STENIA. 



145 



SUB-TRIBE MAXILLARIE^. 



Rhizome hearing either mono-diphijllous jJseudo-hulbs or jnoduced into 

 ascending stems with closely distichous, often equitant, leaf-sheaths with 

 more or Jess developed laminae. Leaves usually coriaceous or fleshy 

 without prominent ribs. Scapes almost always one-flowered. The 

 column produced into a foot* 



STENIA. 



Lindl. in Bot. Reg. sub. t. 1991 (1837). Renth. et Hook. Gen. riant. III. p. 553 (1883). 



A small genus of whicli three species are now known, occurring 

 in three widely separated localities in South America, but that 

 described below is the only one occasionally met with in cultivation. 

 Botanically the genus conuects the Stanhopie-E with the Maxillarie^; 

 the character which chiefly separates Stenia from Maxillaria is the 

 mode of attachment of the labellum to the column, this organ being 

 in Stenia continuous with the foot of the column, not articulated 

 on it; the fleshy basal part of the labellum, saccate in Stenia 

 pallida, indicates the affinity with Stanhopea. 



The genus was founded by Dr. Lindley on Stenia pallida, a 

 Demerara plant introduced by Mr. George Barker, of Birmingham, 

 in 1836. The narrow elongated pollen masses suggested the specific 

 name which is derived from the Greek word (rrtvog, "narrow.'' 



Stenia fimbriata. 



Pseudo-bulbs none. Leaves 4 — 5 to each growth, linear or narrowly 

 oblanceolate, acute, 7 — 10 inches long. Peduncles slender, sub-erect, 

 about 2 inches long, one-flowered ; bracts subulate, acute, much shorter 

 than the ovary. Flowers 2 inches in diameter, light yellow with 

 some purple spots on the basal half of the lip ; sepals and petals all 

 directed upwards, linear-oblong, acute, slightly undulate at the margin ; 

 the petals a little broader than the sepals, apiculate with denticulate 

 margin and of thinner texture ; lip broadly oblong, tlie basal half 

 fleshy and turned upwaids on each side towards the cohunn ; the 



* Mr. Rentham has grouped nine genera under this sub-tribe, all of them of American origin, 

 of whii li the type genus Maxillana is by lar the largest aad most im[)ortant. Of tliose genera 

 not coming witnin the scope of this work, Oruilhidium includes a tew sfiecies that occ^isiuually 

 find their way into private collections, notably the type species 0. coccineum (Salisb.), and 

 0. Sophronitis (lichh.). 



