AGANISIA CGERULEA. 
[PuatEe 374. | 
Native of Rio Negro. 
Epiphytal. Rhizome creeping, producing numerous, somewhat ovoid or pyriform 
pseudobulbs, which when young are enveloped in large membraneous sheaths, these fall 
away, and with age the pseudobulb becomes ribbed. or furrowed. Leaves single or 
in pairs, oblong-lanceolate, tapering to the base, and deep green. Scape axillary, 
bearing from three to nine beautiful and large flowers. Sepals cuneate, concave, 
oblong-acute, slightly keeled behind; petals cuneate, elliptic, apiculate, all are spread- 
ing and yellowish, and suffused with a light blue tinge within and without; lip 
bidentate, the side lobes erect, with a pouch in the centre, in front of the mouth 
of which is a fleshy plaited callus, and before this callus is a fleshy plate which 
extends into three teeth in front: front lobe transversely reniform, with much 
undulated margins, brown, lighter at the edges. (olumn triangular, with large 
almost square wings, yellowish white, more or less suffused with blue. 
AGANISIA C@RULEA, Reichenbach fil., Gardeners’ Chronicle, n.s., 1886, XXv., p. 720. 
This species is a member of a small genus of epiphytal Orchids, all of which 
are natives of various parts of tropical America. They belong to the section 
Vandew, and are closely allied to the Zygopetalums; whilst a glance at the 
figure of the species here represented will at once convince the most sceptical that 
this is a very lovely plant. Aganisia is a small genus of scandent dwarf plants, 
and we imagine the various members of the family are somewhat difficult to 
introduce in a living condition. Their size alone renders a judicious care necessary 
in order to get them started away during the dry or resting season, which as 
collectors of the present day are not hampered in the manner they were some few 
years ago by internal transit, there is certainly more probability of an importation 
of them coming to hand in good condition to gladden the hearts and the eyes of 
all growers of distinct and beautiful forms. The species here depicted was dis- 
covered by Dr. Spruce, on the Rio Negro, in his celebrated journey down = 
valley of the Amazon. The specimen from which our artist obtained the te 
for the accompanying drawing was sent us by the kindness of W. Holland, Esq., 
Linwood, Moseley Hill, Liverpool, in whose collection it flowered recently. ; 
Aganisia cerulea is a distinct and charming species. It has a bar ae ! 
thizome, and somewhat ovoid pseudobulbs, which are about two inches ee nS 
bear a pair of light green leaves on the summit. The racemes issue ee 
of the pseudobulb, and bear several of its handsome flowers ; the colour 0 the ~ | 
and petals inside is soft bluish lilac, with darker tesselations, whilst on 
