‘ 
remote subulate scales or bracts; pedicels supported by minute bracts, ~ 
PERIGONE ringent. The interior sepa] acute, one half shorter than the 
falcate spur, lip obcordate, spreading, slightly notched at the margin, 
having two plates at the base, prolonged downwards in the form of two 
spurs, which are lodged in the outer spur, formed by the cohesion of 
the two lateral sepals, the inner spurs subulate, and clothed with ciliz, 
column elevated under the middle of the stigma. 
Popo.ar AND GeoGrapnicat Notice. Thisvery peculiar genus 
of orchidaceous plants merits observation. It is entirely distinct from 
all hitherto known, though allied on the one hand to the genus Diadeni- 
’ um, and on the other to Jonopsis. It has the singular structure of the 
labellum being prolonged in the form of two spurs, and hid within the 
outer spur, formed by the united pair of lateral sepals; thus, as Dr. Lind- 
Jey remarks, presenting the same peculiarity among orchidaceex, which 
the genus Aconitum, or rather Delphinium has among Ranunculacee. 
This is in itselfa sufficient motive for bringing it before our readers, but 
we were also anxious to secure a figure of it, lest the original should 
be lost. One plant only, has been brought to Europe, and it is to be 
feared its existence cannot he insured. It is always beneficial to snatch 
the opportunity of making known a peculiarity of structure, for these 
enable the affinities of plants to be more fully made out, and serve to 
link together the members, at present disjoined, of the vegetable king- 
dom, in a natural series. Three species of the genus are now known, 
two natives of Peru, and the one now figured, respecting which some 
doubt occurs. Messrs. Loddiges, in their catalogue, assign it to Bra- 
zil, which is not unlikely, being in the same latitude as Peru; but 
Dr. Lindley finding it agree with some dried specimens from Xalapa, 
thinks that Mexico may be its native country. 
INTRODUCTION; WHERE GROWN; CutTuRE. It was brought to 
England, in 1835.? The rich collection of Messrs. Loddiges con- 
tains the unique specimen from which our drawing was made. It is 
suspended from the roof, attached to a branch in the stove. 
DerivaTION OF THE NaMEs, 
Comparettia, called by Péppig and Endlicher, in honour of Andreas Compar- 
etti, professor at Padua, who first understood the real nature of spiral vesse 
and who wrote with much ability on vegetable physiology. CoccinEa,crim- 
ae YNONYME. : 
ComMpaRETTI4 coccinea. Bot Reg. v. xxiv, t. 68. 
