BARKERIA SPECTABILIS. 
(Remarkable Barkeria.) 
Class. Order. 
GYNANDRIA. MONANDRIA, 
Natural Order. 
ORCHIDACE^. 
Generic Chauactkr.— Sepals and petals equal, free, 
membranaceous, very spreading. Labellum smooth, 
entire, naked, cuneate and pointed, pressed close to the 
column. Column petal-shaped. Anthers four-celled, 
fleshy. Pollen-masses four, with as many ligulate re- 
flexed caudicul8B, connate in pairs. 
SpEcrrrc Character. — Plant an epiphyte. Stems 
cylindrical. Leaves lanceolate, acute, fleshy, a little 
tinged with reddish brown. Raceme loose, many- 
flowered. Sepals linear-lanceolate. Petals ovate, acu- 
minate. Labellum ovate-lanceolate, three-keeled. 
For the introduction of this species, which is one of the most lovely of Orchidaceae, 
cultivators are indebted to G. U. Skinner, Esq., whose exertions in stocking the 
country with line plants of this charming tribe are familiar to every grower. 
Writing about it in the Botanical Register, Dr. Lindley remarks that, " under 
the name of Flor de Isabel this plant forms one of the votive offerings of the Gua- 
temalese. It forms a tuft of cylindrical stems about four or five inches high, each 
of which bears two fleshy lanceolate acute leaves, separated from each other by 
intervals of about an inch. The raceme rises out of some brown dry sheaths, and 
in the plants that have flowered bears about six most lovely nodding blossoms ; but, 
according to Mr. Skinner, it varies in length from three inches to a foot, producing 
as many as twelve flowers in a raceme. The expanded flowers are nearly three 
and a half inches wide, their colour is a bright lilac ; the labellum is white at the 
base and in the middle, lilac at the edge and point, and richly marked with small 
blood-red spots. Along its middle, below the column, are five purple lines, which 
pass into three elevated colourless ridges, beyond the place where the anther touches 
the lip. It is with Cattleyas and such beautiful plants, that this charming species 
is worthy to be arranged." 
We owe our drawing to the obliging attention of Mrs. Wray, Oakfield, near 
Cheltenham, whose gardener, Mr. J. Brewster, we have also to thank for the fol- 
lowing particulars. " The plant was imported from Guatemala in July, 1841, when 
it immediately began to grow ; and, late in autumn, it showed flower-scapes, but 
VOL. X. NO. cxvi. z 
