TRICHOPILIA TORTILIS. 



( Twisted Trichopilia.) 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



GYNANDRIA. ' ORCHIDACE^. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Trichopilia (Lindl.) Sepala et petala sequalia patentia angusta. Labellum magnum peta- 

 loideum convolutum cum columna parallelum trilobum, lobo intermedio subbilobo planiusculo 

 intus nudo. Columna teres clavata. Clinandrium cucullatum 3-lobum villoso-fimbriatum. 

 Anthera 1-locularis compressa, antice convexa. Pollinia 2 postice sulcata, caudiculce tenui 

 cuneatae adherentia ; glandula minima. Pseudobulbi carnosi vaginis maculatis supertecti mono-- 

 phylli coriacei. Flores solitarii axillares. — Lindl. Introd. Nat. Syst. Bot. 2nd. edit. p. 446. 



Sepals and petals equal, patent, narrow. Labellum large, petaloid, convolute, parallel with 

 the column, three-lobed, the intermediate lobe somewhat two-lobed, smoothish, inwardly naked. 

 Column round, club-shaped. Clinandrium cucullate, three-lobed, villosely fringed. Anther one- 

 celled, compressed, convex in front. Pollen-masses two, sulcate behind, adhering to a weak 

 caudicula, with a small gland. Pseudobulbs fleshy, covered with spotted sheaths, bearing one 

 coriaceous leaf. Flowers solitary, axillary. 



T. Tortilis. Pseudobulbs oblong, furrowed, sheathed, sheaths spotted with brown. Leaves 

 thick, ovate-lanceolate. Flowers solitary, axillary. Sepals and petals patent, narrow, twisted, 

 of a brownish red colour. Labellum convolute, obsoletely three-lobed, the central lobe divided, 

 with two deep cavities in the middle ; its coloUr is white, beautifully spotted with purple, more 

 or less dark. Column parallel and continuous with the labellum, round and clavate. Clinan- 

 drium cucullate, obsoletely three-lobed, fimbriate. Stigmatic cavity egg-shaped. Caudicula 

 slender, cuneate. Gland minute. Pollen-masses pear-shaped, sulcate posteriorly. Anther one- 

 celled, compressed, apiculate. Ovarium somewhat bowed, clavate, deeply furrowed on each 

 side. 



This is a very beautiful Epiphyte ; in structure it approaches near to the 

 Oncidium group, in its labellum being continuous with the column, and more or 

 less lobed ; as well as in having the caudicula cuneate, and the gland minute. 

 It differs, however, in the convolute state of the labellum, in the absence of 

 wings on the column, in the fleshy crest on the labellum, and in the singular 

 structure of the clinandrium, from which latter character it has received its name. 



It is a native of Mexico, and was imported in the year 1835, by George 

 Barker, Esq., of Springfield, from whose plant our drawing was taken. 



