DENDROBIUM KINGIANUM. 
(Captain King's Dendrobium.) 
Class. 
GYNANDRIA. 
Order. 
MONANDRIA. 
Natural Order- 
ORCHlBACEiE. 
Generic Character. — Sepals membranaceous, erect, 
or spreading ; lateral ones largest, connate with the 
column at the base. Petals often much larger than 
the sepals, sometimes smaller, always membranaceous. 
Labellum jointed or connate with the foot of the 
column, always sessile, undivided or three-lobed, com- 
monly membranaceous, sometimes appendiculate. 
Column semi-cylindrical, much prolonged at the base. 
Anthers two-celled. Pollen-masses four. 
Specific Character. — Plant an epiphyte. Pseudo- 
bulbs ovate at base, extending into a long neck, with 
two or three leaves at the apex. Leaves elliptic-oblong, 
emarginate. Peduncles terminal, four or five- flowered , 
rather longer than the leaves. Sepals ovate, acute. 
Petals obovate, acute, smaller than the sepals. Lip 
three-lobed, pubescent ; lateral segments acute ; in- 
termediate one a little longer, with an acute 
point at the end, and two lateral angles somewhat 
rounded ; surface with three elevated lines along the 
middle. 
Besides the large flowering species of Dendrobia, which we have chiefly 
selected for our previous illustrations of the genus, there remain a vast number of 
species with much smaller blossoms, and which are hence less gorgeous and striking 
in their appearance. Many of these, nevertheless, are scarcely less charming than 
their more gaudy congeners, and will bear an equally attentive inspection. From 
among them we have chosen the present, partly on account of the interest which 
is invariably attached to anything novel, but more for its own intrinsic loveliness. 
For its introduction we are indebted to Mr. Bid will, who obtained specimens 
two or three years ago in New Holland. A large mass of the pseudo-bulbs were 
purchased at the sale of that gentleman's collection, by the Messrs, Loddiges, of 
Hackney, in whose nursery a few flowers were produced in 1844. In February 
of the present year, the character and beauty of the species were more fully 
revealed, by a copious display of blossom, and through the additional vigour and 
health which the plants had acquired since the former period ; and being favoured 
with the permission of Messrs. Loddiges, we accordingly had the accompanying 
figure prepared . 
In this species we are presented with the same character which has been pre- 
viously noticed in other New Holland kinds, of a pseudo-bulbous stem, crowned 
with a few leathery leaves, and elongating in the form of a spike of flowers ; a 
familiar instance of which is afforded in D. speciosum. Our plant, however, is by 
no means possessed of the huge size and stoutness for which D. speciosum is 
VOL. XII. NO. CXXXVII. O 
