34 

 * PHALiENOPSIS amabilis. 



The Indian Butterfly -plan t . 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 



Nat. ord. Orchidace^, § Vande^:. 



PHALJENOPSIS. Blume. Perianthium explanatum, patens, sepalis 

 liberis, petalis majoribus dilatatis. Labellum cum basi paulo product;! columns 

 connatum, liberum, basi callosum, trilobum ; lobis lateralibus ascendentibus peta- 

 loideis, intermedio angustiore bicirrhoso. Columna in ovarium recumbens, semi- 

 teres, rostello gladiato. Anthera bilocularis. Pollinia 2, subglobosa, caudi- 



cula plana spathulata, glandula maxima cordata. Herba epiphytu. Caules 



radicantes, simplices. Folia riyida, lato-lanceoluta, apice oblique retusa. 

 Flores panicidati. Gen. et Sp. Oreb. 213. 



P. amabilis. Blume bijdragen 294. tabellen 44. Lindl. gen. et sp. orch. 213. 



Epidendrum amabile. Linn. sp. pi. 1351. 



Angracum album majus. Rumph. herb, amboin. vol. 6. p. 99. t. 43. 



This very rare and beautiful epiphyte flowered a few 

 weeks since in the Epiphyte-house of Messrs. Rollissons of 

 Tooting, I believe for the first time in Europe. It had been 

 sent to them from Manilla by Mr. Cuming. 



The curious form of the flowers, the graceful way in 

 which they hang down from below the leaves, their large 

 size, and the brilliant whiteness of their broad leathery 

 petals give this species a most striking and uncommon 

 appearance. 



Dr. Blume met with it on the wooded coast of Nusa 

 Kambanga. Rumph, who first noticed it, speaks of its grow- 

 ing in Amboyna, on short thick trees, covered with moss, up 

 which, he says, it turns like a rope, and from which it hangs 



* From <pdXcuva a moth, and o\pic resemblance. 

 July, 1838. * o 



