Tab. 6284. 
GONGORA PORTENTOSA. 
Native of New Grenada. 
Nat. Orel. Orchideve. — Tribe Vandeas. 
Genus Gongora, Ruiz and Pav. (JEndl. Gen. PI. vol. i. p. 199.) 
Gongora portentosa; pseudobulbis conico-ovoideis, foliis elliptico-lanceolatis, 
pedunculo elongato, racemo laxo multifloro pendulo, floribus longo-pedicellatis 
pallide carneis petalis columna labellique disco violaceo-punctatis, sepalo 
dorsali unguiculato lamina ovato-lanceolata acuminata, lateralibus late-ovato- 
oblongis acutis basi lata oblique truncata, petalis linearibus falcatis caudato* 
acuminatis, labello crasse carnoso compresso medio incrassato et antice trun 
cato superne tentaculis 2 retrorsis instructo apice in caudam rectam v. 
apice decurvam abrupte angustato, columna gracile exalata. 
G. portentosa, Reiclib. and Lind, in Gard. Ghron 1869, p. 892; Andre in Vlllust. 
Horticol. vol. xviii. p. 92, t. 61. 
A very remarkable species of a genus already well known 
for the grotesque forms assumed by its flowers, and for the 
adaptation of these to ensuring cross-fertilization by insects. 
In the present genus the upturned margins of the lip, as 
observed by Mr. Darwin (Fertilization of Orchids, p. 276), 
no doubt act as lateral guides to lead insects up to stand 
beneath the middle of the rostellum and carry the pollen. 
The genus Gongora is rapidly being recruited with new 
species from tropical America, and especially the Andes. 
Only two are enumerated in Lind ley’s Genera and Species of 
Orchidese; upwards of fifteen species are now known, and 
we have drawings of other unfigured ones. The present one 
is a native of Cundinamarca, in the province of Bogota, and 
was discovered by Mr. Wallis in 1868. It has been widely 
distributed by M. Linden, and the specimen here figured, 
flowered with Mr. Bull, of Chelsea, in April, 1874. 
Descr. Pseudohulb two to three inches long, between 
ovoid and conical, faintly-grooved, dark green. Leaves six to 
ten inches long, elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate. Scape slender, 
very pale; bracts small. Raceme pendulous, laxly many- 
MARCH 1st, 1877. 
