56 



aEKERAT, REVIEW OF THE OBCHIDE.*;, 



only here he notieetL The distichous arrangement is universal 

 throughout the epiphytal species and Cypripedium, although sometimes 

 more or less disguised, especially when the leaves are few in nnmher. 

 The leaves are usually much longer than broad ; in those species in 

 which the vegetative axes are more or less lengthened they are sessile 

 or embrace the stem at their base and pointed at the apex (the 

 fasciculate ])endrobes, Euepidendra, Thunia, etc.). When the axis is 

 thickened or reduced to the pseudo-bulbous form, the leaves are fewer 

 in numlxr and usually of much larger size. Those leaves that are 

 persistent for several years are of very leathery texture, sessile or very 



"*''-'tji<^^ 



Loosely raceraed inflorescence of Oncidinin longipes. 



shortly petiolate and usually ol)tuse at the apex (Cattleya, La?lia, many 

 of the Calostachyate Dendrobes, the stemless Oncids, etc.); those that 

 are deciduous or fall off at the end of a season's growth are of 

 herbaceous texture, distinctly petiolate, the petiole being winged or 

 folded, are more or less plaited, and have prominent veins that are 

 either parallel or symmetrically curved on both sides of the midrib. 

 In Peristeria, Coryanthes, Anguloa, many Lycastes, Houlletia, etc., the 

 plicate leaves are consi)icuously large. Leaves of the " centric " type, 

 which are sometimes fleshy and sometimes greatly elongated, occur in 

 Brassavola, Scuticaria, Tetramicra (Leptotes), the Strongyle Dendrobes 

 (as D. ti'refifolium,) also in Oncidium Jonesianum, On. O'holleta, etc. 



