8 



bearded, cucullate, tlnee-lobed, and having a fleshy excrescence on 

 the disk ; darker in colour than the sepals and petals, and marked in 

 the centre and on the lateral lobes with a dark purple spot. Column 

 short and minutely pubescent on the back, in the upper part. Stig- 

 matic cavity angular, membranous and three-lobed, the central lobe 

 subulate. Clinandrium entire. Caudiculae two, distinct. Gland 

 transverse. Pollen-masses compressed, sulcate. Anther-case one- 

 celled, and minutely pubescent like the column. 



This species in habit, in the form of the pseudo-bulbs, and in the 

 foliage, is very similar to Max. tetragona, but the flowers are altoge- 

 ther different, and bear a resemblance to those of Max. aureo-fulva, 

 Hook., figured in the ^Floral Cabinet,' ii. plate 83. 



Max. purpurascens. Pseudo-bulbis ovatis vel conicis, sulcatis : 

 foliis duobus, lineari-lanceolatis, apiculatis: floribus solitariis, 

 glabris; sepalis sequahbus, lanceolatis, apiculatis, supremo con- 

 nivente, lateralibus label lo parallelis; petalis conniventibus, li- 

 nearibus, sepalis brevioribus ; labello trilobato, margine purpureo 

 maculato, glabro, disco carnoso ; anthera subpubescente. 



Rhizoma growing along the top of the pot and sending off" pseudo- 

 bulbs, which are ovate or conical and furrowed. Leaves two, about 

 four inches long, linear-lanceolate, and pointed at the apex. Scape 

 about six inches high, smooth, tinged with purple and bearing a soli- 

 tary flower at the apex. Flower smooth, internally yellow, externally 

 purple. Bracts about half an inch long. Sepals about an inch long, 

 apiculate at the apex ; the lateral ones arranged parallel with the la- 

 bellum, the upper one connivent over the petals and column. Petals 

 much smaller and shorter than the sepals, and as long again as the 

 column. Labellum smooth, three-lobed, the middle lobe recurved at 

 the margin, the apex of the lateral lobes beautifully spotted with pur- 

 ple. Column smooth. Clinandrium smooth or slightly pubescent. 

 Stigmatic cavity round. Caudiculae two. Gland transverse, crescent- 

 shaped. Pollen-masses two, each of which is divided into two distinct 

 parts. Anther one-celled, somewhat compressed and slightly pubescent. 



This species is very different in habit from the preceding. It pos- 

 sesses a creeping rhizoma, which throws out ovate or subcorneal 

 pseudo-bulbs from its upper surface ; the leaves are also much nar- 

 rower, and the scape is of a pleasing purple colour. In size and form 

 the flowers nearly resemble those of harhata, but are solitary and of a 

 different colour. Maxillaria aureo-fulva, harhata and purpurascens 

 ]iosscss double caudicula) (as is the case also in the genus Bifrenaria), 



