57 



* BOLBOPHYLLUM bracteolatum. 



Bracteolate Bolbophyllum. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 



Nat. ord. Orchidace^e, Malaxide^:. 

 BOLBOPHYLLUM. Bot. Reg. vol. 23. fol. 1942. 



B. bracteolatum ; pseudobulbis ovatis obtusis tetrapteris diphyllis, foliis angust& 

 oblongis carnosis patentibus, scapo radicali pendulo rachi fusiformi sparse 

 multiflora pluries breviore, floribus carnosis extus bibracteolatis, sepalis 

 ovatis acutis lateralibus basi connatis, petalis ovatis multo brevioribus, labello 

 solido triquetro acuto canaliculato dorso serrato. 



Flores pai'vi, rachi duplb angustiores. Bracteola? ovatce, minutes, peta- 

 lorum basi sitce, ejusdem colore et textura sepali supremi carnei apice atro- 

 purpurei. Sepala lateralia lutescentia dorso sanguinea. Petala Icete purpurea. 

 Labellum luteum, sanguineo-punctatum, apice violaceum. 



A most curious little epiphyte, native of Demerara, 

 whence it was obtained by Messrs. Loddiges, with whom it 

 flowered in July 1837. It and B. setigerum, and probably 

 some others offer the singular instance of the existence in 

 America of a genus hitherto discovered only in the Old 

 World. 



In habit this species is much like B. pusillum and clava- 

 tum, two species not yet introduced from the Mauritius. 



When magnified the flowers are beautifully variegated 

 with flesh-colour, yellow, red, and violet, but what is more 

 remarkable there exists on each side of the flower, at the 

 base of the petals, a small ovate bract, the rudiment of which 

 is also met with in B. setigerum, in the form of a minute 

 tubercle. This additional part has never before been noticed 

 in the order, and is possibly the explanation of the true nature 



* See folio 1942. 



