VARIOUS SPECIES OF CATASETUM. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 

 Nat. ord. Orchidace.e, § Vande^e. 

 CATASETUM. Botanical Register, vol. 10, fol. 840. 



It happens in some genera of plants that the different 

 species, or supposed species, present so great a similarity in 

 their foliage and general appearance as, in those respects, to 

 seem identical when figured. It is therefore my intention 

 occasionally to occupy a plate with flowers only of such plants, 

 and thus to present a better comparative view of species whose 

 only distinctions reside in their blossoms. 



On the present occasion the genus Catasetum affords five 

 illustrations. 



Fig. 1. CATASETUM callosum. 



The Tumour-lipped Catasetum. 



C. callosum; petalis concoloribus lineari-lanceolatis sepalo dorsali conformi 

 suppositis, labello ovato-oblongo obtuso basin versus saccato supra sac- 

 cum callo magno (aurantiaco) instructo margine obsolete crenato, co- 

 lumnse acuminatse cirrbis vix ultra callum extensis. Bot. Beg. 1840, 

 misc. 183. 



Exactly like Catasetum tridentatum, var. floribundum 

 in habit, but its flowers are different. The sepals and petals are 

 of a dull reddish brown, without spots ; the column is of the 

 same colour, which may perhaps be best compared to that of 

 old spoilt port wine. The lip is green, flat, with a yellow 

 tubercle near the base above the hollow, and a stain of the 

 same colour near the apex. It was imported by Messrs. 

 Loddiges from La Guayra. 



Fig. 2. CATASETUM cornutiim. 



Homed Catasetum. 



C. comutum; petalis maculatis Kneari-lanceolatis sepalo dorsali conformi 

 suppositis, labello subcordato-ovato basin versus saccato sub sacco cornu 

 valido inflexo instructo processibus teretibus rigidis fimbriato basi den- 

 tato, columnse acuminatse cirrbis cornu labelli attingentibus. Bot. Reg. 

 1840. misc. 182. 



A native of Demerara, with the habit of Catasetum bar- 

 batum. There are sixteen or more flowers in a raceme, of a 

 dull green, richly spotted with deep blackish purple. The 



January, 1841. c 



