AERANTHUS SESQUIPEDALIS sina 
Exaltatus, foliis ligulatis apice obtuse bilobis, statu naturali cereopruinatis, pedunculis uni—quadrifloris porrectis, basi vaginatis, bracteis ovatis obtuse 
acutis cucullatis ovarium pedicellatum vix tertia aquantibus, nunc minoribus, sepalis tepalisque triangulo acutis stellatis, labello triangulo pandurato acuto, in 
ostio calcaris calloso, in calcar filiforme longissi extenso, androclinio antice in rostellum bilobum emarginatum producto more generis. 
UIPEDALE, Aubert-Aubert du Petit-Thouars! Hist. part. des Orchidées (Dolichangis), 66 ! 67 ! Gard. Chron., 1857, 253, xyl.! 1873, 
! Hook., Bot. Mag, 5113! Warner and Williams Sel. Orch, I., xxi. ! (optime !) Van Houtte, Flore des Serres, xiv., 1413, 1414 (Icon. Hook.) Illust. 
475! 
f VTHUS SESQUIPEDALIS, Lindl. Gen, et Sp. Orch., 244 ! 
Flores varie tmagnitudinis eboracei albi, demum flavidi 
Crescit in insula Madagascar. Aubert-Aubert du Petit-Thouars! Ellis! Hildebrandt ! Humblot ! 
Icones analyt. Three androclinia (antherbeds), one without the pollinaria, one with one, one with two, Three pollinaria, one of which is cut 
transversely through the pollinum to show how is is furrowed. One anther above, one beneath. All more or less enlarged. 
THERE is no Aéranthus, of my knowledge, that is not recognised by the two-lobed rostellum to receive the two different 
caudiculze and glandula. Angraecum and Listrostachys have a long beaked rostellum, as they should have for the one or 
the two caudicule. 
The inclination to keep as Aéranthus, the very small grandiflorus group only, arose recently with Sir Joseph 
Hooker. Sir Joseph, however, did not then remember he himself had named the Saccochilus adversus (Thrixspermum 
adversum), which has no mentum at all, and that this genus shows species with longest menta and those without any, also 
numerous intermedial cases. 
Mr. Bentham made a “reformation” of the affinity after his own manner. Aéranthus is kept for grandiflorus 
group. Aéranthus sesquipedalis is brought to Angraecum, as the great Lindley had done, most probably, for the benefit 
of the horticultural world only, or pressed in a hurry. 
, 
The American Aéranthi form two “ new’ genera—Campyloplectron and_ the Cryptocentrum—placed between 
Ornithidium and Diadenium. The African Aéranthi are the Mystacidia. Two American species are also associated 
through their habit to Dendrophylax, though one of the two (4295 of Bot. Mag.) is privileged to stay at once under 
Angraecum (see the “ Macroura” under Angraecum). H. G. Rchb. f. 
For the first sight of this wonderful Orchid in our gardens we are indebted to the Rev. William Ellis, who for many 
years was engaged in missionary work in Madagascar. He introduced living plants of this Orchid to Europe more than 
30 years ago. A more extraordinary plant had not before been seen in this country, and it excited interest not only among 
botanists but all naturalists. It attracted the attention of Darwin, who was at that time investigating the fertilisation of 
orchidaceous plants, and the unusual length of the spur of the flower was regarded by him with peculiar interest. The 
plant was looked upon with not less pleasure by Orchid cultivators, who saw in it a most beautiful as well as a singular 
Orchid. It remained a great rarity for years, but, finally, large quantities of living plants were imported from 
Madagascar, so that now, although still highly prized, it is familiar in gardens. 
In that interesting work, “ Madagascar revisited,” Mr. Ellis gives an instructive account of the vegetation of the 
island, and it includes some remarks relating to this plant which are valuable to Orchid growers. He says: “ Both 
Angraecum sesquipedale and A, eburneum were the most abundant and beautiful among the Orchids. I noticed that 
they grew most plentifully on trees with the thinnest foliage, and that A. sesquipedale was seldom, if ever, seen on the 
ground, but grew high up amongst the branches, often throwing out long straggling stems terminating in a few small and 
often, apparently, shrivelled leaves. The roots also partook of the same habit, being seldom branched or spreading, but 
