217 
MILTONIA RUSSELLIANA. 
(dx;ke of Bedford's miltonia.) 
class. ordku. 
GYNANDRTA. MONANDRIA. 
na^tural orukr. 
ORCHIDACEtE. 
Generic Character. — Vide vol. vi. p. 241. 
Specific Character. — Plant epiphytal. Pseudo-bulbs ovate, ribbed, tv.'o-loaved. Leaves narrowly 
lanceolate, spreading, lively green. Racemes radical, few-flowered. Stem dusky purple. Sepals 
and petals similar, ovately-oblong, slightly undulated, of a brownish purple hue, margined and 
striped with greenish yellow. Labellum ellipticaliy wedge-shaped, bent back, beaked, somewhat 
wavy, scales of the centre truncate ; chiefly lilac. Wings of the column partially ovate, erose, 
acute, yellow, with a purple margin on each side of the base. 
So very nearly related are some of the genera of Orcliidacese to each other, 
and so extremely minute are the characters which separate them, that even 
Dr. Lindley published an account of the present species under the name of Onci- 
dium Russellianum, with a declaration, however, tliat it had some marks of 
distinction from the established features of the genus. And when the genus 
Miltonia was founded, the affinity of this plant with M. Candida became so apparent 
that it has subsequently been attached to that group. 
Considering the few species which Miltonia yet comprises, and the peculiarly 
ornamental nature of all their blossoms, perhaps this recent addition will bring very 
little honour to the genus. It is undoubtedly inferior to all its allies in the size of 
its flowers, and the gaudiness of their colours ; but the difference between it and 
the beautiful M. Candida in these respects, is not so striking as might at first be 
imagined, and the fine purplish lilac of its lip helps to compensate for ofcher defects. 
There is, moreover, a liveliness in the verdure of its leaves and pseudo-bulbs, and 
an unmistakeable appearance of vigorous health, which are in some degree wanting 
to its congeners ; and which, on account of the universal love of mankind for those 
pleasing hues which betoken a flourishing condition, are always more or less to be 
prized. 
VOL. VII. NO. LXXXII. F F 
