17 



* SOBRALIA sessilis. 

 Sessile-floivered Sobralia. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 



Nat, ord. Orchidace.e, § Arethuse^e. 



SOBRALIA. Fl. Peruv. Perianthinm maximum, petaloicleum, subfe- 

 quale ; sepalis patentibus vel reflexis, petalis erectis. Labellum cucullatum, 

 columnam amplexans, basi angustatum, disco plicato-barbatum, apice bilo- 

 bum. Columna elongata, marginata, clavata, apicis trifidi lobo medio cucul- 

 lato antherifero. Stigma marginatum, basi gibbere gemino nectarifero. 

 Anthera terminalis, stipitata, semiquadrilocularis. Pollinia farinacea, 4, com- 



pressa, postice cohserentia et contortuplicata, ecaudiculata. Herbce Ame- 



ricse eequinoctialis, terrestres, simplices, scepe triorgyales, foliosissi?nce ; foliis 

 plicatis; floribus racemosis terminalibus, vel axillaribus geminis, niveis, roseis, 

 sanguineis, violaceisve. Omnesfere species loca rupestria, sicca, aprica, cali- 

 dissima eligunt, dumeta scepius ampla for mantes. Gen. & Sp. Orch. p. 430. 



S. sessilis; caule foliisque subtus nigro-pubescentibus, foliis sessilibus ob- 

 longo-lanceolatis acuminatis 2 terminalibus squamaeformibus acuminatis 

 herbaceis, floribus sessilibus, labello rbombeo-oblongo glabro lamellis 

 2 intramarginalibus pone basin. Bot. Reg. misc. 1841. no. 11. 



Some of the finest Orchidacese known are species of this 

 genus, which inhabits Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Demerara, and 

 no doubt the intermediate districts. They are like Evelynas 

 in their manner of growth, or to use a more familiar compa- 

 rison, they resemble reeds loaded with large red, or white, 

 and often fragrant flowers which always grow from the extre- 

 mity of the reed among the large plaited grassy leaves. One 

 species, S. Liliastrum, is figured in the Sertum Orchidaceum, 

 from drawings made by Mr. Schomburgk, and has most lovely 

 white or rosy blossoms, but it does not exist in our gardens. 

 Another species with stems from twelve to twenty feet high is 

 " Flower of Paradise" of the Peruvians, and bears large 



* So called by the authors of the Flora Peruviana, after Don Francisco 

 Martin Sobral, a botanist of their acquaintance. 



March, 1841. g 



