HUNTLEYA VIOLACEA. 
(viOLET-FLOWERED HUNTLEYA.) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
GYNANDRIA. MONANDRIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
ORCHIDACEiE. 
Generic Character. — Perianth showy, nearly equal; lateral sepals folded a little obliquely at the front 
part of the base. Labellum flat, clawed, rhomboid, spreading, much fimbriated at the lower part, 
with the free base prolonged and articulated to the column. Column club-shaped, cucullate at the 
summit, with a winged margin. Anthers two-celled, pointless. Pollen-masses four. 
Specific Character. — Plant epiphytal, stemless, and destitute of pseudo-bulbs. Leaves embracing each 
other at the base, erect, acute, slightly plaited. Peduncles axillary, from four to six inches long, 
pendulous, and hearing a single flower. Sepals and petals oblong, obtuse, curled at the margin, and 
rather so at the points. Labellum kidney-shaped, emarginate, with a conspicuously furrowed 
crest. Column large, fleshy, boat-shaped. 
From the exceedingly singular character of the flowers, their peculiar and 
uncommon colour, and the liberality in which they are borne, this handsome 
Orchidaceous plant is entitled to very high consideration among the admirers of 
the tribe. Besides, it has now become almost the sole representative of a remark- 
able genus ; for Messrs. Rollisson of Tooting, who possessed the only plant of 
H. meleagris , having separated it with the view of supplying a gentleman, who 
was extremely desirous of obtaining it, with a specimen, lost the original ; and, 
with the exception of that above mentioned, which has since furnished a small 
sickly offset to the firm from whence it was procured, we believe there is no more 
at present living in the country. 
H. meleagris is not very different from the species now before us in habit or 
appearance ; and the flowers, too, are uniformly solitary : they are produced, 
however, on erect peduncles, and have a yellow-coloured ground, with irregular 
blotches of brownish purple. The blossoms of H. violacea are, on the contrary, 
protruded on pendulous scapes ; their form is more interesting, their size greater, 
and their hue a beautiful bluish purple or violet. They appear indifferently at 
nearly all seasons, and we have seen them expanded at Messrs. Loddiges’ at least 
six or seven times in the year : in addition to which, the flowers last several 
weeks. A large specimen will sometimes develop from four to six flowers at 
once ; and their dimensions, striking tints, and the curious crest on their lip, 
render them most deeply interesting. 
VOL. VIII. NO. LXXXV. 
B 
