The Guiana Orchids. 283 



I. L. cristata ... Flowers pale, blotched and barred with 



crimson. 



10. Gongora. — Fine plants with large pseudo-bulbs, 

 ribbed leaves, and limp pendulous flower spikes, along 

 which are ranged curious grasshopper-like flowers. The 

 flowers vary much in their markings and colours, and 

 although rather small and generally dull tinted they are 

 interesting and curious. Five Guiana species have been 

 recorded but it is doubtful whether they can be con- 

 sidered more than varieties : — 



1. G. atropurpurea ... Flowers dark crimson. 



2. G. maculata ... Flowers yellow or white, more or less 



spotted. 



3. G. variegata ... Flowers variegated. 



4. G. histrio. 



5. G. quinquenervia ... Flowers yellow and purple. 



11. Coryanthes. — This genus is perhaps the most in- 

 teresting of the whole order. The native species have 

 pendulous flower-stems proceeding from the base of 

 tapering, conical, channelled pseudo-bulbs, and thin 

 ribbed leaves. They grow on saplings or bush-ropes, 

 the aerial roots forming oval masses in which live colo- 

 nies of black ants. The flower buds resemble a swathed 

 Chinese lady's foot, the bands or outer divisions of the 

 flower turning back as they open, disclosing a most 

 extraordinary development of the lip. This lip is turned 

 back upon itself to form a cup, above and at one side of 

 which for a handle as it were is a short column bearing 

 a mushroom-like expansion at the apex, below which 

 are two small horn-like processes which distil a muci- 

 laginous liquid into the cup. The flowers are large and 

 handsome, not so showy as some others, but far more 

 interesting. Three species have been recorded, but C, 



