Tab. 6314. 
EPIDENDRUM Sophronitis. 
Nat. Orel. Orchide^e. — Tribe Epidendre;e. 
Genus Epidendrum, Linn. {Lindt. Fol. Orchid . Epidend. p. 1). 
Epidendrum (Hormidium) Sophronitis ; liumilis, caule repente robusto, pseudo- 
bulbis parvis, foliis paucis sessilibus patentibus oblongo lanceolatis acutis 
eoriaceis utrinque valde glaucis purpureo-marginatis crasse carnosis, floribus 
in pedunculo perbrevi crasso 2-3-floro, bracteis late ovatis acutis cucullatis 
valde carnosis, floribus sesquipollicaribus pallide luride viridi-luteis purpureo 
irroratis, sepalis ovato-lanceolatis sensim acuminatissimis dorsali recurvo 
lateralibus porrecto-deflexis, petalis minioribus et angustioribus recurvis, 
labelli ungue columnse adnato lamina coriacea lanceolato-linguseformi lateri- 
bus ad medium usque membrana viridi undulato-crenate marginato dein 
subulato sorclide purpureo, disco pallidiore tesselato concavo late nectarifera, 
columna brevi crassa conica alls crasse eoriaceis rotundatis. 
E. Sophronitis, Lindl. et Reichb. f. in Gard. Ghron. 1867, p. 655. Xen. Orchid. 
p. 160, t. 167, f. 1. 
This is certainly one of the most singular species of the 
vast genus Epidendrum, and few but skilled scientific Orchi- 
dologists, as Eeichenbach, would venture at first sight to 
refer it to its proper genus, so unlike is it to any with which 
we are familiar in horticultural establishments. That author 
has, however, correctly referred it to Lindley’s division 
Hormidium , characterised by the creeping rhizome, true 
pseudobulbs, and subsessile flowers. To it belong E. pyg- 
mceum , Hook (Tab. 3233), and a few other S. American 
species. Eeichenbach states that Lindley gave to the group 
the name Hormidium, from the species of it being miserable 
objects, inadvertently adding that they form a group of 
Lindley’s section Aulizeum , which has leafy stems and a 
pronged lip. Perhaps the most curious characters of E. 
Sophronitis are the broad honeyed area of the lip, and the most 
singular pale glaucous greenish waxy secretion that clothes 
both surfaces of the leaves. 
E. Sophronitis is a native of Loxa in Peru, where it has 
AUGUST 1st, 1877. 
