PL. CCCXX. 
SOBRALIA VIOLACEA LINDEN. 
THE VIOLET SOBRALIA. 
SOBRALIA. Sepala subaequalia, erecta, basi connata. Petala sepalis subsimilia v. latiora magisque colorata. 
Labellum a basi columnae erectum ; lobi laterales col arcte ampl v. involventes, eique interdum basi 
adnati; lamina e sepalis breviter exserta, patens, concava, undulata v. fimbriata, indivisa v. biloba; facie laevis 
v. bilamellata v. lamellato-cristata. Columna elongata, subincurva, semiteres, angulis acutiusculis v. anguste alatis, 
apoda ; stigma sub rostello brevi latum; clinandrium breviter v. longiuscule trilobum. Anthera lobo postico affixa, 
hil 1 
, discrete is; pollinia saepius in quoque loculo 4, pulvereo-granulosa, appendicula copiosa laxe 
granulosa connexa, a rostello libera. Capsula oblonga v. elongata, rigida v. carnosa, erostris. 
Herbae terrestres, elatae, foliosae, non tuberosae. Folia dissita, coriacea, plicato-venosa, in vagina sessilia. 
Flores magni, in racemis terminalibus axillaribusque pauci, interdum ad florem unicum reducti. Bracteae appressae, 
saepe rigide paleaceae, interdum plures imbricatae. 
Species ad 30, Andium Americae tropicae a Peruvia usque ad Mexicum necnon Guianam incolae. 
Sobralia Ruiz et PAvon. Prodr. Fl. Peruv. et Chil., p. 120, t. 26. — BENTH. et Hook. F. Gen. Plant., 
III, p. 590. 
Sobralia violacea. Glabra, foliorum vagina rugoso-scabra lamina ovali acuminata superiore flore longiore, 
strobilo sessili plurifloro, labello maximo explanato laevi. 
Sobralia violacea, LINDEN ex Lindl. Orch. Linden. (1846), p. 26. — LinpL. Fol. Orch., Sobral., p. 8. 
obralia violacea was originally described by D' Linpxey in his Orchidaceae 
| Lindenianae, in 1846, from M. Linpen’s collections. It is said to be abun- 
dant in the high regions of the province of Merida, at the elevation of 
6000 to 8000 feet, flowering in July. There are two numbers, 617, with pale violet 
flowers, and 615, flowers white with a yellow crest. LinpLey remarks : — “ The 
two numbers are supposed by M*‘ Linpen himself to represent two varieties. The 
white kind has, however, narrower leaves than the other; but whether that 
difference is connected with others in the fructification, the impossibility of exami- 
ning the dried flowers prevent my ascertaining. ” In his Folia Orchidacea LinpLEY 
added the locality “ Santa Martha, Purdie, ” and remarked : — * This resembles 
S. decora, but is much stronger, has larger flowers, with imbricated somewhat 
leafy bracts, and a convolute lip, not unlike that of a Cattleya. ” He also states 
that the white variety flowered with M* Rucker in July, 1847, from a specimen 
collected by WaGENER at Merida, at 5000 feet elevation. A note in his Herbarium 
states that Mt Rucxer’s plant was received from M. LinpEN in 1844. The species 
was also collected by Morirz, at Merida, who records the colours as “ alba et 
violacea, ” by Weir, on hills near Bucaramanga, at 7000 feet elevation; and by 
Jervise, at Antioquia. Also what appears to be the same species was collected in 
Peru, by Marruews, and at Banos, in Bolivia, at 6000-7000 feet elevation, by 
Pearce. Purdie, who met with it in the mountains of Maracaybo, states : — “ This 
a a 
