EPIDENDBUM. 83 



I. Barkbria. Steins either scarcely or at all thickened, or forming 

 narrow spindle-shaped pseudo-bulbs, 2 — 4 (rarely more) leaved at the 

 top. Lip shortly adnate to the base of the colu;nn. 



This section includes the Barkerias of Knowles and Westcott, and 

 Epidendrum SMnneri. 



II. Encyclium. Stems usually more or less thickened into oval or 

 elongated pear-shaped pseudo-bulbs that are 2 — 3 leaved at the top. 

 Lip adnate to the base of column to less than half its length. 



The species in this section are very numerous, and were classified 

 by Lindley into three series, thus — (1) HolochiJa, labellum quite entire 

 as in Epidendrum Brassavoke, E. vitellinum, E. prismatorarpum, etc. 

 (2) SarrocMla, labellum thickish and minutely toothed as in E. glaucum, 

 E. ochracetim. (3) Hymenocliila, labellum three-lobed, petal-like, as in 

 E. atropurymrcum, E. nemorale, E. dicliromum, etc. 



III. AuLiZEUM. Stems more or less thickened into elongated spindle- 

 shaped pseudo-bulbs, 1 — 2 (rarely 3) leaved at the top. Lip adnate to 

 the column to the apex of the latter. 



This includes two sub-sections — (1) ScMstocMlce, labellum tri-partite, 

 or more or less three-lobed, as in E. dliare, E. falcatmn. (2) Hnlochila 

 (Benth.), Osmophytuw (Lindl.), labellum quite entire as in E. cochleatum, 

 E. rnversicm, etc. 



IV. EuBPiDENDRUM. Stems cylindric, reed-like, 3 — 5 feet long, leafy ; 

 leaves distichous and alternate. Lip adnate to the column the whole 

 of its length. 



This is the largest of the sectional divisions, and includes most of the 

 species with densely racemose and paniculate inflorescence. These have 

 been arranged by Bentham into ten series, distinguished chiefly by the 

 habit of the plant and the form of the inflorescence ; the most important of 

 these series, in a horticultural sense, are the third (Nutantes), including E. 

 cnemMophorum, E. Coojjeriatmm, and the sixth (Ampliiglottidece), including 

 E. cinnabarinum, E evednm, E. radicans, E. xanthinum, etc., etc. 



V. PsiLANTHEMUM. Stems leafy, thickened into spindle-shaped pseudo- 

 bulbs Inflorescence produced from the base of the stem, not terminal 

 as in the other sections. 



This section includes one very distinct species only — E. Stamfordianum. 



Geographical distrihidion. — No genus of epiphytic orchids, Dendrobium 

 perhaps excepted, is spread over an area so vast and continuous as 

 Epidendrum. The species are scattered over well-nigh the whole of the 

 South American Continent from the southern tropic to the isthmus; 

 they are also abundant in Central America, the West India Islands, 

 and Mexico. Three species, Epidendrum cochleatum, E. tampense, and 

 E. cmopsewn, occur within the territories of the United States; the 

 last named is frequent on evergreen trees near the coast from Louisiana to 



