146 
BLETIA SHEPHERDII. 
(MR. SHEPHERD'S BLETIA.) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
GYNANDRIA. MONANDRIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
ORCHIDEiE. 
Generic Character. — Lip or Labellum sessile, cucullate. Sepals five, distinct. Column separate. 
Pollen Masses eight, or four and two lobed. 
Specific Character. — Terrestrial Orchidea. Leaves a foot or more long, plaited, lanceolate. Flower 
Stem about two feet six inches high, branching. Sepals dark purple. Column much paler. 
Labellum or Lip marked down the centre with longitudinal yellow plaits. Habit of growth that of 
the B. verecunda. 
Synonym — Limodorum tuberosum, Messrs. Shepherds, Liverpool. 
This orchideous plant is a native of Jamaica, from whence it was introduced 
some years ago (probably about 1825, or 1826), to Messrs. Shepherds', of Liver- 
pool ; after whom it has been named by Dr. Hooker, Sot. Mag., 3319. 
The flower is beautiful, and the plant should be cultivated in every collection of 
orchideous plants in the country. It flowered freely with us last February and 
March. 
It requires the constant heat of the stove, and should be potted in light loam 
and peat, and is easily propagated by division of the roots. 
For our figure we are indebted to the kindness of our friend, Mr. Cooper, of 
Went worth. 
Plants of this species may be obtained at any of the following: — Messrs. 
Loddiges, Hackney; Mr. Knight, King's-road, Chelsea; Messrs. Young's, of 
Epsom ; and, indeed, at most nurseries where collections of orchideae are kept. 
