[ III] 



DENDROBIUM IMPERATRIX Kranziin. 



Caulibus aggregatis maximis mull 

 tusis, racemis maximis multifloris 75 cm. 

 eralibus e basi paullo latiore triangulis ; 

 ulo longioribus scmitortis linearibus ant 



vi cxpanso fere orbiculari margine valde undul; 



denticulatas subito abruptas auctis, lobis lateralibus pulcherrime venulos 



Dendrobium Imperatrix belongs to the section " antennata," or 



natum itself was described by Dr. Lindley, and although not the oldest, : 



more or less twisted, resembling a corkscrew. The sepals are united 



iarticulatis laete viridibus ad 2 m. altis ad 2,5 cm. diametro, foliis oblongis 

 longis vel imo longioribus, bracteis minutis, pedicellis multo longioribus basi incrass; 

 .cutis in pseudocalcar minutum curvulum connatis margine undulatis, intermedio li 

 ce paulum dilatatis obtusis, labelli lobis lateralibus rhombeis margine laterali et ante 



lamell 



gynostemii parte libera bre 



intermedii decurrentibus ibiq 

 tridentato, anthera plana anti 

 Dendrobes with petals projected like the horns of an insect, 

 is one of the most characteristic of the tribe. The petals of r 

 t the base, and form a false spur. The lip has three or fr 



the anther i 



h-'.l ■ 



the 1 





nfined to the e 





— 6 cm. longis. Sepalis 

 i undulato acuto, petalis 

 \ denticulatis, intermedio 



itice minute pilosula. 



:t. Dendrobium anten- 

 ;t of the species are 

 raised lines, which 

 times the border of 



F. Kranziin. 



Icones analytical Flos a fronte 



fronte et a latere \ 



This new species is very similar to Dendrobium Augustae Victoriae, Kranziin, and one of the most stately in growth of 

 all Dendrobiums. The stems reach to a height of 6 feet or 7 feet. The leaves are comparatively small, although in other 

 Dendrobes a leaf of 6 to 7 inches in length by 2}4 or 3 inches in breadth would be considered as a rather considerable 

 one. The flower spikes rise from the axils of the upper leaves of the previous year, and very often exceed 2^ feet in 

 length, carrying from thirty to forty flowers. It is impossible to do full justice to such plants in the space at our 

 command, but still the plate illustrates the charming delicacy of its blossoms better than a long description. 



The affinities may be briefly described as follows : Dendrobium veratrifolium, A. Rich, has shorter and broader 

 leaves ; it is much smaller, and its racemes very seldom exceed 18 inches in length ; the petals are larger, and the side 

 lobes of the labellum smaller. 



Dendrobium Mirbelianum, Gaudich, is also a smaller species, but very closely allied. It has a larger lip, the 

 middle lobe of which is strictly lanceolate and acuminate, and the little spur is sharply incurved. 



Dendrobium Augustae Victoriae, Kranziin, the most showy of the whole section, has petals with amethyst veins ; 

 the side lobes of the lip are very blunt, and the three crests are frilled and denticulated not only in front, but on the 

 upper side. 



The rest of the section is out of the question for comparison, as their petals exceed the sepals by twice their 

 length, and also by other essential characteristics. 



This fine plant was discovered in German New Guinea, at Finchhafen, by Dr. Hollrung, and later on was 

 collected by Mr. Wm. Micholitz, who found it, to use his own words, " mostly on trees overhanging the beach ; inland 

 it is only seldom to be found ;" and he adds, " it flowers probably in March— April. The rainy season is not sharply 

 defined, but it generally rains most from June till October." 



It should be grown in sharp heat, with plenty of sunlight, and after flowering receive a long, dry rest. 



Our plate was taken from a plant which flowered in our establishment at St. Albans. 



