nODRIGUEZIA. 



ORCHIDES. 693 



•which are clustered 5-6 flowers , the size of those of Burlingtonia nivea Avith ihe 

 perfume of violets,' 



Hook. Lond. Journ. 1842. p. 189: On Crescentia Cujete at Rio Camprido. Seplbr. 

 Lindl. Sert. N. 36.: 

 Caiile erecto ranioso tereti dislanter sobolifero. foliis ovato lanceo- 



latjs acutis, racemo simplici nutante, bracteis oblongis acuminatis, labeUi 



bilobi lobis approximatis. 



Rio Janeiro. 125. Gardner. Tufts of 2—3 leaves, ovato lanccolate, rigid, petiole is 

 thin , folded together in an equilant manner, articulaled with the laniina, In ihe 

 middle of ihese leaves appear a short branch in form of a pseudobulb, oval, thin and 

 furrowed , on whose apex arise one or occasionally 2 leaves , like the first in <orm, 

 but without the equitant petiole. The plant having advanced lo this point and suc- 

 ceeded in establishing itself on ihe branch of a tree by means of numerous fine 

 rather stilT roots, it next produces , from Ihe axil of one of ihe lower leaves a rigid 

 stem , slender and as ihick as a crow's quill, which rises erect into the air forming 

 2—3 membranous sheaths upon its surface ; and ceasing to grow as soon as it has 

 8 — 10". At its apex it developes just such a tuft of leaves as that from which it 

 sprang; and thus the plant continues to live lill the period of flowering has arrived. It 

 emiis from the axils of one of its lower leaves a flowering stem or scape, 6—8" 

 long, having lew distant membranous scales bearing at ihe apex a very short unibel- 

 like raceme of several large white flowers delicately tinged wilh pink. Dracts ovate, 

 acuminate, membranous, rather longer ihan the pedicels. Sepals shorter than petals, 

 uppermosl oblong, acuie, pressed close to tbe back of the petals , lowermost are 

 uniled into a single piece, corresponding in form with the upper , sliglitly split ai ihe 

 point, pressed close up to ihe lip. and extended at the base into a short spur, which 

 is notched at the point. — Petals oblong , wavy , parallel wiih the coluran and lip, 

 rounded and spreading at the point, Lip longer thaa the petals, broadly obovate, 

 2 lobed, wavy, narrower at ihe base into a stalk, which is introduced within the spur 

 formed by the 2 lower sepals; near its base it has 4 shortwavy elevated plaies placed 

 in unequal pairs , on each side of two slightly elevated lines. Column is parallel 

 with the base of the lip, clubshaped . tapering and hairy, much shorter ihan the pe- 

 tals, at ihe upper end on each side stands along membranous narrow ears guarded in 

 front by a curved loolh of considerable size. Within these teeth is stationed a 

 glulinous circular excavation, which is the stigma. The anther is rounded, uncrestcd, 

 abrupily cut of in front. Pollenmasses two, excavated at ihe back , and placed upon 

 a long obovaie strap or caudicula, attached to a small oval gland. Column deprived 

 of all parts is alike a bafs head and neck. Brazil. Travellers report it to bave a 

 delicious scent of violets. I did noi perceive it. 



8. RODRIGUEZIA ODTUSIFOLIA Rchb. fll. I. c. Huc : BurUngtoma obtusifolia Lindl, 

 Sert. (1840.) sub 36: 



Caule eieclo ramoso lereti dislanter sobolifero, foliis oblonsis obtii- 

 siusculis, racemo subpaniculato nutante, bracleis subulatis, labelli bilobi 

 lobis distantibus rotundatis. Aff. B. rigidae. 



Organ Mountains. Gardner 664. Leaves smaller , narrcwer, obtuse , fiowers 

 smaller, inflorescence sligluly panicled. — Lindl. in Paxt. Fl. G. I. 99. N. 569: It is 

 in rcaliiy very near B, rigida, from which it only dilTers in the ears being blunter and 

 longer, the leaves smaller, narrower, more blunt, tapering to the base, the flowers 

 smaller and the lateral lobes of the lip much narrowcr. in this plant, B. de- 

 cora , however we have accordiog to ihe authors above quoted, much smaller 

 flowers, a simple conical , not twolobed spur, short very sharp sepals and pe- 

 tals and a pair of great lacerated appendages at the base of ihe lip, to say nolhing of 

 the spotiing, which is 80 much unlike anything known among tLe Burlingtonias except 

 maculata. 



