yam } 
45 
Wel 
Os. 
PL. DLXXIII. 
SCHOMBURGKIA TIBICINIS paren. 
THE FLUTE-PLAYER’S SCHOMBURGKIA. 
SCHOMBURGKIA. Vide Lindenia, X, p. 89. 
Schomburgkia tibicinis, Pseudobulbis conicis corniformibus annulatis sulcatis triphyllis, foliis oblongis coriaceis 
patentibus, scapo longissimo tereti distanter squamato, apice paniculato, panicula pyramidali laxiflora, sepalis peta- 
lisque undulatis crispis, labello oblongo cucullato venis per medium 5 elevatis approximatis, laciniis lateralibus apice 
rotundatis, intermedia subrhombea emarginata, anthera emarginata. 
Schomburgkia tibicinis BATEM., Orch. Mex, et Guatem., t. 30. Bot. Reg., 1845, t. 30. Bot. Mag., t. 4476. 
— WILL. Orch, Alb., V, t. 205. — VeITcH Man, Orch. Pl., Il, p. 102. 
Bletia tibicinis Reus. F., Xen. Orch., I, 58. 
here was a time when this remarkable Orchid enjoyed great popularity, 
and was to be found in almost every collection which had any preten- 
sions to being complete. It is not so well known to modern orchidists 
for two reasons : First, because the brilliant discoveries in such genera as 
Laelia and Cattleya have caused its more modest qualities to be overlooked; and 
secondly, because it has become rare, as have many other Central American 
orchids, which are not now much imported, owing doubtless to the fact that the 
attention of collectors has been turned away from those regions which no longer 
possess many secrets. 
Schomburgkia tibicinis is one of the oldest species of the genus, and with 
the exception perhaps of S. Lyonsz, which is still more rare, is the most beautiful. 
The flowers measure about 3 inches across, and are arranged on a lax panicle 
at the apex of a peduncle more than a yard high. The segments are well 
expanded, oblong obtuse, less undulated than in S. rosea or S. undulata, and 
folded inwards at the middle. They are rose-coloured at the base, and a 
beautiful reddish-brown from the centre to the tips. The large lateral lobes of 
the trilobed lip, are much spread out and much less raised at the edges than 
in Cattleyas and Laelias, and are orange yellow, profusely striped with purple- 
red, marked in the centre and on the anterior edges with yellow. The outer 
surface is purple-rose more deeply shaded towards the apex. The front lobe, 
which is much narrower and shorter, is roundish and unguiculate, with a yellow 
disc shaded to purple-rose in front, while the column is white washed with rose. 
The flowers are usually produced in May. 
The almost cylindrical, annulated, pseudo-bulbs are attenuated towards 
the apex, and are from 8 to 14 inches (20 to 35 centimetres) high, and bear 
two or three rather short, patulous, coriaceous leaves. They represent the 
Us 
