ZYGOPETALUM. 



41 



adopted it, adding Batemania except the type species, and restoring 

 Zygopetalum rostratum (Hook.) and another species which Reichenbach 

 had separated under the name of Zygosepahim. The genus Zygopetalum 

 thus enlarged may still seem to many horticulturists to be made up 

 of heterogeneous elements that ought to be kept distinct, at least for 

 garden use, but after full consideration we are satisfied that the course 

 adopted by Mr. Bentham is that which should be accepted, especially 

 as every fresh discovery tends to confirm it. 

 The genus is confessedly a polymorplious one, but the following 

 characters fairly circumscribe it : — 



The sejKcIs are sub-equal and spreading, either free or joined at the 

 very base ; the lateral two are adnate to the short foot of the column. 



The 2')etals are similar and nearly equal to the sepals. 



The lip) is affixed to the foot of the column, forming with it a short, 

 obtuse mcntum or chin ; the lateral lobes are usually small and erect, 

 sometimes embracing the column, the blade large and spreading. The 

 transverse crest is very prominent and fleshy, either entire or lobed, 

 rarely fimbriated. 



The column is incurved, semi-terete, wingless, or shortly winged at the 

 apex. The anther is two-celled, the pollinia four, sessile on the gland 

 or viscid disk that rests on the rostellum 



From the above diagnosis it is evident that the prominent fleshy 

 crestj which is often furrowed^ rarely fringed, and nearly always 

 more deeply or differently coloured than the other parts of the flower, 

 is the chief distinguishing character of the genus. 



In their vegetation the Zygopetala, even in the enlarged sense in which 

 the genus is here understood, are remarkably uniform, the most obvious 

 variations being the presence or absence of pseudo-bulbs ; the one, two 

 or many-flowered scapes, and the smaller size of the species hitherto 

 knoAvn as Promenseas and Kefersteinias. 



The number of species known to science is upwards of fifty. These 

 are spread over the South American continent from the cooler parts 

 of southern Brazil to the isthmus of Panama ; and also over Central 

 America, southern Mexico, and the West Indies. 



The following sectional divisions are proposed by Mr. Bentham, of 

 which we give the most obvious characters : — 



I. EuzYGOPETAiiUM. Scapcs mauy-flowered ; the labcllum broad with 

 its crest thick, entire or lobed. This includes the type species Z. 

 Mackayi, also Z. Burkei, Z. maxillare, Z. gram hit folmm, and others. 



II. Zyqosepaluji, Scapes few-flowered, sepals and petals narrowly 

 acuminated. Z. rostratum and Z. Kegeln] the latter not known in cultivation. 



