‘ 
COMPARETTIA FALCATA. 
[PuatE 359.] 
Native of Peru and Columbia. 
A small growing epiphyte, with smooth, slender, oblong, clustered pseudobulbs, 
when young enveloped in large membraneous scaly sheaths, and each bearing a 
single lanceolate, subfaleate leaf, which is slightly bi-lobed at the apex, cient 
above, leathery in texture, and deep green. Scape rising from the base of the 
pseudobulbs, bearing small, somewhat distant bracts, which are appreased and 
Sheathing. Raceme many-flowered. Flowers rather distant, and of a reddish 
crimson, suffused with purple; upper sepal and petals erect, concave, the lower 
sepals joined into one and spurred; lip obcordate, clawed, and bearing two spurs 
at the base, which are hidden within the spur of the lateral sepals, Column free, 
with a hemispherical anther case. 
CoMPARETTIA FALCATA, Peppig et Endlicher Nova Genera et species Plantarum 
1, t. 78, Lindley; Botanical Magazine, t. 4980; Williams, Orchid-Grower’s 
Manual, 6 ed., p. 225. 
The Comparettias are dwarf growing and beautiful plants, and the genus which 
comprises but a few species, are all deserving the attention of the Orchid cultivator. 
The one we here introduce to the notice of our readers is by no means the 
least beautiful of this very interesting family, which a glance at the accompanying 
plate will fully confirm. We have previously figured two forms of this very 
elegant family in Zhe Album, i.e, C. macroplectron, in Vol. ii, plate 65, This is 
a charming kind, and was taken from a fine plant in the late collection of F. A. 
Philbrick, Esq., Q.C., Oldfield, Bickley, Kent. The second C. speciosa, will 
be found in Vol. v., plate 233, and this figure was obtained from the fine collection 
of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., at Burford Lodge, Dorking, the flowers being 
of a most brilliant hue. The plants belonging to this genus are dwarf growers and 
require but little space for their accommodation, and amply repay for all the care 
bestowed upon them. They will thrive in any moderately warm house, in a shady 
position, and if suspended from the roof their drooping spikes of brilliantly coloured 
flowers form a rich contrast with the green of the foliage beneath them. Our 
drawing was taken from a plant growing in the Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, 
Upper Holloway. 
Comparettia falcata is a compact growing and beautiful evergreen plant, with 
small dark, leathery leaves, which are some four inches long, and an inch and a 
half broad, the spikes proceed from the base of the small bulbs, and attain the 
