•2S 



CYCNOCHES LODDIGESII. 



(Loddiges' Swan-wort.) 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. ORCHIDACE^I, § VANDEjE. — (Lindl. Nat. Syst. Bot.) 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Cycnoches (Lindl.) Perianthium explanatuna. Sepala lateralia ovato-lanceolata, basi 

 paululum sub labello connata ; supremo angustiore. Petala latiora, falcata, decurva. Labellum 

 liberum, ecalcaratum, columna continuum, lanceolatum, integerrimum, ungue abrupto calloso. 

 Columna elongata, arcuata, teres, apice clavata, auriculis 2 falcatis ad latera clinandrii. Anthera 

 bilocularis. Pollinia 2, globosa, cava, postice perforata, sub-pedicellata, elastice prosilientia, 

 caudicula lineari, glandula grossa subquadrata peltata. 



Perianth explanate. Lateral sepals ovato.-lanceolate, joined a little at the base under the 

 lip ; the upper one narrower. Petals broader, falcate, bent downwards. Lip free, spurless, 

 continuous with the column, spear-shaped, very entire, with an abrupt fleshy claw. Column 

 elongated, curved, terete, club-shaped at the apex, with 2 falcate auricles at the sides of the 

 clinandrium. Anther 2-celled. Pollen-masses 2, globose, hollow, perforated behind, somewhat 

 stalked, leaping out elastically, with a linear caudicula, and a thick, somewhat square peltate 

 gland. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



C. Loddigesii (Lindl.) Caule erecto carnoso cylindraceo ; basi vaginis membranaceis, apice 

 foliis vestito ; foliis oblongo-lanceolatis plicatis basi vaginantibus ; raeemo laterali multifloro 

 pendulo flexuoso ; hracteis ovatis acuminatis rubescentibus, inferioribus vaginantibus, pedicellis 

 multb brevioribus ; sepalis lateralibus sub-undulatis pendulis, supremo lineari-lanceolato arcuato ; 

 petalis inaBquilateris oblongo-lanceolatis ; labello carnoso convexo nitido ungue brevi convexo 

 alato ; columna gracillima basi alata. 



Descr. — Stem erect, fleshy, cylindrical, clothed at the base with membraneous sheaths, at 

 the apex with leaves ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, folded, sheathing at the base ; raceme lateral^ 

 many-flowered, pendulous, flexuose ; bracteas ovate, acuminate, reddish, (the lower ones 

 sheathing,) much shoi'ter than the pedicels ; lateral sepals somewhat undulated, pendulous, the 

 upper one linear-lanceolate, curved ; petals unequal-sided, oblong-lanceolate ; lip fleshy, convex, 

 shining, with a short, convex, winged claw ; column very slender, winged at the base. 



Cycnoches Loddigesii. — Lindl. Bot. Beg. t. 1742. Lod. Bot. Cab. t. 2000. 



A plant more remarkable for the singular and extraordinary shape than for 

 the actual beauty of its flowers, which are among the largest of the order to 



