MILTONIA CLOWESII. 
(Mr. Clowes's Miltonia.) 
Class. 
GYNANDRIA. 
Order. 
MONANDRIA. 
Natural Order. 
ORCHID ACEiE. 
Generic Character. — Perianth showy. Petals and 
sepals revolute, lateral ones connate at the base, sessile, 
similar. Labellum largest, dilated, undivided, sessile, 
connate with the column, lanceolate at the base. 
Column short, semi-cylindrical, eared at the summit. 
Pollen-masses two, with an oblong, adnate caudicula. 
Specific Character.— Plant epiphytal. Pseudo-bulbs 
oval, two-leaved. Leaves ensiform, narrow, erect, 
longer than the scape. Raceme few-flowered, lax. Bracts 
small, setaceous. Sepals and petals lanceolate, equal. 
Labellum cordate, constricted in the middle, acute, 
with five unequal, abrupt lamellae at the base. 
This very beautiful species of Miltonia was, we believe, introduced by 
J. Clowes, Esq., of Broughton Hall, near Manchester, and after that gentleman, 
who is a very zealous collector and cultivator of the tribe, it has appropriately 
been named. 
It approaches nearest to M. Candida, which is, perhaps, the finest member of 
the genus, and resembles that species in several prominent characteristics. Its 
pseudo-bulbs and leaves are somewhat similar, except that the former are rather 
more tapering towards the summit, and mostly a trifle greener. The foliage par- 
takes, too, of the partial yellow tint of that of M. Candida, though in neither of 
these is it so marked as in M. spectabilis. The flowers are, moreover, exceedingly 
like those of M. Candida in general conformation, only being a very little smaller. 
Their sepals and petals are, again, of nearly the same colours, having broad brown 
blotches on a yellowish ground. But the structure of the lip is altogether different, 
and its hues are quite peculiar. It is very considerably compressed in the middle, 
by the folding back of the edges ; and this construction almost gives it the appear- 
ance of being composed of two parts. The point, besides, is greatly attenuated. 
At first, it is said to be perfectly white ; but it afterwards acquires, towards the 
base, that lovely violet and pinkish tint exhibited in the drawing. 
Like M. Candida, it is one of the most desirable of Orchidacese, on account of 
its flowering through the dull months of October, November, and December. It 
even blooms longer than its very prolific ally, for a specimen at Messrs. Rollisson's, 
Tooting, has been in blossom since the end of September, and has yet several perfect 
VOL. IX. — NO. CVII. I I 
