54 



ONCiDIlTM urophylkm. 



Tail-leaved Oncidium. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 

 Nat. ord. OrchidacevE. 

 ONCIDIUM. Bot. Reg. vol 10. fol. 804. 



Section * * Folia equitantia. 



0. urophyllum (Lodd. cat. ed. 2. no. 1381. Sertum Orchid, sub tab. 48.) ; 

 foliis equitantibus margine piano apice acutissimis, scapo longo pendulo 

 paniculato, sepalis linearibus acuminatis lateralibus ad apicem fere con- 

 natis, petalis obovato-subrotundis apicnlatis, labelli lobis lateralibus bre- 

 vibus convexis obtusis inter medio unguiculato reniformi emarginato, 

 cristee tuberculis duobus uno ante alterum trilobis, columnse alls maximis 

 acinaciformibus rotundatis. 



This is really a charming species of Oncidium, with quite 

 a peculiar habit. Its leaves are shaped like a pen-knife 

 curved backwards, so as to have the edge on the convex side. 

 This is caused by the two sides of the leaf being brought into 

 contact, and then growing together, the back of the knife- 

 shaped leaf consisting of their edges. From this structure to 

 the rush-leaved species, such as O. Cebolleta, is but a step. 



Such species constitute a distinct section of the genus, 

 consisting of the following seven ; viz. O. hidij'olium, urophyl- 

 lum, triquetnmi, pulche/lwn, Lemonia7ium^ variegahim, and 

 tetrapetabnn, all of which are, or lately have been, in 

 cultivation. 



That now figured has a graceful drooping panicle of clear 

 yellow flowers, four feet long, almost white at the back, and 

 with a few crimson stains near the centre on the upper side. 

 It was imported from Brazil by Messrs. Loddiges, and 

 flowered with them in March, 1841. 



Fig. 1 . represents a flower, enlarged and seen in full face j 

 2. is the same in profile. 



