25 
CAMAROTIS PURPUREA. 
(purple-flowered CAMAROTIS.) 
CLASS. OllDKH. 
GYNANDiUA. MONANDRIA. 
natural order, 
ORCHIDACEtE. 
Generic Character. — Perianth showy. Sepals lateral, opposite each other, and connate with the back 
of the labellnm ; free at the summit. Petals somewhat smaller, free. Lahellum obovate, 
channelled, with a one-chambered appendage at the point. Column erect, cylindrical, free, with a 
very long serpent-shaped beak. Anthers dorsal, pointletted, semi -two-celled. Pollen-masses two, 
with a very long subulate appendage. Radicle nipper-shaped. 
Specific Character. — Plant epiphytal. Stems caulescent, ascending. Leaves oblong-linear, emarginate, 
unequal at the extremities. Flowers pale-purple, of a deeper hue at the point of the lahellum. 
Labellum furnished with a little, crooked, hollow, awl-shaped appendage near the apex, the figure 
of which is that of a slipper-shaped cavity, wholly constituting the summit of this member; slightly 
drawn together at the sides, but expanding at the margins. 
A FIGURE of this highly interesting plant, prepared from East Indian drawings, 
was published by Dr. Lindley in an early number of his splendid Sertum Orchi- 
daceum, at which time it was scarcely known in Britain ; indeed, was supposed 
not to exist. It formed a part, however, of the collection brought by Mr. Gibson 
to His Grace the Duke of Devonshire's seat at Chatsworth, in 1837 ; ^^-nd having 
been received also by Messrs. Loddiges, a specimen flowered with these gentlemen 
in May 1839, from which our artist was obligingly allowed to execute the accom- 
panying drawing. 
The striking similarity of character apparent in many Vandeous Orchidacew is 
not departed from in the present new genus. The erect, caulescent habitude, 
long, tortuous, drooping aerial roots, with even the unequal emarginate foliage 
found in Saccolahiums and other congenerous groups, are here strictly preserved ; 
the flowers alone imparting to it a distinctive individuality of structure. Still, 
with regard to the former particulars, it may be noted that this plant has a light, 
loose, airy appearance peculiar to itself, and the colour of its green portions is 
paler than that of the species of related genera. Respecting the blossoms. Dr. 
^ VOL. VII.— NO. LXXIV. E 
