A CENTURY OF INDIAN ORCHIDS; (J. D. HOOKER). 15 
It is singular that this beautiful plant, though introduced into England by Messrs. Veitch from 
Moulmein previous to 1849, should never have been figured in any published work on orchids. The 
drawing here reproduced is inscribed “Garden of Mr. Lynam, March 1867, Т. Anders. The same 
from Teesta valley on sál trees, March 1867, Т. A.” It must be a very rare plant, having 
hitherto been found nowhere but once in Sikkim, and by two collectors in Burma. 
Fig. 1, flower: 2, column with anther; 3, anther; 4, pollinia:—all enlarged, 
PLATE 23, 
BULBOPHYLLUM (Zubulbophylium) POLYRHIZUM, Lindl, 
В. polyrhizum; pseudobulbis parvis dense ceespitosis globoso-ovoideis florentibus 
aphyllis, scapo basi pseudobulbi gracili erecto, racemo laxifloro, bracteis minutis, floribus 
brevissime pedicellatis parvis flavis, sepalis lateralibus oblongis subfaleatis obtusis, petalis 
ovato-oblongis obtusis, labello sessili ovato obtuso, columns dentibus brevibus. Lindl, Gen, 
and Sp.. Orchid, 53; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. v. 767. 
Ham.—NzraL? Wallich (le. in Herb., Kew). Біккім; Lister (Те. in Herb. Hort. Dot. 
Cale.). 
On Plate 23 are represented two plants, which may be different, but which agree so closely in the 
structure of their flowers that they are more probably varieties. Both have densely clustered small pseudo- 
bulbs about the size of hazel nuts, apparently forming matted masses on the trunks of trees, leafless at 
flowering time, and bearing very slender scapes with lax racemes of small yellow flowers. That figured as 
B is from a collection of drawings received at Kew from the India House, on the Indian Government being 
teken over by the State. It is inscribed “ Dendrobium polyrhizum, Wall. brides?” in Wallich’s hand- 
writing, and is no doubt the type of the species. It has smooth, striated pseudobulbs, and the flowers are 
greenish. That marked A is from the Calcutta collection of orchid drawings, and is inscribed “Sent 
from Sikkim by Mr. Lister, fld. in H. B. С., 4th April 1877, G. King.” It represents a plant with more 
oblong-ovate pseudobulbs, twice, rarely thrice, constricted transversely, as if formed of threo internodes, and 
these internodes are vertióally traversed by many deep grooves with tumid interspaces, the whole 
pseudobulbs having (as drawn) somewhat the appearance of three superposed rows of green oblong beads. 
The pseudobulbs further emit surculi from their bases, which are not shown in the other drawing. 
Tn both the base of the pseudobulb is copiously supplied with fibrous roots. To identify specifically 
figure A with B it is necessary to suppose that the pseudobulbs of the former are old and shrivelled, 
allowing something also for the fancy of the native artist. With regard to the difference in the size 
and colour of the flowers, here, again, too much reliance must not be placed on the artist’s work. The 
flowers of A are evidently giving place to fruit, and though its sepals are represented as acuminate in 
the drawing of. the natural size, and at figure 1 of the analyses, they are not so in the enlarged 
figure 2, the sepals of which accord sufficiently well with those of B2 and 3. The sessile lip is the 
same in both, as are the short teeth at the top of the column. The preximity of Sikkim to Nepal 
is а further indication of the two figures representing different states of ono species. 
_ I have only further to observe that the figures in the plate represent but very small portions of 
great masses depicted in the original drawings of both, and that it must ‘be left to future observers 
to clear up any remaining doubts as to whether A is a distinct species or variety, which in either case, 
if the drawing be faithful, might bear the name of zonate, 
Fig. A, the Sikkim plant; Fig. 1, flower; 2, the same with the sepals and petals detached; 3 and 4, anther; 5, 
pollinia:—all enlarged. | pd 
Fig. B, the Nepal plant (B. polyrhizum, Wall); ВІ and 2, flowers; B3, the same with thesepals and petals 
detached :—all enlarged. | U 
