DENDROBIUM DALHOUSIEANUM. 
(Lady Palhousie's Dendrobiuin.) 
Class. 
GYNANDRIA. 
Order. 
MONANDRIA. 
Natural Order. 
ORCHIDACE^. 
Generic Character. — Sepals membranaceous, erect 
or spreading, lateral ones larger, oblique, connate 
with the column at the base. Petals higher than the 
sepals, and often larger, though occasionally smaller ; 
always membranaceous. Labellum with a foot articu- 
lated or connate with the column, constantly sessile, 
undivided or 3-lobed, sometimes membranaceous, 
sometimes appendiculate. Column semi-cylindrical, 
very much lengthened at the base. Anthers 2-ce\\&6.. 
Pollen-masses four, collateral, equal. 
Specific Character.— Ptonf epiphytal, caulescent. 
Stems strong, terete, pendulous. Leaves ovate-lanceo- 
late, obtuse, striated with purple. Racemes lateral, 
partially drooping, producing 8 to 12 flowers. Sepals 
oblong, obtuse, spreading. Petals somewhat broader, 
obovate, tapering towards the base. Labellum ellip- 
tical, concave, boat-shaped, with an acute, deflexed 
termination, and 7 slightly curved, transverse, unequal, 
partially elevated, purple streaks on each side, detached 
at the inner extremity. 
Our pages bear ample evidence of the splendour of this extensive family, the 
pride of East Indian Orchidacese. Already we have figured fourteen, most of 
them noble species, and the beauties of many so nicely poised, that it would be 
difficult to say to which the palm of superiority ought to be awarded. The present 
beauteous addition is a worthy rival to most of its congeners, and if amongst them 
we find some to eclipse it in depth and brilliancy of colour, it is yet surpassed by 
few in magnitude, or interesting features. 
Specimens were obtained by Mr. Gibson, the botanical collector of his Grace 
the Duke of Devonshire, from the botanic gardens of Calcutta, and by him trans- 
mitted to Chatsworth. Mr. Gibson never met with it in any part of the district 
which he explored. The Calcutta gardens were indebted for their plants to 
Lady Dalhousie, but it was unknown whence her ladyship procured them. Our 
plants, thus received, have continued to exhibit every symptom of perfect health, 
and have produced strong stems upwards of three feet in length, without manifesting 
any tendency to flower till last year, when a solitary raceme, which had begun to 
develop itself, was accidentally destroyed ere the flowers were unfolded. 
About two months ago, however, a specimen imported by Messrs. Loddiges, 
from the same gardens, flowered in the superb collection of those gentlemen at the 
Hackney nursery, and the coloured delineation on the opposite page was obtained 
through their obliging permission. 
VOL. XI. — NO. cxxvii. u 
