PILUMNA NOBILIS 



[Plate 128.] 



Jfative of Colomhia. 



Epiphj^tal. Pseudohulbs elongate-oblong, compressed, narrowed to the top, tljiv( 

 to four inches or more in length, clustered, monophyllous. leaves broadly oUma 

 acute, narrowed to a cuneate base, keeled. Scape radical, from four to six inches lii^h, 

 about four-flo^vered, with two or three oblong acute scarious bracts bcluvv tlic r.tceniu. 

 Flowers half expanded, wdiite, wdth tw^o orange-coloured spots in the centre, the 

 club-shaped furrow^ed ovary decurved; sepals linear-lanceolate acuminate, uudu].-itc<], 

 narrowed to the base, pure w^hite ; petals similar to the sepals both in size, f(»rin, 

 and colouring; lip indistinctly tliree-lobed, subc^uadrate, the rounded side lohc.s 

 meeting over the tbroat, the front lobe larger, retuse, one and throc-qnartcr inch 

 broad, having on eacb side of the throat an orange-coloured blotch, the blotd.. 

 meeting to form a central eye, and a slightly elevated line at tlie narrow b;use ; iIk- 

 claw adnate to the base of the column, and then involute, so as to enclose th<' 

 upper part of tbis organ. Column clavate, terete. 



PiLUMNA NOBILIS, Reichenhach Jil, in Linnm, xxii., 843; Id. in AFaZ/vr/ 

 Annales Botanices Sy stematicce , iii., 541. 



PiLUMNA PRAGRANs GRANDiFLOEA, Linden, Catalogue. 



Trichopilia fragrans NOBILIS, Linden et Andre, L Illustration Ilorticok, 3 ser., 



t. 94. 



This small ^enus was established for the Orchid known as Pilumna frag 



a species bearing considerable resemblance to our present subject, but Jmving sniallu 

 flowers. The great autborities— Reichenbach, Bentham, &c.-now refer th.- plant - 



to the genus Trichopilia, but we have hesitated to follow them, as they ..j-j-nr 

 sufficiently different from the Orchid growers' point of view to be aUowcd to cnjnv 

 tlie distinct appellation which was originally given to them by Dr. LindLy, t\ 

 greatest of English authorities on Orchidaceous plants, 



^is pretty epiphyte, then, may be taken to represent a small r""" "^ 



Tl 



«tri./M*« n^^^ 



interesting and useful-because free- blooming-plants. The particular «1 

 ■Uu-'^trated and described, is a very lovely plant, and can be recommended on. 



«f the best to be grown for decorative purposes, the flowers bem- extrem 

 ^eful for bouquets and button-holes. They are pure white in colour, and h.- a 

 delicious fragrance, and these are qualities which will always cau.se thnu to b* 1.- 

 in favour. 



. This Pilumna is a species of free-growing habit, and very free m I'^ . "^'"^ 

 ^*« flowers. It requires cool treatment, and takes but Httle room; moi. >rcr, it ^ 



