552 Mr. ScHOMBURGK on the Identity of three Genera of Orchideous Epiphytes. 



of Monachanthus viridis on a decayed trunk of an Erythrina. Among these 

 plants, one produced a scape with the flowers of Catasetum tridentatum : this 

 I saw myself: the bulb was young, but the flowers in every respect quite 

 perfect. 



Mere we have traces of sexual difference in Orchideous flowers. I have 

 seen hundreds of Catasetum tridentatum on savannahs adjacent to the lake 

 Capoeya (Arabisce coast of Essequebo), without ever finding one specimen 

 with seeds, while those bulbs which, according to Dr. Lindiey's description, 

 belonged to Monachanthus viridis, astonished me by their gigantic seed- 

 vessels. 



Mr. Bach raised from the seeds of Monachanthus viridis a plant of Catasetum, 

 and I have observed individually scapes which bore flowers of both genera, 

 while the evidence of the present plant, which has caused these remarks, 

 would likewise include the genus Myanthus in the group. Dr. Lindley ap- 

 pears to have been prepared for the latter discovery in his Genera and Species 

 of Orchideous Plants, part iii. p. 155. In his diagnosis of Myanthus, he says 

 "anthera et pollinia Cataseti;" and further on, "Catasetum cristatum is in- 

 termediate between this genus and Catasetum :" but I doubt whether he ever 

 conjectured the near relationship between 3Ionachanthus and Myanthus, and 

 the terms "labellum posticum" and "anticum" will be hereafter of less value 

 as generic differences. 



Pemerara, August 15, 1836. 



