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MYANTHUS BARBATUS. 
(bearded-flowered MYANTHUS.) j 
CLASS. ORDER, 
GYNANDRIA. MONANDRIA, 
NATURAL ORDER, 
ORCHIDE^. 
Generic Character. — Sepals or calyx leaves^ three in number, spreading, the upper one the narrowest 
and approaching close to the two upper petals. Lahellum, or Up, flat, spreading, obovate and 
three-toothed. Column erect, tapering to a slender point at the extremity. Pollen masses two in 
number, and two-lobed behind. 
Specific Character — Epiphyte with the habit of Catasetum cristatum. Bulb, or bulb-like stem 
striated, oblong, jointed. Leaves dark green, glossy, ovate-lanceolate, deeply nerved. Spike 
springing from the root, growing out horizontally, and somewhat drooping at the end, about a 
foot long. Perianth expanded, yellowish green, tinged, and thickly spotted with dark purple, the 
two lower sepals or calyx-leaves spreading, oblong-lanceolate, the upper ones smaller and narrower, 
lying close to the two upper petals. Lahellum joined with the column, spreading, white and 
shining, numerously spotted with red spots, and much fringed or bearded, whence the specific character. 
This beautiful species of Myanthus is one of the last cargo of Orchidese im- 
ported by Mr. Lowe, of Clapton, through his collector, Mr. Henchmann, who 
found it, we believe, growing upon trees in Trinidad. 
Its flowers opened with us at Chatsworth last April, and emitted a delightful 
fragrance. The pure white and curious fringe of the labellum, and the dark 
spotting of the sepals and petals, form so striking a contrast^ as to greatly add to 
the novelty and beauty of the flower. 
In habit it greatly resembles the Catasetums, particularly the C. cristatum. 
Indeed, the only distinction existing betwixt the Catasetum and Myanthus, is the 
manner in which the sepals and petals expand, and the peculiar form of the lahel- 
lum. 
Being quite unacquainted with the species, we forwarded the specimen to Dr. 
Lindley, who was so kind as to inform us that it was named Myanthus barbatus, 
and had lately flowered in several collections. 
It is easily cultivated in decayed peat soil, and requires the heat of a stove, hke 
the Catasetums. 
The generic name is derived from the Greek word, Mi/ia, a fly, because the 
flowers look, when dried, very much like a fly pressed flat (Lindl.) ; and the 
specific name from the bearded appearance of the lahellum. 
