DIACRIUM. 



79 



to, nor parallel with the column, gives the liower a very clitierent 

 aspect from that of the true species of Epidendrum, and cannot be 

 included in them without doing violence to the generic character."* 

 They are natives of the West India Islands and Central America, 

 of which one only, the typical species described below, is generally 

 cultivated in the orchid collections of Great Britain, A second form, 

 under the name of Epidenclnim, higihherosvm, was cultivated many 

 years ago by Consul Schiller, of Hamburg, and has within the last 

 few years been introduced into British collections from the valley of 

 the Magdalena, where it occurs in the damp jungle that lines the 

 river-side ; it is simply a miniature form of the type as regards its 

 flowers. 



The name Uiacrium is obscure ; it is probably derived from SiiiKfjiaiL; 

 (diakrisis)^ "a separation," presumably referring to the separation of 

 the lip from the column. 



Diacrium bicornutum. 



Stems fusiform or sub-cyliiadric, 6 — 9 or more inclies high, sheathed 

 by the scarious bases of the fallen leaves. Leaves usually three or four 

 from tlie summit of the stems, oblong-lanceolate, G — -9 inches long, 



Diaci'i'ini bicornutum. 



acute or emarginate, very leathery. Peduncles terminal, a foot long, 

 sheathed at each joint by a membraneous, acute bract, and l)earing at 

 its extremity a short raceme of 3 — 5 or more fragrant flowers, f Flowers 

 2 — 2| inches in diameter; sepals and petals sjjreading antl slightly con- 



* Bentham in Jour. Linn. Soc. XVlil. p. 312. A glance at the figure of the cohimu and lip 

 given in the text will at once confirm the justice of thi.s remark. 



t In exce]>tionally rare in.'^tances, 12 — 20 flowers. Gard. Chron. 111. s. 3 (1888), ji. 746. 



