19 



an improved character of the genus, and an enumeration of 

 the species hitherto discovered. 



PONERA. Sepala erecta, carnosa, lateralia majora, basi producta cum 

 pede elongato columufc connata ; dorsale plaiuim. Petala ovalia, basi 

 augustata, libera. Labellum cuncatum, bilobum, asccndens, arcuatuni, 

 cum basi columnse articulatum, omniuo nudum. Columna brevis, teres. 

 Anthera membranacea, depressa, 4-locularis. PoUinia 4, per paria ad- 

 heerentia ; caudiculis binis pulvereis incumbentibus. Stigma subrotun- 



dum, excavatum, subbilabiatum. Herbae terrestres, (jraminecc, sim- 



plices. Folia linearia disticha, vayinis verrucosis. Plores fasciculati, 

 tenninales (?) in caule folioso, v. axillares in caule defoliato. Ovarium 

 hreve, conicum, rectum, sessile. 



Sp. 1. V.juncifolia (Gen. & Sp. Orch. p. 113.); foliis subulatis canalicu- 

 latis secundis, spica subbiflora terminali in caule folioso, labello retuso, 



clinandrio mutico. Mexico. A single specimen of this rave plant 



exists in Mr. Lambert's herbarium. It has a stem about a span liigh, 

 and extremely narrow leaves which, in the dried state at least, are all 

 directed towards one side. The flowers are separated from each other 

 by an interval of nearly half an inch, 



Sp. 2. P. graminifolia (Bot. Reg. 1839. misc. 15. Nemaconia gramini' 

 folia. Floral Cabinet, p. 127.); foliis lineari-lanceolatis oblique cmargi- 

 natis, spica subbiflora terminali in caule folioso, labello acuto apice 



recurvo crenulato, clinandrio mutico. Mexico. A grassy plant of 



no beauty, resembling P. striata in the form of its leaves, but different in 

 the structure of the flowers. 



Sp. 3, P. striata; foliis lineari-lanceolatis oblique emarginatis, spica sub- 

 biflora axillari in caule defoliato, labello bilobo integro, clinandrii dente 



dorsali in antheram incurvo. Guatemala. This diff"ers from the 



preceding in the lip being two-lobed, not acute and recurved, in its 

 margins being entire and not crenulated, in the anther-bed having a 

 dorsal tooth which curves over the anther, and two much smaller blunt 

 teeth on each side of the stigma; it has also the property of flowering 

 on the old leafless stems instead of the young leafy ones. The flowers 

 are pale buff", striped with brownish orange. 



18. ASP ASIA epidendroides. 

 Gen. Sr Sp. Orch. p. 139. Bot. Reg. 1839. sub t. I9O7. 



A great many plants of this species are now in thi& 

 country, having been sent from Guatemala by Mr. Skinner to 

 his friends, and by Mr. Hartweg to the Horticultural Society ;. 

 but they do not at present seem disposed to flower with the 

 beauty that is natural to them. I have not seen more than 

 three or four blossoms open at a time, nor do I find that a 

 much larger number have hitherto made their appearance ; 

 nevertheless, in the wild specimens from Mr. Skinner the 

 spike is nine inches long, clear of the leaves, and has borne 

 about a dozen flowers. The following accurate account of the 



