EPIDENDRUM PHOENICEUM. 
Class. 
GYNANDRIA. 
(Purple-flowered Epidendrum.) 
Natural Order. 
ORCHID ACEiE. 
Order. 
MONANDRIA. 
Generic Character.— Sepals spreading, nearly equal. 
Petals similar to the sepals, or narrower, rarely broader, 
spreading or reflexed. Labellum with its margins en- 
tirely or partially connate with the column ; limb entire 
or divided; disc often fleshy, ribbed or tubercled, occa- 
sionally prolonged into a spur. Column elongated, with 
a marginate clinandrum, sometimes fimbriated. An- 
thers fleshy, two to four celled. Pollen-masses four. 
Specific Character.— Plant epiphytal. Pseudo-bulbs 
roundish-ovate, two-leaved. Leaves oblong-linear, erect. 
Scape panicled, scabrous. Sepals and petals almost 
equal, leathery, obovate-lanceolate. Lip with its side 
lobes oblong, erect, obtuse, recurved at the points; 
middle lobe larger, membranaceous, roundish, undu- 
lated, emarginate, with two elevated plates at the base. 
Column obovate, marginate, one-toothed on both sides. 
Messrs. Loddiges, who have introduced so many noble epiphytes to this 
country, and in whose magnificent collection several new ones develop their flowers 
every month, imported this very handsome Epidendrum from Cuba some time in 
the year 1840, and it bloomed with these gentlemen in the summer of 1841. Our 
artist then prepared the drawing which is now given, and a sketch for the woodcut 
below. 
"Beautiful as it is," says Dr. Lindley, in the last number of his Sertum 
Orchidaceum, " it approaches very nearly to the dingy E. adenocarpon of La Llave 
and Lexarza, which is the same as Mr. Bateman's E. papillosum ; and differs 
principally in the structure of the lip, which in this species has two distinct 
elevated plates at its base, ending abruptly, without throwing out any runners 
into the main surface of the lip ; while in E. adenocarpon there are no plates, but 
the whole base of the lip below the column is thick and fleshy, whence diverge 
five slender radiating veins, the central of which is thickest." 
It must not be inferred, from the above extract, that there is any dulness or 
dinginess in the flowers of our present subject. The colours are perfectly bright, 
and, though not easily definable, have a very lively and pleasing appearance. 
Indeed, it is one of the finest Epidendra of which we have yet any distinct know- 
ledge. 
As will be seen by the figure, it belongs to the pseudo-bulbous division of the 
genus. Its pseudo-bulbs are large, nearly round, and have an unusually clear and 
agreeable aspect. The flower-scape reaches from two to three feet in height, and 
is proportionably strong; it is covered all over with minute asperities. The 
flowers, which are scentless, are of a considerable size, and continue opening for 
VOL. IX. — NO. CI. O 
