38 



MORMODES PARDINA. 



imported. It is a native of South America, whence it was sent by Mr. Ross, 

 who found it in the wildest part of the Cordillera range. Mr. Bateman's speci- 

 men appears to have been discovered by Baron Karwinski, in Oaxaca, and com- 

 municated some years since to the collection at Knypersley, where it flowered 

 last year. It has been recently figured in Mr. Bateman's splendid work on the 

 orchidaceous plants of Mexico and Guatemala ; though the specimen in that 

 gentleman's collection differs from ours in some few points. A remarkable variety 

 is now in flower for the second time at Mr. Barker's, the flowers of which are of a 

 clear primrose-yellow without spots. The flowers are highly odoriferous ; their 

 perfume, however, is peculiar, and too powerful to be generally agreeable. 



The genus Mormodes was named and the first species (M. atropurpurea) 

 described by Dr. Lindley from a plant in the collection of John Willmore, Esq. 

 of Oldford, and subsequently figured in the 1st vol. of the Floral Cabinet. It has 

 been suspected that Mormodes would share the fate of Myanthus and Monocanthus, 

 and merge in the genus Catasetum : we are, however, inclined to regard the 

 twisted column in Mormodes as a marked peculiarity that will always distinguish 

 it from other kindred genera. 



For the etymology of Mormodes, vide vol. i. The Latin adjective pardina 

 has reference to the panther-like spots of the flowers. 



Fig. ] . Germ with twisted column and 3-lobed lip. 2. Anterior view of the 

 pollen-masses, one of which shows a horizontal section. 3. Posterior view of the 

 same. 4. Anther-case. 



