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ORNITHOCEPHALUS GLADIATUS. 
Sword-leaved Omithocephalus. 
GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA.-.Nat. Ohd. ORCHIDE^. 
Sect. IV. Anthera terminalis mobilis decidua. Massse pollinis demum cereaca-^BR. in 
Hort. Kew. 
Gen. Char.-— Ffore* resupinati, Lahellum subpedicellatum longe attenua- 
tura. Petala subaequalia^ duo superiora demum reflexa. Columna bre- 
vis hinc apice una cum antheram longissime rostrata. Massce pollinis 
4>, pedicello valde elongate, basi biglanduloso affixee. 
Omithocephalus gladiatus. 
Roots numerous, flexuose, fibrous, whitish. Leaves distichous, vertical, each 
embracing the one above it by means of a cleft in its base, sword-shaped^ 
compressed, succulent, rather obtuse, slightly curved inwards, of a glau- 
cous green colour. 
From the axils of one of the leaves springs the peduncle, scarcely exceeding 
the leaves in length, at the extremity forming a raceme or lax spike of 
a few small flowers ; each flower having an ovato-cordate amplexicaul 
bractea at the base, and two or three others below upon the peduncle* 
Flowers resupinate (or having the lip upwards). Petals 5, the lower sub^ 
equal, the three inferior ones bending forward, the two upper ones at 
length bent back ; all of them nearly equal in size, pale green, submu-i 
cronate. Lip inarticulated, inserted Upon a short stalk ; at the base broad, 
thickish, yellow-green, slightly concave in the middle, with two lobes on 
each side of the little stalk ; suddenly attenuated into a long, white, mem- 
branaceous, incurved extremity, which forms two wings along the back 
of the broad, thickened part. 
Column short, with the concave stigma in the front; the extremity in the fore 
part forming a remarkably long beak, curved downwards. The anther 
is green, corresponding with the beak, being broad at the base, and some*, 
what 4-lobed, and suddenly attenuated into a long curved beak. The 
base is distinctly 4-celled, and receives the four masses of pollen, which 
are globular, deep yellow, sessile or nearly so^ and which are attached to 
the upper side at the extremity of a very long white footstalk, which 
takes the form of the beak of the anther and top of the stigma, and which, 
at its base, has two lips or glands, unequal in size. These glands pro- 
ject beyond the margin of the anther. Germen subcylindrical, curved, 
furrowed, not twisted. 
VOL. II. 
