ORCHIDS. 



297 



ovate pseudo-tulbs, which have a pair of narrow- 

 lanceolate leaves. Scape erect, produced from the 

 base of the pseudo-bulbs, and bearing five to six 

 large flowers ; sepals and petals about equal, oblong, 

 yellowish- white, spotted and barred with brown ; lip 

 white, somewhat round, rolled over the colunm, and 

 crisp on the margin. In the variety grandijlora the 

 flowers are much larger ; the sepals and petals are 

 yellow, blotched and spotted with rich bright 

 brown; lip yellowish, 

 tinged with pink. Sep- 

 tember and October. 

 Brazil. 



M. cuneata. — This 

 plant in growth very 

 much resembles the 

 preceding species. It 

 is a very handsome 

 plant when in flower. 

 Scape erect, four to 

 five or more flowered, 

 each flower nearly four 

 inches in diameter ; 

 sepals and petals lan- 

 ceolate, with undulate 

 margins, ground- 

 colour chocolate, 

 transversely barred 

 with tawny - yellow ; 

 lip distinctly wedge- 

 shaped, pure white, 

 suffused with a tinge 

 of pink. Spring and 

 early summer. Brazil, 

 in the neighbourhood 

 of Eio Janeiro. 



M. Clowesii. — ^A fine, 

 bold-growing species ; 

 pseud o - bulbs ovate, 

 bearing a pair of long, 



ensiform, dark green leaves. Eaceme erect, many- 

 flowered, flowers some three inches across ; sepals 

 and petals lanceolate, rich yellow, blotched and bar- 

 red with brown ; lip flat, cordate, contracted at the 

 point, where it is white, passing into deep violet- 

 purple at the base. Autumn months. Organ 

 Mountains, Brazil. 



M. MegneUii. — This very handsome species has 

 erect oblong pseudo-bulbs, each bearing a pair of 

 erect sword-shaped leaves some twelve inches long. 

 Scape longer than the leaves, erect, many-flowered ; 

 sepals and petals spreading, waxy in texture, and 

 soft white ; Up large and flat, rosy-hlac. In the 

 variety purpurea, sometimes known as "Eucker's 

 variety," the whole plant and flowers are much 

 larger ; the sepals and petals are soft rose, margined 



with pure white, and the large flat lip is of a uni- 

 form purplish-crimson. Autumn months. Minas- 

 Geraes, Brazil. 



M. spectabilis. — ^A dwarf plant producing short 

 oval pseudo-bulbs on creeping stems, which bear a 

 pair of short and thin Hgulate leaves. Peduncles 

 axiUary, one-flowered, each flower measuring three 

 to four inches across ; sepals and petals rather short, 

 waxy- white; lip large and flat, centre rosy-violet, 

 shading off to white. 

 There are several va- 

 rieties of this species. 

 Late summer and 

 early autumn months. 

 Brazil. 



M. spectabilis, var. 

 Moreliana. — This 

 plant is frequently 

 treated as a distinct 

 species ; it, however, is 

 really undistinguish- 

 able when out of 

 flower, and when in 

 bloom colour is nearly 

 the only difference, 

 but in this it is very 

 distinct. The flower 

 is the same shape as 

 spectabilis, but larger, 

 and of a uniform rich 

 deep purple ; the Hp 

 in addition being 

 veined with dark rose. 

 Late summer and early 

 autumn. Brazil. 



MiLTOIIU Caxdisa. 



Mormodes. — This 

 genus is not distin- 

 guishable from Catase- 

 tum when out of 

 flower, as they have the same stout fusiform 

 pseudo-bulbs, and plaited, membranous, deciduous 

 leaves, and the flowers have the same habit of 

 breaking out into strange varieties. The chief 

 distinctions are to be found in the shape of the 

 labeUum, and in the column, which is destitute of 

 the peculiar tendrils {cirrhi) which are to be found 

 in Catasetum. The name is derived from mormo, " a 

 goblin," and refers to the extraordinary appearance 

 of the flowers. Mormodes not only produce strange- 

 shaped flowers, but their flowers are in many 

 instances very highly coloured and showy, and 

 therefore it is hard to explain why they have fallen 

 into disrepute with cultivators of Orchids. These 

 plants are easUy managed. Naturally they are epi- 

 phytes, growing, we are told, principally upon the 



