15 



ASPASIA EPIDENDROIDES. 



{Epidendrurn-like A spasia. ) 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



GYNANDRIA MONOGYNIA. ORCHIDACE^E. {Lindl.) § TANDEM. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 

 Aspasia '(Lindl. in Hook. Journ. Bot. pt. I.) Perianthium patens, aequale. Sepala lateralia 

 libera ; supremum cum petalis basi connatum. Labellum concavum, ecalcaratum, obsolete 

 4-lobum ; nngue cum columna connatum. Columna semiteres, marginata. Anthera carnosa, 

 sub-bilocularis. Pollinia 2, pyriformia, postice sulcata, caudicula plana sub-cuneata, glandula 

 parva. Herbce epiphytes, caulescentes, pseudobulbosse. Folia subcoriacea. Spices radicales. 

 Flores speciosi. 



Perianth open, equal. Lateral sepals free ; tbe upper one connate at tbe base with the petals. 

 Lip concave, spurless, obscurely 4-lobed ; the claw connate with the column. Column semi- 

 terete, bordered. Anther fleshy, somewhat 2-celled. Pollen-masses 2, pear-shaped, furrowed at 

 the back, with a flat, somewhat wedge-shaped caudicula, and a small gland. Epiphytic plants, 

 with stems and pseudo-bulbs. Leaves somewhat leathery. Spikes radical. Flowers handsome. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



A. Epidendroides (Lindl. 1. c.) Pseudobulbis compressis sulcatis ancipitibus l-8phyllis,/o/Ms 

 lineari-lanceolatis substriatis, scapo e basi pseudo-bulborum sub-5-floro, bracteis vaginantibus 

 acuminatis, sepalis lanceolatis, petalis elliptico-lanceolatis, labelli ungue cum columna usque ad 

 mediam connato, lamina late ovato-subrotunda modice fimbriate, et cum columna angulum 

 rectum formans. 



Descb. — Pseudobulbs compressed, furrowed, 2-edged, 1-3 leaved ; leaves linear-lanceolate, 

 somewhat striated ; scape from the base of the pseudobulbs, about 5-flowered ; bracteas sheathing, 

 acuminate ; sepals lanceolate ; petals elliptico-lanceolate ; claw of the lip united with the column 

 as far as the middle, its lamina broadly ovate, somewhat rounded, slightly fringed, and forming 

 a right angle with the column. 



This is an elegant plant with the aspect of an epidendrum ; and although not 

 brilliant in colour, is beautiful both in the shape and markings of its flowers. 

 The sepals and petals are marked with streaks of rich brown; the lip is white, the 

 base of which is faintly shaded with orange, the remaining portion being tinted 

 and copiously spotted with violet. Our drawing was made from a specimen in the 

 collection of George Barker, Esq., of Springfield. It is a native of Panama and 



