COMPARETTIA. 211 



COMPARETTIA, Poeppig et Endlicher. 

 {Trlie Vandeae, auUrlbe Oncidieae.) 

 This is a small genus, of slender dwarf-growing pseudobulbous plants 

 with solitary leathery leaves and drooping racemes of showy flowers, 

 which are peculiar in having a spur to the sepals and a double spur to 

 the lip, the latter being included in those of the sepals. The species here 

 described are the best that have come under our notice. They are verv 

 pretty evergreen plants, and distinct from any other Orchids. The few 

 known species come from the Andes of South America, and Central 

 America. 



Culture. — The species of this genus should be grown in the Cattleya 

 house, where they can be well shaded from the sun. They are best 

 grown on blocks of wood, or in baskets, with live sphagnum moss, and 

 suspended from the roof, with a liberal supply of moisture in the growing 

 season — in fact, they never should be allowed to get dry, or they will 

 suffer. The flowers proceed from the base of the pseudobulbs, and 

 continue in beauty a considerable time. 



C. COCCINEA, Lindley. — A charming little plant, with the habit of a strong 

 t>ophronitis grandiflora. The pseudobulbs are small, and bear oblong leathery 

 leaves, which are bright green above and purplish beneath; from the apex of 

 the young growing bulbs issues a slender terminal scape supporting a nodding 

 raceme of from three to seven brilliant scarlet and orange flowers, rendered 

 more conspicuous by their broad flat obcordate lip, and their very long subulate 

 spurs. It blooms during the months of November and December ; and is doubly 

 valuable at this season on account of its brilliant colours. — Mexico, Brazil, 



Fig.— Bot. lU-g., 1838, t. 68 ; Maund, Bot., iv. t. 186 ; mind. Ilort., t. 472 ; Moore, 

 III. Orcli. PI., Comparettia, t. 1. 



C. FALCATA, Poep. el Endl. — A pretty plant, similar in habit to C coccinea. 

 It has smooth oblong clustered pseudobulbs, bearing each a solitary lanceolate 

 leaf, and from the base of the leaf a filiform pendent scape, with an open raceme 

 of deep crimson-purple flowers, which have a broadly obcordate lip and a 

 subulate spur. It does not require great heat. — Peru. 



Fig. — Bot. Mag., t. 4980 ; Pocj). H Endl.. -Vcc. (?(■«.. i. t. 73 ; Llndenia, iv. t. 163 ; 

 Orchid Album, viii. t. 359 ; Jouni. of Jlort., ISSi, xvii. p. 309, f. 34. 



C. MACROPLECTRON, Rclib.f. — This very handsome species is exceedingly 

 floriferous. It has small oblong truncate compressed pseudobulbs, with the 

 angles rounded, and short bright green oblong ligulate leaves. The drooping 

 flower spikes are produced from the base of the bulbs, and bear flve or more 

 flowers. The sepals and petals are rose colour, distinctly spotted with rosy- 

 purple, while the lip, which is very large in comparison to the sepals and 



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