167 



E PITH EC I A GLAUCA. 



(Glaucous Epithecia.) 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. ORCHID AC E^E § EPIDENDREiE. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Epithecia. Perianthium patens. Sepala libera, sequalia. Fetala libera, sequalia, sepalis 

 triplo minora. Labellum lineare, columna continuum parallelumque, carnosum, apice trilobum. 

 Columna nana, curvata, basi cavata. Gynizus semirotundus. Anther a subdorsalis, 4-locularis. 

 Pollinia 4. Caudiculce 4. Clinandrium integerrimum, basi apiculatum, infra appendiculatum. 

 Pseudobulbus ovato-orbicularis, compressus. Folia lanceolata. Scapus terminalis, gracilis, 

 ramosus. Florcs racemosi. Herba Mexicana. 



Perianth open. Sepals free, equal. Petals free, equal, three times smaller than the sepals. 

 Labellum linear, continuous and parallel with the column, fleshy, three-lobed at the apex. 

 Column dwarf, curved, hollow at the base. Stigmatic cavity half-round. Anther somewhat 

 dorsal, 4-celled. Pollen-masses 4. Caudiculce 4. Clinandrium very entire, apiculate at the 

 base, with an appendage below. Pseudobulb ovato- orbicular, compressed. Leaves lanceolate. 

 Scape terminal, slender, branched. Flowers racemose. A Mexican plant. 



Prosthechea glauca. — Flor. Cab. vol. ii. p. 111. 



Descr. — Pseudobulbs 1-leaved, of a roundish oval, compressed. Leaves lanceolate, deeply 

 sheathed at the base, of a parchment-like texture. Scape slender, about a foot long, drooping, 

 branched. Flowers spreading after the manner of an Fpidendrum, pedunculate, disposed in 

 racemes, pointing one Avay. Sepals ovate, acute, of a purplish colour, tipped with greenish- 

 yellow. Petals about one-third of the size of the sepals, lanceolate, acute, and similar to them 

 in colour. Labellum linear-lanceolate, parallel and pressed to the column, fleshy, more especially 

 at the apex, which is divided into three unequal lobes ; the central lobe broad, the lateral lobes 

 longer, narrower, and approaching, with a fleshy angular appendage at the back. Bracteas 

 lanceolate, acute. Column curved, angular, hollow at the base. Gynizus half-round, or some- 

 what crescent-shaped, the sides of which are streaked with purple. Pollen-masses 4, somewhat 

 pear-shaped, placed almost at the back of the column. Caudiculce 4. Anther purplish, 4-celled. 

 Clinandrium roundish, entire, apiculate at the base, with a roundish fleshy appendage immediately 

 below, and streaked with purple. The plant is entirely covered with a glaucous hue. 



For an opportunity of figuring this new plant we are indebted to George 

 Barker, Esq., of Springfield, by whom it was imported from Mexico. 



Although by no means showy, it is delicate in its appearance, and graceful in 



