ORCHIDACE^E. 



EPIDENDRUM. 



Sepals spreading or converging, about equal. Petals equal 

 to the sepals, or narrower, rarely broader, spreading or re- 

 flexed. Labellum more or less united with the column and 

 parallel with it, sometimes extended at the base into a spur con- 

 nate with the ovary. Column long, with the clinandrium mar- 

 gined, fringed or even cucullate. Anther terminal, opercular, 

 fleshy. Pollen-masses 4, waxy, with the same number of repli- 

 cate straps. American epiphytes, inhabiting the tropics. 



1226. E. bifidum Aubl. guian. ii. 824-. Swartz.fi. ind. occ. 

 iii. 1489. Bot. Reg. t. 1879. Lindl gen. and sp. Orch. 100. 

 Various West India islands, and Guayana. 



Stems short, oblong, fluted, covered by the sheaths of rudimentary 

 leaves. Leaves about 3 on each stem, coriaceous, lanceolate-oblong, 

 obtuse. Scape branching, about 3 feet high. Sepals and petals spreading, 

 obovate-lanceolate, pale green, spotted with purple towards the ends. 

 Lip 3-lobed, only partially united to the column ; the lateral lobes 

 rounded, erect, bright yellow, the lateral larger, purple, dilated at the 

 apex, bifid, with the sides rounded and rather recurved j on the disk 

 having a double crenated appendage which terminates in a long callous 

 ridge almost reaching the sinus of the middle lobe. Column pure 

 white, clavate. According to Mr. Schomburgk the expressed juice is 

 a purgative, taken in doses of a table spoonful at a time ; it is also 

 reckoned in Tortola an anthelmintic, and diuretic, &c. LinnfEa, ix. 512 



EULOPHIA. 



Perianth spread open. Sepals and petals ascending, nearly 

 equal, either quite distinct, or united with the more or less 

 lengthened base of the column. Lip horned, or shortly spurred, 

 sessile, with the veins crested, bearded, or quite smooth ; usually 

 3-lobed; sometimes undivided. Column half terete, edged. 

 Anther terminal, opercular. Pollen-masses 2, waxy, 2-lobed or 

 hollowed out at the back, with a short linear caudicula and a 

 transverse gland. Terrestrial plants with pseudo-bulbous rhizo- 

 mata, long membranous plaited leaves and radical many-flowered 

 sc'apes. 



1227. It appears from the evidence of Professor Royle that 

 the plant which yields Salep in Cachmere belongs to the present 

 genus ; but the specimens obtained by that indefatigable tra- 

 veller were not sufficient to enable the species to be ascertained. 



578 



