MALAXIS. 



ORCHIDES. 209 



Oberonia denticulata B, Wiglu Ic. V. I. 1625. 1851 : leaves broad , ensitorm , stem 

 short , natly , compressed , spike very long , closely covereJ with minute sessile 

 flowers : brncts ovatc, obtuse , reflexed : lip irregularly triangulnr, denticulate, some- 

 what two lobed at the apex . each lobe bideniiculate. Flowers dull orange colour. 

 Jyamaiiy Hills near Coimbatore , flowering July and August. Of this species I have 

 given two fig. to show how it varies in size. Tlic lip of tiiesmaller one differs from 

 ihat of the larger, but in all other respects, excopt in size , they seem sulficiently 

 to accord. 



6. MALAXIS BRUNONIANA. Huc l.c: Oberonia Brunoniana (Wight, ic.l622): bracteis 

 dcniicuiatis, petalis linearibus integerrimis , labello circulari integerrimo infra apicem 

 2-Iobum constricto denticulo interjecto — Southern Hindostan , Wight (lyamally Hills, 

 near Coimbatore) ; Khasya , Lobb , h. s. sp. — Leaves as much as 8 or 9 inches long, 

 very broad. Spikes dense , stifF, erect , not much longer. Peduncles complotely 

 2-edged. „A large and handsome species ; flowers large for the genus; lip and sepals 

 dark brownish; petals pale yellowish". R. W. This is probably ihe 0. iridifolia of 

 Griffith's Notulae III. 274, found at Churra growing on a species of Eugenia. If so 

 it will also be an Assam plant. Huc etiam : 



Oberonia Dnmoniana R. Wight. Ic. V. I. 1851. N. 1622. 1851 : leaves ensiform, 

 succulent, nearly as long as the raceme : stem compressed at the base , furnisbed noar 

 the apex wiih a short narrow falcaie sheathing leaf or common bract: raceme com- 

 pact: bracts ovate , deniiculate , aciite : sepals ovate, obtuse, reflexed , a litlle longer 

 Ihan the narrow lancreolate petals : lip entire, broad , cordate at the base, obiusely 

 3 lobed at the apex . the middle one small or sometimes obsolele. Fiowers olive 

 brown, the left somewhat darker towards the centre, — Jyamally Hills near Coim- 

 batore, flowering June and July. — A large and handsome species : Howers large for 

 the genus ; lip and sepals darks brownish coloured , petals pale yellowisli. It appears 

 quite distinct from all the following. As being the raost compicuous of the genus, 

 so far as I know it, I have taken tiie liberty of dedicating it lo the Presid, of L. 

 Soc, ihe first of living Botanists. 



7. MALAXIS FORCIPATA Huc I. c. : Oberonia forcipata: bracteis dentatis , petalis 

 linearibus nanis recurvis , labello circulari denticulato apice abrupte forcipato — 

 Ceylon, Thwailes (Hewahette district, on trees , 2511) h. s. sp. — Much like 0. Bru- 

 noniana in structure , except ihal the lip is toolhletted all round and that is extended 

 apex is much smaller. The petals are moreover much shorter , and ihe whole planl, 

 not more ihan 4" or 5" high , has none of ihe robustness of tliat species. Peduncle 

 slightly 2-edged. Bracts very deciduous. ,.FIowers dingy yellow", Thwaites , from 

 whom I have an excellent sketch along with the specimens, 



8. MALAXIS LONGIBRACTEATA. Huc I. c. : Oberonia longibracteata (L. 0, 15) : bracteis 

 subulatis alabastris multo longioribus , petalis ovatis aculis integerrimis , labello sub- 

 roiundo obsoleie 4-lobo, caule m pedunculum nionophyllum ancipitem producto — 

 Ccylon , h. s. sp. — Of this liitle plant ihe leaves are ihin , narrow, and nearly 

 straight, The stem is extended enough to bear one or two rallier distant leaves at 

 ils base , and anoiher at its suinmit iminediately lielow ihe flower spike ; in my spe- 

 cimens it is from 2 to 3 inches long. Pcrhaps lliereforc it would be bclter lo place 

 the species in the caulescent division. 



y. MALAXIS PLATYCAULON. Huc 1, c : Oheroniaylatijcaulon (Wiglit, ic. 1623) : bractcis 

 serrulatis , pclalis filiformilius se|)alis acqualibus , labello carnoso olilato trilobo; lobo 

 medio iridentaio, |ieduncuIo latissime alalo — S. Hindostan , Wighi (Courtallum; Pulncy 

 Mountains in Scpteraber) b, s. sp. — Flowers ,.whilish or pale yellow", Peduncle 

 four lines wide up to ihe very Howers , quite thin. Huc etiam : 



Oberonia plalycaulon Wight, Ic. V. I. 1623. (1851): leaves long, narrow ensiform ; 



stem flatly compressed . ncarly as broad as the leavcs; raceme lax . flowers longish 



pedicelled; bracts ovale, acute, the lengili of ibe ovary, flmbriate on ihc margin ; so- 



pals ovale, lanceolate , acuie, petals linear, narrower and slighily shorter than ibe 



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