[ 37 



ZYGOPETALUM BURTII Hemsi. 



ubobtusis basi conduplicatis, pedunculis 

 milibus paullo brevioribus, labelli ungue 

 filiformes blepharoideas plu 





Ccespitosa, epseudobulbosa, foliis oblongo-linearibus subobtusis basi conduplicatis, pedunculis axillaribus, foliis brev 

 sepalis lanceolato-ovatis acutis, latcralibus divaricatis, petal; 

 basi cuneato, callo in laminae bene obtusangulo rhombeo ei 

 subquadratis, carina elata in dorso. 



ZYGOPETALUM Burth, Hemsl. Biol. Centr.-Amer 



Batemannia Burtii, Rchb. f. in Gard. Chron., 

 Gartenflora, XXXIII., p. 98, t. 1 1 14, fig. I. 



The species here figured is usually known in gardens as Batemannia Burtii, under which name it v 

 mannia was dedicated to Mr. Bateman by Dr. Lindley, but the type of the genus, which is B. Colleyi, a n 

 present species, both in habit and structure. Another genus established by Lindley was dedicated to Mr. H 

 this genus our present plant undoubtedly belongs, together with the rest of Reichenbach's so-called Batem 



ris, floribus speciosis, 

 limbo obovato obtuso 

 •a cucullis alis bilobo 





6003 ; 



1., ser. 2, t. 35 ; Fl. Mag., n. s., 1874, t. 101 ; 



escribed by Reichenbach. The genus Bate- 

 : of Guiana, is remarkably different from the 

 ey, under the name Huntleya Meleagris. To 

 is, which bear no resemblance to Batemannia 

 proper, and ought never to have been referred to that genus. But a new fact has now to be considered. Several genera were formerly established under the 

 names of Promenaea, Bollea, Pescatorea, and Warscewiczella, all of which Reichenbach reduced as sections of Zygopetalum, in which he has been followed by 

 succeeding botanists. But if these be so referred, there is no character by which Huntleya can be separated, and the consequence is that this also has been 

 made a section of Zygopetalum, where we may leave it. Zygopetalum Burtii, for such we must call it, is a native of Costa Rica, where it was discovered by 

 Endres in 1867. It was imported by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea, and flowered for the first time in Europe in the collection of Burnley Hume, 

 Esq., of Winterton. It differs from the Brazilian Z. Meleagris in a variety of characters, though it bears such a general resemblance to it that Reichenbach 

 was at first inclined to consider it a variety of the same. It is a decidedly handsome plant. Two or three others of the same group are still very imperfectly 

 known. R. A. Rolfe. 





Zygopetalum, or to use its more widely known name, Batemannia Burtii, the subject of our illustration, is a very distinct 

 and uncommon orchid. The difficulty of importing it from its native home in Costa Rica and Ecuador being very great, 

 it has become somewhat rare in collections, although generally well known. The plant was discovered by Endres in 

 1867, but the first record of its flowering in England does not occur until 1872. To our Mr. Murrell, then gardener to 

 W. Burnley Hume, Esq., Winterton, Great Yarmouth, belongs this honour. On the 12th November, 1873, it again 

 flowered with Mr. Hume, and was then exhibited before the Royal Horticultural Society and awarded a first-class certifi- 

 cate. In the beginning of 1880 our Mr. Falkenberg was successful in bringing home a splendid lot of plants, many of 

 which were offered by auction at Stevens' rooms, and from this batch some of the finest forms have appeared, notably the 

 example that flowered with Sir William Marriott, Down House, Blandford. We quote the authority of The Garden, 

 January 7th, 1882 : — " The flower measures 6 inches across," and the colour is described as being very rich. 



Zygopetalum Burtii is a rather dwarf, compact-growing plant, with a short stem which is wholly covered by the 

 overlapping of the bases of the leaves. The flowers are borne singly on the scapes, which rise from the axils of the lower 

 leaves. 



To cultivate it with success, the following simple conditions are needed : good, fibrous peat, with plenty of 

 drainage ; an abundance of water when growing, but none must be allowed to stagnate about the roots. Place the plant 

 at the warmest end of the Cattleya house in a very shady position. We incline to the belief that the failures recorded in 

 the attempted cultivation of this and other kindred species is due to the want of heat, shade, water, and a general want of 

 atmospheric humidity. Under the conditions recommended, we succeed in cultivating all these plants to perfection. 



Our plate was taken from a plant in the collection of Mr. Otto Froebel, Riesbach, Zurich. 



