71 



MORMODES ATROPURPUREA. . 



(Darh-pwple Mormodes.) 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDBIA. OBCHIDACE^, § TANDEM. — {IAmM. Nat. Syst. Bot.) 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Mormodes (Lindl.) Sepalum superius subfornicatum, angustum ; lateralia conformia 

 reflexa. Petala latiora, conformia, erecta. Labellum sellasforme, ascendens, trilobatum, sub- 

 cuneatum, apiculatum, cum columna articulatum. Columna semiteres, mutica ; gynizus longus 

 angustus ; clinandrium postice acuminatum. Pollinia 4, per paria connata, caudiculaa crassse 

 affixa, glandulse carnosae crassae adhaerenti. — Habitus Cataseti. 



Upper sepal somewhat arched, narrow; lateral sepals similar in form, refiexed. Petals 

 broader, similar in form, erect. Lip saddle-shaped, ascending, three-lobed, somewhat wedge- 

 shaped, apiculate, articulated with the column. Column semiterete, pointless; gynizus long, 

 narrow ; clinandrium acuminate behind. Pollen-masses 4, united by pairs, affixed to a thick 

 caudicula, which adheres to a thick fleshy gland. — Habit of a Catasetum. 



Mormodes atropurpurea. — Lindl. The only species. 



Descb. — Pseudo-bulbs oblong, many-leaved, imbricated with the sheathing bases of the leaves. 

 Leaves pale green, folded, from three to five-ribbed, erect, recurved at the apex. Raceme lateral, 

 compact. Flowers of a rich dark purple. Sepals linear-oblong, equal, refiexed, of which the 

 lateral are somewhat oblique at the base, and joined to the claw of the lip. Petals ovate, erect, 

 converging above the column. Lip folded back, curved, wedge-shaped in its outline, slightly 

 clawed, three-lobed, lateral lobes deflexed, veined ; middle lobe rather fleshy, tapering to a point. 

 Column compressed, continuous with the lip, erect ; anther rostrate at the back. Pollen-masses 

 springing elastically from their position, on the slightest touch, like Catasetum, Myanthus, 

 Cychnoches, &c, with which genera it seems very closely allied. Caudicula large, its apex 

 somewhat hooded, and partially embracing the pollinia ; its base lodged in the concavity of the 

 fleshy gland. 



The extraordinary appearance of the flowers of this plant suggested to Dr. 

 Lindley (who first described it) the name " Mormodes " * as not inapplicable to 

 its generic distinction. In its general habit it closely resembles Catasetum ; from 

 which and from Myanthus it differs in the want of cirrhi or tendril-like appendages 

 upon the column : and from Monacanthus, as observed by Dr. Lindley, in its lip 



* From fJ.opfi.ca, a frightful looking object, a goblin, in allusion to the strange appearance of the flowers. 



