HABENARIA MILITARIS. 
[PLatTEe 281.] 
Native of Cochin China. 
Terrestrial, with a stout fleshy tuberous underground root. Stem erect, from one 
to two feet high, leafy upwards, lower leaves four to five inches long, lanceolate acumi- 
nate, and bluish grey in colour, the upper ones becoming gradually smaller as they 
ascend, and sheathing. Scape erect, terminated by a somewhat ovate raceme, bearing 
numerous brilliantly-coloured flowers, which are about two inches across in their 
extreme length; sepals and petals green, the dorsal sepal cucullate and cymbiform, 
lateral ones oblong, acute and reflexed; petals linear, apiculate, adherent; Vip flat, 
trifid, the lateral lobes being oblong-dolabriform and spreading, whilst the front lobe 
is transverse, spreading, inclining upwards, all of a brilliant scarlet, somewhat paler 
on the outside; spur filiform, compressed, acute, longer than the ovary ; rostellum 
triangular, complicate, the stigmatic processes with a small sharp point standing 
between them. | 
HABENARIA wuiLiTaRIs, Reichenbach fil., Gardeners’ Chronicle, N.s., xxvi., 1886, 
p. 518; L’Orchidophile, 1887, p. 48. 
HaBENARIA PuSILLA, Reichenbach fil., Or. Botanical Hamb. 1878, p. 33. 
This superb plant was discovered some years ago in the mountains of Phu 
Quoch, in Cochin China, by M. Godefroy-Lebeuf, and from his specimens, which 
were small, Prof. Reichenbach gave it the name of Habenaria pusilla, The plant 
More recently was found and brought to Europe in a living state by M. Regnier, 
of Fontenay-sous-Bois, near Paris, but as these examples were much larger than those 
brought by M. Godefroy-Lebeuf, the learned Professor no longer considered the name 
pusilla applicable to the species, and, therefore, re-named it H. militaris, in reference 
to the brilliant colour of its lip, which is as bright, or brighter than a soldier's 
' scarlet coat. 
Habenaria militaris is at present a rare plant, and one whi | 
Seen until it flowered with us in the Victoria and Paradise Nurseries during the 
autumn of last year (1886), and from which plant our artist prepared the accom- 
Panying illustration, which is a faithful portrait of this singular and beautiful 
hi It is a plant which cannot fail to interest all growers of Orchids, as ite 
size will enable even those with the most limited accommodation for their plants, to 
find space for it: whilst its colour, so rare amongst members of the Orchidaceous 
family, cannot but enchant all beholders. This Habenaria, like all its congeners, 18 
a deciduous plant, losing its leaves after the flowers are past. In its native habitat 
it usually lies dormant from November until the following May; therefore, as its 
M 
ch we had not 
