33 



width as lateral sepals, concave, reflexed against the ovary 

 and slightly incurved towards the column ; lateral petals 

 narrow-linear, much narrower than the sepals, green, rather 

 blunt, reflexed against the sides of the ovary. 



Column green or greenish -red, acutely reflexed from its 

 base towards the ovary, about the same length as the perianth 

 segments. The upper half expanded in a concave disc-like 

 surface, from the edges of which proceed two pairs of append- 

 ages of nearly equal length ; the upper pair narrow-lanceolate, 

 divergent, curving forward on each side of the apex of the 

 anther ; the inferior pair falcate-lanceolate, divergent, curving 

 upwards and forwards on each side of the stigma. Rostellum 

 rudimentary. Stigma prominent, very wide, reniform, the 

 concave border immediately below and in contact with the 

 anther. 



Labellum articulated by a moveable joint to a linear 

 projection of the column 3 lines long ; peltate on a linear claw 

 which is nearly as long as the column-foot. Lamina reddish- 

 purple, insectiform, about as long as the claw (3 lines) ; 

 anteriorly giving origin to a pair of pedunculated processes, 

 each terminating in a globular purple gland ; posteriorly 

 dividing into two long narrow-lanceolate, divergent tails, from 

 which proceed numerous long- jointed, purplish or reddish 

 hairs ; an intermediate or thoracic portion, on the under-surface 

 of which is inserted the claw, fringed with numerous long 

 purple hairs, on its upper-surface a large purple triangular 

 gland, situated at the base of the anterior peduncles. 



The reversed appearance of the flowers is due to the fact 

 that the column and perianth segments are all acutely reflexed 

 on the ovary. 



In the bud the upper-surface of the lamina is in close 

 apposition with the front of the column, the pair of pedun- 

 culated glands embracing its extreme base at its junction with 

 the foot; the triangular gland in contact with the middle of 

 the undilated portion of the column ; the rest of the inter- 

 mediate portion covers the stigma, and lies between the lower 

 pair of columnar processes which clasp it ; the posterior 

 divergent tails curl up between the upper pair of columnar 

 processes, giving off hairs over the anther and tip of the dorsal 

 sepal, which at this stage is in close contact with the back of 

 the column. 



At this stage, also, the segments of the perianth form a 

 complete covering to the reproductive mechanism ; the lateral 

 sepals protecting the antero-lateral aspects, their tips being in 

 close apposition with the tip of the dorsal sepal, and their 

 inner margins in close contact, except for a small slit in the 

 middle, through which is seen to project the angular process 

 c 



