426 ORCHIDES. 



BLETIA 



lanceolata , acuta , subundulata , secus margines rubentia. Labellum 

 ovato lanceolalum, versus basin auriculatum, apicem versus undulatum, 

 acutum, medio luteum, et subpubescens, lineis duabus elevatis tertiaque 

 inlermedia minus conspicua, basi atropurpurea convolutum. 



Most nearly related to tiic fragrant L. primulina, from wbich it differs in the form of 

 its pseudobulbs, leaves and labellum , in the size of liowers and in the petals not 

 being at all rcvolute. In ihe speciflc character originally given the bracts were de- 

 scribed as pubescent. Tliis appearance arises frora the presence of minute patches ol 

 extremely delicate liairs. which soon wither up and leave nothing but a stain to indi- 

 cate their having been present. 



Van Houtt. Fi. des Serres VII. tab. 742. Icon optima 1 

 Obs. Ouae sit Laelia erubescens Gard. Chronicle 1849. p. 8. ego nescio. 



25. BLETIA PEDUNCULARIS. Huc : Laeha jwdnncularis. Lindl. B. Reg. XXXVin, 1841. 

 Misc. 10. 



Pseudobulbis subrotundis compressis linea utrinque elevata, foliis 

 oblongis obtusis scapo tereti vagiuato brevioribus , corymbo multifloro, 

 bracteis ovatis abrupte acutis pedunculo pluries brevioribus, petalis ob- 

 longis obtusis sublaceris planis, labelli lobis lateralibus rotundatis, inter- 

 medio oblongo rotundato plano subrepando (glabro) lineis duabus 

 (2—4) elevatis. 



Mexicon sp. of great beauty , with ihe habit of L. rubescens , but wilh rich violet 

 ^flowors. Peduncle l%" long , and the flowers nearly of the sanie length when clo- 

 se\\. The species is very near bolh L. rubescens and acuminata, but ihe flowers are 

 much longer in proportion, and the labellum quite round at ihe poinl and flat. The 

 pseudobulbs are not ai all telragonous, but compressed with only a slight line in 

 the room of Ihe intermediate angle. Probably it is the same as a supposed var. of 

 L. acuminata mentioned at t. 24. for 1841. 



B. Reg. 1845. 69: DiCf. a Laelia rubesccnte et ab acuminata : in its lip having 

 none of ihe hairiness of that species, and its flowers bcing much morc closely ar- 

 ranged. From the latter in neilher its petals nor lip being wavy and sharp pointed. 

 and from botli in its very large whole coloured flowers , flat jagged petals, short re- 

 curved lip lobes and very long flower stalk. Mexico. 



26. BLETIA VIOLACEA, Laelia violacea Rohb. fil. in Secmann Bonplandia II. 89.: 



aflf. L. rubescenli r perigonii tenuis pliyllis L. cinnabarinae , labello 

 L. rubescentis. carinis tamen in disco nullis, — 



Pseudobulbi comprcssi orbiculares ancipites apice humerati seu subtctragoni. Foliura 

 solitarium valde coriaceum a basi cuneata oblongum apice angustata bilobulum. ante 

 apicem sulculis transversis numerosis insculptis incisum. Pedunculus mullivaginatus 

 tantum apice racemosus. Bracteae lanceolatae acutae nervosae scariosae tertiam 

 ovarii pediccllati acquanles. Sepala ac tepala subcarnosa lineariligulata , tepala vix 

 latiora, labellum ligulatum apice paulo angustatum. basi ulrinque semirhombeo auri- 

 cularum, antice 3— 4sinuato dentatum , disco laeve. Gynostemium apico tridentatum, 

 foved quadraia in sinum aperte triangulum media basi excurrens. — Bluthen lila, auf 

 den seitlichen IluIIblattcrn auf unterer llalfte ein dunkelviolettcr Streif ; eben so ist 

 die Sclieibc der Lippe gefarbt. — In Ilofrath Keirs Garten zu Lcipzig von Herrn 

 Tube culiivirl. 



Huc vidctur pertinere : Laelia acuminaia Ilook B. M. 4905. 



• * * Labellum trifidum. 

 a. Labellura laeve. 



27. BLKTIA IRRORATA. Laeiia ivrorata Rchb. fil. in Olto Hamb. Gnrton- und Blumon- 

 zeilung 1859. .W, p. 57. .N. 51. 



