148 SCDTICARIA. 



SCUTICARIA. 



Liiull. iu Bot. Reg. 1813, misc. p. 14. Beiith. et Hook. Gen. Plant. Ill, p. 554. 



Scuticaria includes two species : S. Steelei originally referred to 

 Maxillaria on the assumption tliat the pollen masses were not stipitate 

 (without caudicles) which is not the case, and thence removed from 

 that genus by Dr. Lindley and made the type of a new one; and 

 6'. Haclwenii previously brought under Bifrenaria on account of its 

 stipitate pollinia, but manifestly very closely allied to S. SteeUi, 

 although its geographical station is very remote from the home of 

 that species. The most obvious characteristic of these species is 

 their peculiar habit^ derived chiefly from the long terete fleshy 

 leaves furrowed on one side and continuous with the short stems; 

 the floral characters are nearly those of Maxillaria, but the peduncles 

 are 2 — 3 flowered. 



Cultural Xote. — The habit uf the plants and their geographical 

 stations suggest their cultural treatment, but it is to be regretted that 

 not a scrap of information is forthcoming respecting their environment 

 in situ beyond the brief statement of the brothers Schomburgk 

 respecting the Demerara species that it grows on the trunks of trees. 

 Scuticaria Hadwenii may be grown in an intermediate temperature, 

 either in a pot or on a block. S. Steelfi requires the highest 

 temperature available. The plant should be attached to a block of 

 wood, with some live sphagnum about its roots which should be 

 renewed as it becomes decayed ; it should be freely syringed during 

 the growing season. It is a well-known fact that orchids with terete 

 fleshy leaves, like those of the Scuticarias, are much exposed to direct 

 sunlight in their native countries, and hence, in the glass-houses of 

 Europe, they should be placed in the lightest position possible. 



Scuticaria Hadwenii. 



Stems very short, knotty, ash- brown, swollen at the base. Leaves 

 9 — 18 inches long. Peduncles stoutish, 4 — 5 inches long, 1 — 2 flowered, 

 sheathed at the base by brownish, acute, scale-like bracts, the ovary 

 long and terete. Flowers 2| — 3 inches in diameter ; sepals and petals 

 spreading, fleshy, oblong, acute, chestnut-brown, paler to\vards the apex, 

 sometimes broken up into blotches on a yellow-green ground ; lip broadly 

 obovate or sub-orbicular, concave, downy within, pale yellow blotched 

 and spotted with light brown in the centre, the marginal area white 

 spotted with light rose ; crest an oblong plate three-toothed in front, 



