6 CRYPTOPHORANTHUS. 



CRYPTOPHORANTHUS. 



Rodriguez Geu. et Sp. Orch. bov. II. p. 79 (1881). Rolfe in Gard. Chron. II. s, 3 (1887), 

 p. 692. 



This is a genus recently founded for the reception of some eight 



or ten species at present known, some of which had been previously 



referred to Pleurothallis and others to Masdevallia, but all showing 



the same structural peculiarity in their flowers, and differing essentially 



from both genera in the following character as described by Mr. 



Rolfe, of the Kew Herbarium, in the Gardeners' Chronicle , loc. cit. 



supra : — 



" The flowers do not open at all in the ordinary manner, but the sepals 



remain united both at base and apex ; two small lateral openings on either 



side, Avhere the upper sepal joins the lateral ones, being the only openings 



into the flower." 



These lateral openings have suggested the name Window-bearing 

 for these curious orchids, a designation by which they will probably 

 be hereafter popularly known. The scientific name Cryptophoranthus* 

 refers to the hidden parts of the flower; the petals, lip, &c., being 

 concealed within an almost closed flower, the only opening into which 

 is by a pair of small windows at the side. 



The first species of the group now proposed to be brought under 

 Cryptophoranthus, that became known to science was described by 

 Dr. Lindley, in the Botanical Register for 1836 (sub. t. 1797), under 

 the name of Specklinia atropurpurea, but which he subsequently trans- 

 ferred to Pleurothallis (Bot. Reg. 1842, misc. p. 68) ; three years later 

 this same plant was figured and described by Sir William Hooker, in 

 the Botanical Magazine, t. 4164, as MasdevalUa fenestrata, Lindl. MS. 

 Mr. Bentham, when dealing with it for the Genera Plantarum, admitted 

 that it had apparently with ecpial right been published in both genera.! 

 This instance is adduced here in order to show the difficulty ex- 

 perienced by these eminent botanists in determining the systematic 

 place of the plant — a difliculty that has arisen in a scarcely less degree 

 with other species that have since been brought to light, and which are 

 now grouped with it. To obviate this difficulty, it is proposed to adopt 

 the genus Cryptophoranthus, which the Brazilian botanist Eodriguez 

 created for the reception of three Brazilian species' described by himself, 

 and which he was unable to refer to any known genus. To these, 



* From KpvTTTOQ (kruptos), "hidden," (f>opoc (phoros), "bearing," and (ivOog (anthos), 

 "a flower." Tlie compound is non-classical and cumbrous, and it is to be regretted that a 

 more simple designation was not selected by the author. 



t Jour. Linn. Soc. XVIII. p. 292. 



