17 
DENDROBIUM rhombeum. 
Rhomb-lipped Dendrobium. 
GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 
Nat. ord. Orchidacea:, § Malaxed. 
DENDROBIUM. Botanical Register, vol. 7-fol. 548. 
D. rhombeum; caulibus teretibus foliosis, foliis lanceolatis acutis, racemis bre- 
vibus 4-floris, sepalis ovalibus obtusis, petalis duplo latioribus ovatis, 
labello rhombeo undulato acuto medio pubescente, columna utrinque 
tuberculata pone basin cornu deflexo aucta, anthera pubescente. 
This pretty species has much general resemblance to 
D. aureum, from which however it differs in having smaller 
blossoms, a labellum without serratures, and the flowers in 
short racemes instead of pairs. 
It is a native of Manilla, whence it was sent by Mr. Cuming 
to Messrs. Loddiges, in whose catalogue it stands as no. 319, 
and with whom it flowered in August last. 
The imported specimen is less vigorous than it may be 
expected to become hereafter, in which case the number of 
flowers will probably be augmented. 
Here, as in some other cases, the column is furnished, 
near the base, with a deflexed horn lodged in a niche just 
above the insertion of the lip. This is a remarkable process, 
and is represented at fig. 1. of the accompanying plate ; its 
nature requires to be investigated. 
Like Maxillaria, the whole genus Dendrobium, with those 
which are near it, requires a careful revision ; but in the ab- 
sence, of more complete materials from the Indian islands, and 
especially of Dr. Blume’s Java species, it seems premature to 
undertake the operation. 
