So 



MACROCHILIA FRYANUS. 



{Mr. Fry's Macrochilus.) 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. ORCHIDACEjE, § VANDEiE. — {Lilld. Nat. Si/St. Bot.) 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Macrochilus. Perianthium explanatum. Sepala lateralia basi subconnata, insequilatera. 

 Petala libera, subconformia. Labellum maximum cum columns continuum, ungue cristato, 

 lamina patente venosa subrotunda, undulata. Columna brevis erecta, infra, medium abrupte 

 dilatata, basi excavata, apice utrinque alata, stigmate magno orbiculari profundo. Anthera 

 bilocularis. Pollinia 2, postice sulcata, in caudiculam ovalem arcuatam sessilia, glandula ovata 

 crassa. Herba epiphyta caulescens pseudo-bulbosa. Folia subpergamenea. Scapus simplex, 

 vaginis spathaceis tectus (uniflorus ?). Flos magnus, speciosus. 



Perianth explanate. Lateral sepals somewhat connate at the base, unequal-sided. Petals 

 free, rather similar in form. Lip very large, continuous with the column, claw crested, with a 

 spreading, veined, somewhat rounded, undulated border. Column short, erect, abruptly dilated 

 below the middle, excavated at the base, winged on both sides at the apex, with a large, round, 

 deep stigma. Anther 2-celled. Pollen-masses 2, furrowed posteriorly, sitting upon an oval 

 arched caudicula ; gland thick, ovate. An epiphytic plant, with creeping stems and pseudo-bulbs. 

 Leaves approaching to the consistence of parchment. Flowering -stem simple, covered with 

 spathe-like sheaths (1-flowered ?). Flower large, handsome. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 

 M. Fryanus. (The only known species.) 



Descb. — Rhizoma {root-stock) creeping, covered with imbricated, closely-appressed, mem- 

 branous scales. Pseudo-bulbs 2-leaved, ovate-oblong, distant, compressed, arising from the 

 rhizoma, and having their edges invested by its lengthened scales. Leaves linear-oblong, obtuse, 

 emarginate, keeled, attenuated at the base. Flowering -stem about a foot long, slender, covered 

 with keeled, compressed, membranous sheaths, gradually becoming larger upwards, and investing 

 the ovarium like a spathe. Sepals cream-coloured, membranous, lanceolate, an inch and a half 

 long, the upper one erect, the lateral ones deflexed and slightly united at the base beneath the 

 claw of the lip. Petals similar in colour and structure, oblong-lanceolate, spreading horizontally, 

 and eventually a little reflexed at the apex. Lip very large, entire, plane, elegantly marked 

 with various shades of purple, darkest towards the base ; claw fleshy, with three elevated, yellow, 

 longitudinal ridges extending posteriorly under the excavated base of the column, and termi- 

 nating anteriorly m a central clavate and two lateral auricular extremities. Column with a rich 

 purplish violet-coloured, winged appendage, divided into five segments. Anther terminal. 

 Pollen-masses solid, broadly obovate. 



