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L.ELIA BARKERIANA. 



(Mr. Barker's Lcelia.) 



LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. ORCHIDACE.E, § EPIDENDRE^E. — (Lindl.) 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Laelia (Lindl.) Sepala explanata, lanceolata, sequalia. Petala majora paulo difFormia. 

 Labellum 3-partitum, lamellatum, circa columnam convolutum. Columna aptera carnosa, antice 

 canaliculata. Anthera 8-locularis. Pollinia 8, caudiculis 4 elasticis. Herbse epiphyte, rhizo- 

 mate pseudobolbophoro. Scapi terminales, pauci vel multiflori. Flores speciosi, odorati. — 

 Lindl. Gen. et Sp. Orchid, p. 115. 



Sepals explanate, lanceolate, equal. Petals larger and somewhat different in form. Lip 

 3-parted, encircling the column. Column wingless, fleshy, channelled in front. Anther 8-celled. 

 Pollen-masses 8, with 4 elastic caudiculse. Epiphytic plants, with a root-stock bearing pseudo- 

 bulbs. Scapes terminal, few or many-fiowered. Flowers handsome, fragrant. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



L. Barkeriana; foliis solitariis lanceolatis; scapo elongato trifloro, squainis carinatis acuminatis 

 vaginantibus vestito ; sepalis lineari-lanceolatis ; petalis oblongo-lanceolatis paulo latioribus ; 

 ovario viscoso ; labelli disco lineari elevato apice acuminato ; pseudobulbis elliptico-oblongis, 

 nitidis distantibus subcompressis, quadrangularibus angulis obtusis. 



Leaves solitary, lanceolate; scape elongated, 3-flowered, clothed with keeled, acuminate, 

 sheathing scales ; sepals linear-lanceolate ; petals oblong-lanceolate, a little broader ; ovary viscid ; 

 disc of the lip linear, elevated, with an acuminated apex ; pseudobulbs elliptic-oblong, shining, 

 distant, somewhat compressed, quadrangular, with obtuse angles. 



Dbscr. — Rhizoma creeping, tortuous, and covered with closely appressed scales. Pseudo- 

 bulbs from three to four inches long, clothed, when young, with acuminated imbricated scales. 

 Leaves of a rich deep green, lanceolate, rather obtuse, leathery. Scape rising from the apex of 

 the pseudo-bulb, slender, two feet long. Sepals membranous, of a delicate lilac, with a white 

 fleshy line in the middle, upper one erect, lateral ones deflexed and somewhat falcate. Petals 

 similar in texture and colour, but somewhat broader. Zip hooded, 3-lobed, lateral lobes rounded, 

 rather fleshy, externally of a pale lilac, edged with purple, of a rich yellow within, elegantly 

 veined with purple ; intermediate lobe elongated, of a deep reddish purple, waved on the margin, 

 with an acute and re-curved apex. Column margined at the apex, continuous with the lip. 

 Pollen-masses 8, of which 4 are larger than the others. 



This is a most beautiful epiphyte ; elegant in its aspect, and graceful in its 

 mode of growth. Our drawing was made in the stove of George Barker, Esq., of 



