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GONGORA PORTENTOSA LIND. et RCHB. F. var. ROSEA COGN. 
THE PRODIGIOUS. GONGORA, PINK VARIETY. 
GONGORA. Vide Lindenia, V, p. 35. 
Gongora portentosa. Pseudobulbi ovoideo-conici, longitudinaliter profunde paucisulcati, apice primum bifoliati, 
demum interdum unifoliati; folia majuscula, elliptico-lanceolata, breviter acuminata; racemi elongati, penduli, multi- 
flori; flores majusculi, patuli, longe pedicellati; sepala patula, dorsale ligulatum acutum, lateralia satis majora late 
oblonga apiculata; petala carnosa, lineari-falcata, longe acuminata, sepalo dorsali paulo breviora; labellum sepalis 
lateralibus aequilongum, carnosissimum, lateraliter compressum, medio superne angulato aristis geminis retrorsis in 
basi laminarum dolabriformium antice acutarum, antice aditum in antrum labelli aperientium ; epichilium tabulaeforme 
anceps parvum ligula lineari bicurva anteposita. 
Gongora portentosa LIND. et RcuB. F. in Gard. Chron., 1869. p. 892. — Ep. ANnpRi in Ill, Hort., XVIII, 
2, tab. 61 (1871). — Hook. F. in Bot. Mag., tab. 6284 (1877). — Belg. Hort., 1878, p. 103. — Du Buyss. 
L’Orchid., p. 344 (1878). — Srein Orchideenb., p. 261 (1892). — Bots Les Orchid., p. 127 (1893). — L. Linn. 
Orchid. exot., p. 776 (1894). — Wiiiams Orch. Grow. Man., edit. 7, p. 408 (1894). — Orch, Rev., Il, p. 272 (1894). 
Crescit in Columbia. f re d : 
Var. rosea. Pedunculus pedicellique laete virides. Flores paulo minores. Sepala rosea, intus maculis paucis 
parvis purpurascentibus ornata. 
Var. rosea CoGNn. infra. 
ongora Portentosa has been introduced into cultivation for many years, 
for as far back as 1868, Mr. LinpeEn received this plant from his 
collector, Gustave Watuis, who had just discovered it at Vergara, in 
the Province of Bogota (New Granada). The following year, the first description 
of this Orchid appeared in the Gardeners’ Chronicle, then the Illustration Horticole 
in 1871 and the Botanical Magazine, in 1877, completed the description by 
publishing fine- colored plates representing it. 
This species, one of the most beautiful and curious of the genus, seemed 
however almost to have dis-appeared, or at any rate had become excessively 
rare. When in 1892, it was re-introduced, into England, where it flowered 
in 1894 for the first time. 
The Brussels Horricutture’ INTERNATIONALE has also just introduced an 
Orchid coming from New Granada alike Gongora Portentosa, not ‘only in the 
general aspect of the plant, but also in the shape of the flowers; the only difference 
lies in the color of the latter. We think we may safely say that it is a variety of 
this species; but are only able to judge from the painting made of it by 
Goossgns, as unfortunately the flowers were faded before we were able to 
examine them, and the annexed plate, although very beautiful, hardly allows 
us to determine the exact shape of the lip, which is generally of complicated 
structure in the Gongora species. When it flowers, if this organ shows any 
. Wat 
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