104 



C0RYANTHE8. 



are all natives of tropical America and are dispersed over the vast 

 territory that stretches from Santa Gather ina in southern Brazil to 

 Mexico. 



The essential charaiiters of the genus will be well understood from 

 the description of the two species that follow, and from the 

 accompanying woodcut. 



In their vegetation there is little to distinguish the Coryanthes from 



the Stanhopcas. They have long, strongly ribbed pseudo bulbs, bearing 



thin prominently nerved leaves that vary in size in the different species. 



The genus was founded by Sir W. J. Hooker on Coryanthes 



maculata, joining with it 0. spociosa and G. inacrantha, which he 



had previously referred to Gongora. The name is formed from 



Kopvg^ '' ii helmet/' and ai'fi'oc, "a flower/' in reference to the 



helmet-like appendage (epichile) of the labellum. 



Caltural Note — The cultural treatment of tlu? Cijryanthes is essentially 

 the same as that of the Stanhopeas, except that having their home 

 in the hot damp river valleys or near the lowdying sea-shore, they 

 re(iuire the highest temperature available in orchid culture. The plants 

 may be established on a block of wood or in a teak basket, either of 

 Avbich can be suspended near the glass where they can receive the 

 greatest amount of light throughout the year. From their known habits 

 and environment in their native country, it follows too that direct 

 sunlight even in summer is benefi(;ial provided an adequate supply of 

 moisture can be maintained ; and in the resting season the roots should 

 never be allowed to become dry. 



Coryanthes macrantha. 



Pseudo-1)ulbs and leaves as in Stanliopea. "The scapes are produced 

 from the base of the pseudo-bulbs on which two or three flowers 

 art; developed. Each flower is placed at the end of a long stiff 

 cylindrical furrowed ovary, and when expanded measures something 

 more than G inches from the tip of one sepal to that of the opposite 

 one. The sepals are yellow spotted irregularly with dull purple, and 

 are of a most delicate texture ; the upper sepal falls back from the 

 tip of the ovary, is narrow and not above half the length of the lateral 

 two, which, instead of applying themselves to the lip as is usually 

 tlie case, turn directly away from it, pla(;ing themselves at an acute 

 angle with the upper sepal, and after a while collapsing at their sides 

 till tliey look something like bats' wings half at rest. The petals hang 

 nearly parallel with the column ; they are narrowly lanceolate, much 

 curved at the edge, and of the same colour and texture as the sepals. 

 The lip is as Ileshy and solid in its texture as the sepals and petals 

 are delicate ; it is seated on a deej) purjde stalk nearly an inch long 

 and forming an obtuse angle Avith tin; ((iliuiin : this stalk t(;rniinates in 



