50 
65. COLAX. 
Several years ago I proposed the establishment, under this 
name, of a genus which eventually proved the same as Maxil- 
laria ; and which was therefore abandoned. I would now pro- 
pose to apply it to a small set of plants of the Maxillaridous 
division of Vandese, at present included in the genus Maxil- 
laria itself. These species, consisting of my M. viridis and 
jugosa, and the M. placanthera of Sir W. Hooker, have the 
closed, scarcely ringent, flower of Promenaea and Warrea, hut 
they have a caudicula quite unlike any thing at present known 
among their race. It has no distinct gland, but consists en- 
tirely of a thin wavy membrane, strengthened by an elevated 
line in the middle, and gradually narrowing to the point, 
where the gland is usually found. It has also a thick fleshy 
crested anther, whose cells are planted on its lower side. I 
cannot but regard these circumstances as sufficient to justify 
the separation of the plants in which they are found as a dis- 
tinct genus. The following characters will indicate the limits 
of the genus and its species. 
Colax. Flores subglobosi, vix ringentes, in mentum breve 
producti. Sepala et petala subsequalia. Labellum ungui- 
culatum, trilobum, inappendiculatum, planiusculum (vix 
cucullatum). Columna paulo elongata semiteres, clinan- 
drio marginato. Anthera carnosa, cristata. Pollinia 4, 
in paribus globosis colligata, caudiculse obovatse membra- 
nac^ae adnata; glandula nulla ; rostello fisso.- Plerbae 
pseudobulbosa? ; folia terminalia et radicalia, plicata. Pe- 
dunculi radicales, erecti, uniflori, vaginati. Flores vire- 
sccntcs. 
1. C. viridis (Maxillaria viridis, Lindl. in Bot. Reg. t. 1510.) ; sepalis peta- 
lisque conniventibus oblongo-subrotundis obtusis subaequalibus, labelli 
brevis trilobi iobo medio transverse rhomboideo unguiculato piano. 
Brazil. Flowers green, with a dingy violet lip. That it differs from 
C. placanthera, in the manner stated under that species, I know from 
having preserved the specimen from which the figure in the Botanical 
Kegister was taken ; which figure well represents the peculiar rounded 
form of the sepals. I believe it is no longer in our gardens ; for C. pla- 
canthera is usually cultivated under its name. 
2. C. placanthera (Maxillaria placanthera, Hooker in Bot. Mag. t. 31 73. 
Lindl. in Bot. Reg. 1841. misc. 103.) ; sepalis lineari-oblongis obtusis 
intus secus medium seriatim maculatis, petalis angustioribus omninb 
conformibus maculatis, labelli angusti trilobi minute pubescentis laevis 
laciniis lateralibus acutis nanis intermedia dilatata rotundata cuneata, 
columna apice lobata versus basin bisulca pubescente.— — Brazil. 
