17 



15. PONERA graminifolia, (Nemaconia granunlfolia, Knowlcs and Westcott, 



Floral Cabinet, ji. 127); foliis lineari-lanceolatis planis, labello oblongo 

 acuto apice recurvo. 



In the Genera and Species of Orchidaceous plants^ p. 113, 

 a genus was established under the name of Ponera, (from 

 7rovripo9, miserable, vile, alluding to the wretched appearance 

 of the species) from a Mexican plant in the herbarium of 

 Mr. Lambert. As I had originally no opportunity of criti- 

 cally examining the structure of the plant, further than was 

 afforded by the dissection of a single dried flower, its cha- 

 racter was not very complete ; and I presume the trifling- 

 differences which exist between this species and the descrip- 

 tion in the above work, are owing to imperfect observations 

 in the latter case. They have however led Messrs. Knowles 

 and Westcott to suppose that this plant forms a new genus, 

 an error which I hasten to correct. Having received flowers 

 of it from Mr. Barker, I find that it agrees in every essential 

 particular with the structure of P. juncifolia ; so nearly 

 indeed that, if the leaves of the two were not very different, 

 some doubt might be entertained of their being specifically 

 difi^erent. P. graminifolia is a plant of no beauty, and .is 

 chiefly remarkable for having the scabrous stems, which are 

 so conspicuous in the elegant Arpophyllum spicatum from the 

 same country. 



16. ARPOPHYLLUM spicatum, La Llave. 



One of the most graceful and beautiful of the Mexican 

 Orchidacese; it has recently reached England in a living state. 

 The stem is slender, and a foot or foot and half high, with 

 the sheaths as rough as shagreen leather ; it is terminated 

 by one long curved leaf, from the axil of which there curves, 

 in an opposite direction, a dense spike of pink or pale purple 

 flowers. It is a species of great rarity even in Mexico, 

 where it has hitherto been only seen at Sultepec and near 

 Arimbaro, growing upon trees. The genus belongs to Epi- 

 dendreai, near Ponera, and not to Vandeae. 



HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S GARDEN. 



All who are interested in the cultivation of exotic plants, 

 will be glad to learn that the Horticultural Society of London 

 are about to erect a most extensive conservatory in their 

 garden at Chiswick. The range will be nearly 500 feet 



