ONCOCYCLUS 107 



When, some years ago, this species was introduced, 

 and perhaps the first to be exploited of this section, it 

 created some sensation, and perhaps to-day we must 

 consider it one of the most desirable. Certainly for 

 hybridising it has proved valuable. The rhizome is 

 compact and slender ; the leaves linear, 3 to 6 in. long 

 at flowering time, J in. broad, glaucous and distinctly 

 falcate. The stem is very variable in height, from 

 I in. to 8 in. or more. The spathe is 2 in. long, valves 

 green and membranous, lanceolate ; pedicel very short. 

 The perianth-tube is I in. long ; limb 2 in. long ; the 

 falls obovate or nearly round, 2 in. long and remarkably 

 concave. In the common form the fall is of dark brown- 

 purple, due to thick veins and dots which almost hide 

 the creamy white ground colour. The "signal" patch 

 is of deep rich purple and very constant. The standards 

 are nearly round, 2 in. broad. In colour they are very 

 variable, sometimes white or again reddish purple, blue 

 purple, almost red, almost blue, or stone-colour. The 

 style arms are brown, curved sharply down so as to rest 

 in the hollow of the fall ; the crests deltoid, entire. 

 Native of the Caucasus and the mountains of Armenia and 

 North Persia. The following varieties have been named 



Flowers smaller than the type, pale 



lilac standards, . . . var. Perryana, 



Florist, 1873, 



25- 

 Falls of ochraceous brown colour, . var. ochracea, 



Regel, Garten- 

 flora, t. 386. 

 Dark lilac standards, -v^ ^,-_ 4^> var. Bellii, 



Baker. 



Sir Michael Foster has raised several hybrids, and 

 among them are /. iberica X susiana and susiana X iberica, 



