198 THE ORCHID REVIEW. (SEPTEMBER, 1917 
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FLOWER of a fine species of the remarkable genus Coryanthes, 
preserved in formalin, has been sent to Kew for determination by 
Mr. Pratt, entomologist and traveller, who remarks that it was collected near 
Tabaconas, about 78° west longitude, on the borders of Peru and Ecuador. 
The identity of the species is at present uncertain, but it belongs to the 
CORYANTHES FEILDINGII. Rise. 
group of C. macrantha and C. Fieldingii. Mr. Pratt describes the colour 
of the flower as follows: ‘Bucket grass green; petals darker grass 
green, with chocolate spots.” Coryanthes Feildingii, Lindl., is a very 
large species that was described and figured nearly seventy years ago 
(Journ. Hort. Soc., iii. pp. 15-18, with two figures), but which, we believe, 
has been lost sight of ever since. Its country was unknown, but the flower 
is preserved in the Lindley Herbarium. The figures represent the front 
and back views of the flower. The following is Lindley’s account of this 
remarkable plant :— 
“In August, 1847, Col, Feilding sent me for examination a flower of a 
Coryanth. which is so remarkable as to deserve a notice at some length. 
The plant was purchased of Mr. Atkins, of Northampton, in 1842, its 
origin being unknown. It flowered at Street Aston in 1844; in 1845 it 
was again showing for flower, but missed in consequence of its removal to 
London ; in 1847 in finally produced the extraordinary blossoms which are 
the subject of the annexed figures. 
“ As usual in this genus the flowers are pendulous and inverted, so that 
the apparatus of the column hangs downwards instead of being erect. The 
general colour of the parts is pale brownish yellow, a little mottled, and 
stained with cinnamon in an irregular manner. When closed, the flower is 
about five inches long and three wide. As it unfolds, the sepals and petals, 
which are membranous and bear no small resemblance to bat’s wings, tur 
back, seem to fold up, and finally hang drooping at the back of the lip and 
column, in which organs, as is well known, the singularity of the genus 
resides. 
eer ne See a ey LS ML ae eee eT ae 
“The lip is borne by a thick horizontal arm an inch and a half long, 
which proceeds from the top of the flower-stalk, and consequently from the 
lower end of the column. Right and left of its base are placed two softish 
fleshy pale ear-like lobes, which are organs of secretion, a sweet fluid 
continually dripping from them as long as the flower is in vigour. At the 
other end this horizontal arm expands into a convex cap or hood, hairy in 
front but bald on the crown; a little compressed from the back and two 
inches across in its principal diameter. From the cap hangs down a large 
fleshy goblet, smooth at the edges, flattened at the end, two inches deeP 
