Miltonia flava Lind]. in Gard. Chron. 475, July 15, 1848; Baxt. 
in Loudon, Hort. Brit. Suppl. 3: 589, 1850. 
Type: Brazil, without precise locality, LODDIGES s.n.! 
(K-L). 
Syn.: Odontoglossum anceps K\. in Allgem. Gartenzeit. 19: 
250, 1851; 
Miltonia anceps (K\.) Lindl., Folia Orch. Miltonia 3, 
1853. 
Oncidium anceps (KI.) Rchb.f. in Walp. Ann. 6: 758, 
1863. 
Type: Brazil; without precise locality, ALLARDT s.n. 
Miltonia flava has always been an enigmatic species and is 
still in want of rediscovery. It is known to me only through 
specimens in the Lindley and Reichenbach Herbaria. The spe- 
cimen itself is a document of a strange historical background. 
Introduced from Brazil by Loddiges around 1843, it flowered 
but once when it was sent to Lindley for naming. Lindley 
prepared a fine drawing in color from the already withering 
flower which is mounted together with the specimen in his 
herbarium, and annotated by his hand as Miltonia flava. At that 
time Lindley must have also prepared a description, which, 
however, was not published until July 15, 1848 in the GARDE- 
NERS’ CHRONICLE, and then anonymously. Baxter, however, 
not only reported it in Loudon’s HoRTUs BRITANNICUS Suppl. 
3: 589, 1850, but also attributed the name to Lindley. Yet for 
reasons unknown Lindley, as well as Reichenbach, completely 
ignored the publication of Miltonia flava. In 1853, curiously 
enough, while writing the pages for his FOLIA ORCHIDACEA, 
Lindley annotated his specimen of Miltonia flava as Miltonia 
anceps and has described it under that latter name without any 
reference to the earlier publication. Since the original descrip- 
tion of Milton flava is not readily available, it is repeated here: 
“Sp. Char. — Flower-stalk one-flowered, with equitant cari- 
nate sheaths. Sepals linear, lanceolate, flat, acuminate. Petals of 
the same form, but twice as broad. Lip panduriform, slightly 
hairy, with a cordate-ovate end, and near the base an elevated 
ridge, which reaches half way down the lip and divides at the 
point into two short plates. Column with a deep, purple. white- 
edged, toothed hood, and short triangular wings. 
“A rather pretty Brazilian Orchid, from Messrs. Loddiges. 
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