07 
MILTON I A SPECTABILIS, 
(showy miltonia.) 
class. order. 
GYNANDRIA. MONANDRIA, 
NATURAL ORDER. 
ORCHIDACEiE, 
Generic Character.— - Vide vol. vi. p. 241. 
Specific Character. — Plant epiphytal. Scape cylindrical, spreading ; scales keeled, cartilaginous, equi- 
tant, obtuse, brownish green. Flowers large, very showy. Sepals pale, greenish white, oblong, 
apiculate, a little undulated, reflexed at the margin. Petals similar in form and colour, but broader, 
and rather curled at the edges. Labellum greatest, roundly wedge-shaped, undulated, continuous 
with the column, purplish violet at the base, lighter towards the margin, seven-nerved ; veins conver- 
gent, bowed, coloured, the three central ones crested at the base ; crests entire, truncate, middle one 
shorter, thicker, more elevated, yellow. Column short, erect, compressed, the colour of the petals, 
gibbous, yellow at the base, and connate with the labellum ; two wings purple, fleshy, scimitar-shaped. 
Synonym f.. — Macrochilus Fryanus. 
Messrs. Lobdiges, whose unrivalled collection of Orcliidacess develops monthly 
a greater number of novelties than that of any other European establishment, had 
the honour of first flowering the handsome plant in which the genus Miltonia 
originated ; and the fine variety here represented also blossomed in the same 
nursery during the month of July, 1839. It is but very slightly separated 
from the species named spectahilis, the only difference being a broad purplish band 
in the centre of the sepals and petals, the former of these organs likewise having a 
still darker streak down the middle. These deviations, although very perceptible, 
and imparting a greater degree of beauty to the flowers, we have not considered 
sufficient to constitute a decided variety, demanding a new designation. 
The appearance of Miltonia spectabilis is so peculiar, that it may readily be dis- 
tinguished from the numerous species of Oncidium and other genera to which it is 
intimately allied in habit. It always exhibits a somewhat stunted aspect, the 
pseudo-bulbs and leaves, presenting a yellowish tinge, wholly different from 
the luxuriant greenness of most similar plants. This apparent sickliness is by no 
means displeasing : it is not of that morbid kind which indicates that the plant is 
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