43 



MORMODES lineatum. 



Streaked Mormodes. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 



Nat. Old. Orchidace^e, § Vande^. 

 MORMODES. Supra, vol. 22. fol. 1861. 



M. li?ieaium (Bateman in litt.) ; sepalis petalisque oblongo-linearibus abrupt^ 

 acutis margiiie reflexis, labello lineari incurvo carnoso sparsim piloso 

 versus basin utrinque dente nunc brevi nunc elongate aucto, columnse 

 dorso et margine pubescente. Bot. Reg. 1841, misc. no. 107. 



This curious species is a native of Guatemala, whence it 

 has been sent by both Mr. Skinner and Mr. Hartweg, who 

 were attracted to its seat among the almost inaccessible 

 branches of trees overhanging a deep stream, by its delicious 

 fragrance. The flowers, when they first appeared, were dull 

 olive green, and by no means handsome ; they have since 

 acquired a bright warm tint, and the markings upon them, 

 have increased in intensity till they have become quite orna- 

 mental. 



The lip is variable in form ; always indeed covered with 

 long loose straggling hairs, but having its lateral lobes some- 

 times not more than half a line long, and occasionally as much 

 as two lines. Fig. 1. represents the more usual appearance 

 of this part. 



One of the most striking' features in the flowers of this 

 genus consists in an appearance of distortion, which however 

 is natural to them. In all it exists in the labellum and 

 column, which look as if they had had their joints broken, and 

 then unskilfully set again ; in some it appears in the sepals 

 as well ; in Mormodes luxatum it is found in every part ; the 

 whole flower appearing as if all its limbs had been dislocated. 



August, 1842. r 



