44S ORCHIDS 



Saccolabium. 



spring from the axils of tlie leaves, and are from 4in. to 6in. 

 liigh. The flowers are crowded on the racemes, each being 

 ■|in. across, and of a deep magenta-rose colour ; the lip is 

 furnished with a pale rose-coloured, cylindrical spur. India, 

 1S37. (1!. jM., t. 5595.) 



Var. mmilmeinensc is superior to the type by reason of its 

 stronger growth, its larger fiowers, and longer racemes. 



S. bellinum [Rclih. /.). — Specially worthy of notice is this 

 species as bearing the most remarkable fiowers of any 

 Saccolabium as yet introduced. It also represents that section 

 of the genus with large but comparatively few fiowers arranged 

 in a corymb. The leaves are produced in the distichous manner 

 characteristic of the whole genus, are pale green, 6in. to Sin. long, 

 I in. broad, and notched at the ends. The racemes bear from 

 three to seven flowers, each of which is ii.in. in diameter and 

 fleshy in texture ; the sepals and petals are ovate, with acute 

 points, and are coloured olive-green, with numerous blotches of 

 rich brown ; the basal part of the lip is in the shape of a cup, 

 with a horizontal, ledge-like margin, measuring lin. acros;, deeply 

 fringed, and pure white, except on the centre, where there is a 

 patch of bright yellow ; the cup itself is white, dotted inside with 

 mauve. Introduced from Burma, in 1SS4, by Messrs. Hugh 

 Low and Co. It flowers daring the first three months of the 

 year, and is one of the most attractive Orchids in blossom at 

 that season. (B. }>I., t. 7142.) 



S. Blumei {Liiidl.). — A synonym of Rliyiichosfylis ntiisa. 



S. coeleste (Rclib. f.). — A synonym of lihynchostylis avlesfis. 



5. curvifolium (Liiidl.). — When in bloom, this small, free- 

 flowering species is very pretty. The linear, curved leaves are 

 channelled, rigid, narrowing to the apex, where they are equally 

 bilobed. The racemes are erect, about 6in. high, and densely 

 clothed with sparkling, bright orange-scarlet fiowers, about lin. in 

 diameter; the upper sepal and the petals are obovate ; the lateral 

 sepals are broader at the base. A bright effect is given to the 

 flowers by the violet anther-case. A native of Nepal, Burma, 

 and Java ; introduced about 1S60. It flowers in May and Tune.' 

 (B. M., t. 5326, as S. ininiatum.) 



A'ar. liitciim has bright yellow flowers ; otherwise it is similar to 

 the type. It is rarely met with. 



S. gig-anteum (Lindl.).—X large and handsome species that 

 should be in every collection. The leaves are borne on a short, 

 erect stem, and are ift. long, 3in. wide, firm in texture, and 

 obliquely notched at the ends. The cylindrical, pendent racemes 



