the base of the stem, jointed, sheathed with scales, bearing a spike of very large green 

 and white flowers, which overtops the longest leaves. These flowers are distichous 

 rather than secund, and are placed alternately back to back, with the apices of their 

 labella all pointing one way. SejMis and petals very much spreading, green, lanceo- 

 late. Lahellum very large, broadly cordate, ivory-white, thick and fleshy in texture, 

 concave in the centre, and bearing there an elevated cleft ridge ; the apex is suddenly 

 but shortly acuminated. Column very short, thick, greenish-white, bearing a hemi- 

 spherical anther, firmly attached to its clinandrium.*' Pollen-masses two, bipartite, 

 yellow, broad, cuneate, waxy, approximate, with a narrow caudicle arising from a large, 

 canaliculate, triangular gland. Stigma quite sunk in a hollow, and concealed beneath 

 the clinandrium. 



The Plate represents an entire plant, on a very reduced scale^ the apex of a leaf, and the chief 

 portion of a spike : — nai. size. Fig. 2. Pollen-masses : — magnified. 



• Dr. Lindley observea on this structure, and that of the concealed stigma, " This plant offers a strik- 

 ing instance of the pre6autiou which Nature seems to have taken, to prevent direct contact between the 

 pollen and the stigmatic surface, and at the same time of the skilful means by which an indirect communi- 

 cation is substituted, so that no impediment may in reality exist to the process of fertilization, notwith- 

 standing the apparent obstacles to its taking effect. The pollen is locked up in an anther, so firmly united 

 to tho top of the, column, that nothing but actual force can remove it ; while the stigma is situated upon 

 the face of the column, far beyond the reach of contact with the pollen. To establish the requisite com- 

 municution, a narrow slip of the top of the column, proceeding from the edge of the stigma to beneath the 

 unthcr, gradually separates from the surrounding tissue : the face of the anther opens along the middle of 

 the cells, contracts, and allows the pollen-masses to glue themselves to the narrow slip, which is the cau- 

 dicula; at tho same time, while this operation has been in progress, a triangular portion of the front of the 

 edge of the stigma has been adhering to the caudicula, and thus establishes the direct communication 

 which is required, afterwards separating, with the caudicula, under the form of the gland." 



