438 ORCHIDS 



Pogonia. 



P. discolor (Bl/niic), P. Fordii (Maucc), P. plicata (Lindl.), 

 and /-". punctata iB/unic), are species sometimes foun J in 

 botanic collections. 



POLYCYCNIS. 



Some half-dozen species of warm intermediate-house 

 epiphytal Orchids of the tribe J'aiidca'', and allied to 

 CycnocJics and Morviodcs, are included in this genus, 

 founded by Reichenbach (fils). The species are natives of 

 Central America. The generic name is from polys, many, 

 and kyknos, a swan ; referring to the lip and column, 

 which together bear some resemblance to a swan. Flowers 

 large, pedicellate, in loose, floribund, often nodding racemes ; 

 sepals free, spreading, narrow ; petals similar, or narrow 

 and sub-stipitate at base ; lip affixed to the base of the 

 column, sometimes biauriculate. Leaves ample, plicate- 

 \'enose, contracted into petioles. Scapes erect, few, 

 sheathed, simple. P. viuscifcra ( Rchb. f. \ the species 

 grown, requires the same cultural conditions as Catasctum, 

 but is rarely met with in gardens. 



POLYSTACHYA. 



Hooker's name for a genus of epiph}'tal Orchids belonging 

 to the tribe Vandccc, and derived from polj', many, and 

 staclij's, a spike ; alluding to the inflorescence of some of 

 tlie s[jccies. Flo\\'ers usually small ; sepals connivent or 

 almost spreading, the dorsal one free, the lateral ones 

 sometimes much broader, adnate to the foot of the column ; 

 petals similar to the dorsal sepal, or narrower ; lateral 

 lobes of the lip some\\-hat prominent, erect, the middle 

 one spreading or recur\-ed, and undi\dded ; column some- 

 times \-ery short ; pollen-masses foiu' ; racemes man)-, 

 short, forming a loose, narrow panicle, or solitar\' and 

 simple, on a leaf)' stem ; peduncle terminal. Lea\"es few, 

 distichous, oblong or narrow, the base contracted into a 

 sheath. The species, ■\\'hich are nati\-es of tropical and 

 Southern Africa, India, Ce_\-lon, and ?ilala}-a, and sparingly 

 represented also in tropical America, are rarel}' met with 

 in culti\-ation outside botanic collections. 



