241 
MILTONIA CANDIDA. 
< (white-lipped miltonia.) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
GYNANDRIA. MONANDRIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
ORCHID ACEiE. 
Generic Character. — Perianth showy. Petals revolute ; sepals lateral, connate at the base, sessile, 
resembling each other. Labellum large, dilated, undivided, sessile, slightly connate with the column, 
lamellate at the base. Column dwarf, semi-cylindrical, with large lateral ears or appendages at the 
summit. Pollen-masses two, with adnate oblong caudiculae. 
Specific Character. — Pseudo-bulbs ovate, narrowing towards the apex, two-leaved. Leaves narrow, 
shorter than the racemes. Bracts ovate, membranaceous, concave, squamseform. Sepals and 
petals oblong, equal. Labellum nearly round, curled, folded about the column, five-plated at the 
base. Column pubescent, two-eared at its base. 
Of this magnificent Brazilian epiphyte, Dr. Lindley truly observes, in his 
admirable Sertum Orchidaceum, that it " is one of the most noble of its race, and 
is scarcely rivalled by any of the beautiful species of Dendrobium or Cattleya." 
Its fine and richly-mottled blossoms contain such a charming combination of lively 
colours, and these are rendered so pleasingly prominent by the delicate white of 
the labellum, that they at once arrest and fix the eye of the spectator, and occasion 
the most vivid emotions of delight. But what constitutes the species particularly 
worthy of regard, is the great prodigality with which its flowers are produced, this 
property being conspicuous, not merely with respect to their profusion at one and 
the same period, but also for the certainty of its annual occurrence. 
We have found it impossible to give more than a portion of a single scape of 
flowers in one plate, and must apprise the reader that a strong plant will produce 
five or six spikes, each bearing from eight to twelve blossoms. These are disposed 
around the plant with such peculiar grace, inclining partially downwards by their 
own weight, that no moderately-sized figure could exhibit an entire specimen in its 
true form and proportions. To supply this defect, a small wood engraving is added 
on the succeeding page, by which some idea of its habit will be conveyed. 
In its cultivation, it seems to require a similar treatment to the species of 
Cattleya, with, perhaps, a trifling increase of heat and moisture. Plants in the 
VOL. VI. NO. LXXT. I I 
