N A T. ORDER. 



Orcliidece. 



BROUGHTONIA COCCINEA. CRIMSON BROUGHTONIA. 



Class XX. GvNANDRiA. Order I. IMonandria. 



Gen. Char. Calyx consists of three sepals. Petals spreading. 

 Peduncle one, erect, and nodding. 



»S^. Cliar. Anther-case small. Column short, whitish. 



The bulbs of this 7-00^ are very much clustered, roundish-ovate, 

 often richly stained with brown, compressed, and bearing from the 

 apex one or two leaves, which are linear-oblong, three to four inches 

 high, and soniewhat coriaceous ; the peduncles also arise from the 

 same place, eight to ten inches or more high, jointed and bracteated. 

 and bearing a raceme of six to nine Jloicers at the summit, which 

 are of a very ricii crimson color ; the calij.v consists of three sepals ; 

 they are spreading, equal, equidistant, lanceolate ; jjetals spreading, 

 two lateral ones broadly ovate, acute, and slightly crisped ; the lower 

 one, or labellum, rotundate-cordate, obscurely tvvo-lobed, waved, and 

 delicately crenate at the margin ; the base beneath running down 

 into a very long adnate spur upon the scarlet germen ; the colmnn is 

 quite siiort and whitish ; the anther-case is extremely small and 

 hemispiierical ; polen-rnasses, two compressed pairs, with the caudi- 

 cles folded down upon them. 



This is undoubtedly one of the most rare plants in our country ; 

 consequently is but little known, even by the most experienced 

 botanists. Its beauty and elegance when in blossom is very attrac- 

 tive, and is to be reckoned as one of the most splendid in that family 

 of plants. Its medical properties have never been examined. 



Vol. iv.— 103 



