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GRAMMATOPHYLLUM MULTIFLORUM. 
(MiNY-FLOWERED GRAMMATOPHYLLUM.) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
GYNANDRIA. MONANDRIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
ORCHIDACE^. 
Generic Character. — Perianth conspicuous, spreading. Sepals and petals nearly equal. Labellum 
attached to the column, small, three-lobed, cucullate. Column arched, erect, semi-cylindrical, 
thickened at the base. Anthers usually two-celled. Pollen-masses two, globose, furrowed at the 
base, with a sessile, arched gland at the extremities. 
Specific Character. — Plant epiphytal. Pseudo-bulbs large, nearly round. Racemes partially drooping, 
very long, many-flowered. Bracts ovate-oblong, obtuse, in the form of scales, with convex backs. 
Sepals oblong, very blunt, flat ; petals acute, sometimes rather narrower than the sepals. Lahellum 
three-lobed, downy or hairy ; middle lobe flat, roundly oblong ; lateral ones erect, subfalcate, with 
an elevated fleshy ridge in the centre ; middle lobe severed at the base before the summit fades. 
Column with a raised margin, flexuose-, incurved, surrounding a deep, inversely conical cavity. 
When this fine species was originally introduced to Britain, considerable, 
expectation was excited, not only on account of the size of its pseudo-bulbs, and 
the apparent luxuriance of its habits, but also because it was supposed to be 
identical with the handsome Letter plant of the Malayan Archipelago, respecting 
which such high opinions had been entertained and circulated. A great number of 
plants having been sent to this country by Mr. Cuming, from Manilla, in 1837, 
every cultivator at once became anxious to obtain specimens, and perhaps few 
orchidacese, of such presumed value, were ever more speedily or extensively 
dispersed. 
We are informed that to J. Bateman, Esq., of Knypersly, Cheshire, the honour 
is due of first flowering it, and thus eliciting its true character. About the month 
of May, of the present year, a plant in the excellent collection of Baron Dimsdale, 
Campfield Place, Herts, unfolded its blossoms, and from this we were obligingly 
allowed to have a drawing executed in the following month. On the flowers 
appearing, it was at once discovered that this species, although belonging to the 
same genus as the Letter plants is essentially distinct, and, without question, much 
inferior. It is, however, very ornamental, of a remarkably free habit of growth, 
VOL. VI. — NO. LXX. P F 
