134 MORMODES. 



In their vegetation the Mormodes so closely resemble the Cataseta 

 as to be scarcely distinguishable from them when not in flower. To 

 avoid needless repetition, the general statement here given applies to 

 all the species described in the following pages. 



The stems are pseudo-bulbous, iisually fusiform, more or less 

 compressed and sheathed by the broad membraneous leaf bases. 



The leaves, 5 — 7 or more to each pseudo-bulb, are narrowly lanceolate 

 but sometimes broader, acuminate, plaited and prominently nerved on 

 the inider side. 



The scapes are stoutish and racemed ; the raceme is lax in the 

 large-flowered and dense in the small-flowered species. 



The number of species at present known exceeds a dozen, which 

 are confined to a comparatively small portion of tropical America, 

 extending from southern Mexico to northern Colombia. The generic 

 name is derived from the Greek word /Liop/nu), "a, phantom or any 

 frightful-looking object/^ in allusion to the strange appearance of 

 the flowers. 



Cultnval Note. — Nearly all the species of Mormodes here noticed 

 have been introduced from mountainous regions at a considerable 

 elevation, and it has thence been found that they may be safely 

 cultivated under nearly the same conditions as the Cattleyas of the 

 lahiata group. As the Mormodes are deciduous plants and have a 

 decided season of rest followed by a season of active groAvth, they 

 require all the light obtainable in our climate to mature their pseudo- 

 bulbs. The compost should consist of the usual proportion of peat and 

 sphagnum with ample drainage and water freely given during the 

 growing season. 



Mormodes Buccinator. 



Pseudo-bulbs 5 — 7 or more inches long. Leaves 8 — 12 inches long. 

 Scapes longer than the leaves ; racemes more or less lax, 7 — 10 flowered; 

 bracts small, acuminate. Flowers the most polymorphous and the most 

 variable in colour yet seen in the genus ; in the typical form the 

 sepals and petals are pale green and the lip white ; in other forms 

 the colour varies from buff to jmle straw-yellow, sometimes striped 

 and spotted in different ways ; sepals and petals narrowly oblong, acute, 

 the sepals reflexed, the petals bent forward over the column ; lip 

 obovate, with the sides rolled back and almost meeting at their edges. 

 Column semi-terete Avith the usual oblique twist. 



Mormodes Buccinator, Lindl. in Bot. Reg. 1840, misc. No. 9; and 1841, misc. 

 No. 191. Rchb. in Walp. Ann. VI. p. 578. Echb. in Gard. Chron. XIV. (1880), 

 p. 358 (major). Rolfe in Gard. Chron. VI. s. 3 (1889), p. 731. M. lentiginosum, 

 Bot. Mag. t. 4455. M. flaveolum, M. vitellinum, M. Wagenerianum, M. bracliy- 

 stachium, M. leucochilum and M. marmorea, Klotzsch, ex. Rchb. in Walp. Ann. 

 VI. loc. cit. 



