AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



509 



Zijgopetalum. 



strap-shaped, leathery leaves, more or less erect, and flower- 

 scapes that spring from the base of the matured pseudo- 

 bulbs and bear from four to eight flowers. The type-plant 

 of these is Z . Mackaii, on which the genus was founded 

 by Lindley in 1827. The sepals and petals are almost 

 alike in size, form, and colour ; they are arranged on the 

 same plane, are partly joined to each other at the base, 

 and are directed upwards above the level of the centre 

 of the flower, almost fan-like. The lip is the most 

 striking part of the 

 flower, being large, 

 spreading, flat, al- 

 most leathery in 

 texture, and brightly 

 coloured ; the crest 

 or disk is thick and 

 fleshy, usually fur- 

 rowed or toothed, 

 sometimes not un- 

 like the old-fashioned 

 ruff. All the species 

 flower in the winter 

 season. According 

 to the " Genera 

 Plantarum," there 

 are forty species 

 of Zygopetalmn, but 

 these include the 

 plants known in 

 gardens under the 

 following names : 

 Bollea, Huntleya, Pes- 

 catorea, PromencEa, 

 and Warscewicsella. 

 The large, spread in 





':^f^ 



Fig. 172. 



Zygo-Colax Veitchii Kromerii 

 (nat. size), 



ith its 



usually purple labellum, 

 prominent,' fleshy, ruff-like crest, and the short, fleshy 

 column, are characters which, in conjunction with those 

 already mentioned, enable one to readily distinguish all 

 the plants known in gardens as Zygopetalums. The 

 generic name is from zygos, a yoke, and petalon, a petal ; 

 the sepals and petals in the original species adhere by 

 their bases. 



