482 ORCHIDS 



Stanhopea. 



are suddenly bent forward at right angles ; the mid-lobe is over 

 lin. wide, and is divided at the apex into three fleshy teeth. 

 The column is 3in. long, lin. wide, narrowed at the base. The 

 colour of the column and lip is pale dull yellow, with numerous 

 spots of purple. Introduced from Mexico, in 1S37, b)' Messrs. 

 Low and Co. (Fig. 165 ; B. M., t. 4197.) 



S. Wardii (LoJd.). — In form and markings this beautiful 

 fragrant, and free-flowering species somewhat favours .V. oculata, 

 but is much brighter in colour, varying from bright yellow to a deep 

 golden-orange, and spotted with crimson. The pseudo-bulbs are 

 egg-shaped, 2in. long. The leaves are large, l)road, and leathery. 

 The scape is 9in. long, and it bears from three to nine large 

 flowers : these are 4in. across. The sepals, petals, and lip are 

 similar in form to those of .S". oculafa. The most striking feature 

 in the flowers is the colour of the cavity at the base of the lip, 

 which is almost wholly deep velvety purple, with a satiny sheen. 

 The flowers are usually produced in August, their fragrance 

 being very powerful. Introduced from Guatemala in 1S28. 

 Syn. S. aiirea. (B. M., t. 5289.) 



STAUR0PSI5. 



Four or five .species of epiphytal Orchids belonging to 

 the tribe J'^aiidcic are included in this genus. The name, 

 given b)' the younger Reichenbach, is from stmiros, a 

 cross, and opsis, appearance ; so called from the shape of 

 the flower. Sepals and petals free, much spreading ; lip 

 continuous with the column, spreading, concave, not spurred, 

 narrow, the lateral lobes short, the middle one rather long ; 

 poUen-masses two ; racemes few- or many-flowered. Many 

 of the species, which are natives of the Philippines, Burma, 

 and Northern India, are of little horticultural interest. 

 They require the same cultural conditions as Acridcs. 



S. gig-antea {Beiith.).—K robust plant, erect in habit, with 

 deep green, broad, leathery leaves lift, long, bilobed at the apex. 

 The spike is drooping, and usually bears ten to fifteen flowers, 

 the sepals and petals of which are of a deep golden-yellow, 

 unevenly blotched with cinnamon-brown ; the lip is small, thick, 

 and fleshy, and, like the column, is white ; the whole flower 

 measures 3in. at its broadest diameter. Like 6'. lissochi/oides, this 

 Orchid flowers freely only when large, and like it also remains 

 long in bloom. It was originally found on the banks of the 

 Tenasserim River. Syn. VanJa gigatiUa. (B. M., t. 51S9.) 



