Platk 2120. 



DIPLOPRORA CHAMPIONI, ITool-.f. 

 Okchidejc. Subtribe Saucantik!:.!^. 



Diploprora, ILxfL /. FL Brit. Ind. vi. 2G ; Sepala patentia, late 

 ovata, obtu>a, dorso alato-cariiiata. Peiala ovato- v. obovato-obloiiga, 

 obtusa. Lahelhoit sepalis a^qnilongum, margiiiibus basi coluranir ad- 

 natis, cymbiforme, abrupte in caudam a latere compressam apico 

 bicaudatatn angustatum. disco carina erecta lauiellirormi instructo. 

 Gohimva brevissima, apoda, Anihera 2-locularis; pollinia globoso- 

 obpvoidea 2-loba5 supra apicem stipitis linearis inserta ; glandula 

 sqnamgeformi. — Herba ejnjy/ujtica^ caule siviplicinsculoy hasi vaginato 

 radicante^ svpeme crassiusculo folioso. Folia distlcha^ ovafo- v. ohlongo^ 

 lanceola ta^ subfalcata^ flaccida, Peduncul us opfoslh'foltus^ erassuSy 



erect us, pauciflo7-us ] bracteee 7naJnscuJce, ohtusoe. Flores erect!, sessthi^, 

 Jlavidiy lahello roseo-tincto ; or.ario hrevi, 



D. Championi, Hoolc /. FL BriL Ltd. vi. 26. Cottonia Charapioni, 

 LindL in Hook, Jouni. Bot. vii (1856) 35 : in Joiirn. Linn, Soc. iii. 3P ; 

 Beuth. FL Hongh, 357. Luisia bicaudafca^ Thwaites, Fnum. PL ZeyL 

 302. Vanda bicaudata, TInoaites, 1. c. 429. 



Hab. Bliotan Himalaya, Garmnie; Khasia Hills, alt. 3,000-4,000 

 feet, J, D. H. et T. T, ; Tenasserim, Parish: Ceylon, in the Arnba^a- 

 niowa and Saffragam districts ; Hongtong, on Victoria Peak, Champion. 



CauUs 2-4 poll. Folia patula, 3-4 poll, longa, i-| poll, lata, mem- 

 branacea, apice acnto obtuso v. emarginato, sicca multiiiervia. Peduu- 

 cuius foliis longior, basin verpus pauci-bracteatns, strictus v. sub- 

 flexnosns; racemtis erectus. Flores ^ poll, longi, sepalis 7-nerviis, 

 petalisq^ue 5-nerviis anreis, labello albo roseo irrorato ; ovario gigmoideo. 



Of the three genera to ^vbich this cnrions Orchid had been referred, 

 it is perhaps nearest to Vanda, from which it differs in habit, the 

 membranous leaves, small flowers, broad bases of the sepals, and 

 remarkable lip. From Luisia the flat membranous leaves at once 

 distinguish it. Cottonia differs totally in habit, and in the large flat 

 lip. In short, the lip of Piploprora is quite peculiar in its long narrow 

 forked tip, and the broad flat erect longitudinal plate that occupies its 

 disk. 



The generic description which is here given will supersede that of 

 the ' Flora of British India,' being aided by a beautiful coloured 

 drawing by Mr. Parish, made in Moulmein in August 1869.— J. D. H. 



Fig. 1, Flower. 2. Sepal. 3. Column and lip, with one half of the body of tJie 

 latter removed. 4. Anther. 5 and 6. Poliinia. All enlarged. 



