63 



* CATASETUM atratum. 



Dark-flowered Catasetum. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 



Nat. ord. OrchidacEjE, § Vande^;. 

 CATASETUM. Supra vol. 10. fol. 840. 



atratum ; racemo decurvo, sepalis petalisque patentibus ovatis acutis, labello 

 carnoso cucullato margine tenui pectinato apice rotundato reflexo crasso den- 

 ticulato. Bot. Reg. 1838. misc. no. 114. 



A very distinct species of this curious genus, imported 

 by Messrs. Loddiges from Brazil. The flowers are grace- 

 fully drooping, and are among the handsomest of the genus. 



Had this been known when the now-abolished genus 

 Myanthus was proposed, that error would not have been 

 committed, for the species is neither exactly a Myanthus nor 

 exactly a Catasetum. 



It is unnecessary to do more than refer to folio 1951 of 

 this work for an explanation of the reasons which led to the 

 union of these genera, and to the further suppression of 

 Monachanthus and Mormodes. But there is a circumstance 

 observed by Mr. Schomburgk in connection with them which 

 is very curious, and deserves to be recorded. In a letter I 

 received from him some time since, he says, alluding to 

 Monachanthus, " are you aware that Catasetum and Myan- 

 thus are not seed-bearing, but that Monachanthus bears seed 

 abundantly ?" I do not know what conclusion to draw from 



* See folio 1667. 



