; and 

 perhaps rightly. But at the same time, till we have a more 

 certain knowledge of the value of the differences found in 

 the flowers of Orchidaceous plants, it seems necessary to dis- 

 tinguish it specifically. In addition to the peculiarities ad- 

 verted to iu the above memorandum, and the darker colour, 

 the flowers of this are not more than half the size of G. ma- 

 culata., and the raceme is far more contracted, in consequence 

 of the shortness of the pedicels. I also find that the lateral 

 horns of the hypochilium are terminated by a round dilated 

 head ; as is represented in the magnified flower of the ac- 

 companying plate. 



September, 1839. x 



