DENDROBIUM NOBILE. 
(noble dendrobium.) 
class. order, 
GYNANDRTA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
QRCHIDACEiE. 
Generic Character. — Vide vol. iii. p. 77. 
Specific Character. — Plant epiphytal. Stems terete, slightly moniliform, erect, strong, from one to 
three feet high, sometimes branched. Leaves oblong, oblique, obtusely-marginate. Flowers in 
twos or threes; springing from the joints of the year-old stems, opposite to the point whence the leaves 
have fallen, on long slender pedicels, large, very showy. Sepals elliptical ; petals similar, but larger 
and rather more wavy at the margin, of a delicate flesh-colour, but darker at the tips. Labellum 
nearly round, cucullate, slightly hairy, yellowish, with a dark purple centre, and a small rim of 
reddish pink round the extremity. 
Perhaps, of all the species of Dendrobium yet cultivated in Britain, none is 
capable of outvying the present plant. In richness and luxuriance of habit, in 
general elegance and symmetry of form, and above all in the surpassing beauty of 
its flowers, it stands nearly unequalled. To D. rnoniliforme it is much superior in 
every respect, although they have several features in common, but to D. coerulescens 
it bears so strict a resemblance that only the botanist can readily detect a differ- 
ence. The principal point of distinction is, we believe, in the labellum of the 
flowers ; that of D. coerulescens being acufce and more like the lip of D. moniliforme 
in outline, whereas in Z). nobile it is perceptibly roundish. 
Our East Indian possessions, which are now well known to be extremely 
fertile in Dendrobia, boast the parentage of this lovely species. As far as we can 
ascertain, it was primarily introduced to England by Messrs. Loddiges of Hackney, 
about the year 1836. So rapid has been its progress in the interval, that these 
gentlemen possess a magnificent specimen, the dimensions of which may be accu- 
rately stated as nearly three feet every way, with probably between thirty and 
forty fine stems, and yearly increasing. It is altogether the handsomest and most 
compactly grown orchidaceous plant we have hitherto met with, and in a few 
more years, if it continue advancing at the present rate, will be a perfect prodigy. 
