47 
Wal 
PL. CCCCVI. 
CATASETUM RODIGASIANUM notre var. TENEBROSUM rote. 
M. RODIGAS’S CATASETUM, DARK VARIETY. 
CATASETUM. Vide Lindenia, Engl. ed., vol. I, p. 15. 
Catasetum Rodigasianum. Pseudobulbo fusiformi crasso, foliis lanceolatis acutis plicatis 1 pedem longis, scapo 
suberecto arcuato, racemo I pedem longo multifloro, bracteis lanceolatis acutis 6 lin. longis, sepalis reflexis late 
lanceolatis acutis concavis I 1/3 poll. longis, petalis similibus erectis convexis, labello carnoso concavo late ovato 6 lin. 
longo g lin. lato, apice breviter trilobo, lobis lateralibus subrotundis fimbriato-dentatis, apice paullo divergentibus, 
columna clavata cirrhis subparallelibus. 
Catasetum Rodigasianum ROLFE in Lindenia, VI, p. 41, t. 259. 
Var. tenebrosum ROLFE supra. 
few years ago Catasetum Rodigasianum was described, at t. 259 of the 
present work. The species had been introduced from the province of 
Santa Catherina, South Brazil, by Messrs LinpEn, and flowered in their 
establishment. It also appeared in one or two English collections about the same 
time. The species is characterised by its arching raceme of numerous flowers, 
with the sepals and petals green, spotted with dark brown, and a concave 
broadly ovate tridentate yellowish lip, with many small brown spots. 
In July, 1892, another form appeared in the same establishment, which, 
though obviously nearly allied, was at first thought to be distinct, though the 
two are so similar in structural details that they are probably only forms of one 
and the same species. A comparison of the two plates will show this. In the 
present one the sepals are almost suffused with dark purple-brown; the petals 
are green with several large deep purple-brown blotches, and the lip buff suffused 
with light brown on the base and margins. The column is deep green, spotted 
with dark purple-brown, and the antenuae parallel at the base but afterwards 
diverging. There are some small structural differences in the lip, but Catasetums, 
even of the same sex, are notoriously variable. It is also believed to be of 
Brazilian origin. Those who have plants of it should look out for the appearance 
of female flowers, which sooner or later will probably make their appearance, as 
in the case of several other species. A great deal still remains to be discovered 
before our knowledge of this interesting genus is complete. 
R. A. Roxre. 
