84 ORCHIDS 



Catasetum. 



Lince-shaped, and pointed, the upper one, with the two petals, 

 forming a kind of hood above the column. The lip is broad, 

 and spoon-shaped, with a depression or pit in the centre, and 

 finely serrated at the edge. Introduced from Tropical America in 

 1882. (B. M., t. 6998.) Syn. Coryanthes Buiigerothii. There is 

 a form with narrow light red sepals, broad, long, acute, white 

 petals, and a white lip. This is known as C. pileaiiim. 



C. Christyanum {Rchb. /.). — A curious species, with stout, 

 tapering pseudo-bulbs, and long, plaited leaves. The flower-spike 

 is erect, bearing six to twelve flowers, which are developed 

 during September and October. The sepals and petals are of a 

 dull chocolate-brown, and the lip is bright green, shaded with 

 imrple. Native of Brazil. (W. O. A., t.^83.) 



C. Qarnettianum {Rolfe). — This is allied to C. harbatuin 

 {Liudl.), but smaller. Flowers about \\'\r\. in diameter; sepals 

 and petals lanceolate-linear, loin. long, acute, light green, densely 

 spotted with dark brown ; lip white, |in. long, linear, divided 

 into bristles at the apex, and with shorter bristles on the margin 

 below ; scape erect, several-flowered. Leaves lanceolate, 4in. 

 long. Pseudo-bulbs lin. to 2in. long, compressed-ovate or 

 conical, Brazil, 188S. (B. M., t. 7069.) 



C. longifolium (Li/idL). — A most remarkable Orchid, found 

 growing on the top of a species of palm in British Guiana, 

 The pseudo-bulbs are stout and grey, and they have the curious 

 habit of growing downwards. The leaves are narrow and 

 glaucous, attaining a length of from ift. to 4ft. The flowers 

 are densely produced on pendent spikes, having sepals and 

 petals of a dull red colour, and a helmet-shaped lip of brownish 

 lake, thickly dotted with yellow ; they are about iTsin. in 

 diameter, and produced in autumn. This species was discovered 

 by Sir R. Schomburgk, in 1836, and flowered first in this country 

 three years later. When growing it requires very hot and moist 

 treatment. Syn. Monacantlius longifolius. (B. M., t. 3S19.) 



C. macrocarpum {Rich.). — One of the most easily-grown, 

 and, at the same time, one of the most striking of Catasetums. 

 The pseudo-bulbs are ift. in length, and the flowers 3in. to 4in. 

 in diameter. The broad, stiff sepals and petals have a ground- 

 colour of pale yellowish-green, marked with numerous spots of 

 purplish-brown. The helmet-shapied, very fleshy lip is of a deep 

 orange-yellow, spotted with brown. Several varieties of this plant 

 are in cultivation, including bellum, with brown-purple petals 

 and a large purple-brown blotch on each side. Syn. C. tri- 

 dentatum. (B. M., tt. 2259, 3329.) 



C. pileatum (Rchb.f.). — A synonym of C. Biingcrothit. 



