53 
PL. CCLXXXVIII. 
PHALAENOPSIS SPECIOSA rchb. f. 
THE FINE PHALAENOPSIS. 
PHALAENOPSIS, Vide supra, p. 21. 
Phalaenopsis speciosa. E grege P. Luddemannianae; labelli lacinia antica carnosa prope ancipiti, apice cüm 
pulvinar filorum ; laciniis lateralibus ligulatis retusis, extus pauci-dentatis, dente supremo maximo, callo in disco 
antrorsum progrediente aristulis geminis quadrigeminis ; pari minori superiori ; columnae androclinio denticulato. 
Planta speciosa. Folia cuneato-oblonga obtuse acuta. Panicula seu racemus. Flores stellati pulchri extus aquose albo- 
rosei seriebus macularum purpurearum, intus purpureus fasciis paucis albis in tepalorum basi. Labelli laciniae latérales 
medio flavae, apice et basi albae. Lacinia antica alba et purpurea; seu prope omnis purpurea. Ex Asia tropica. 
Misit cl. Bull. 
Phalaenopsis speciosa Rchb. f. in Gard. Chron., 1881, I, p. 562; id., 1882, II, p. 745, fig. 130-2; Warn. 
& Will. Orchid Album, IV, t. 158. 
bis is “ the nearest ally of Phalaenopsis Corningiana , with large leaves 
“ like those of P. Lüddemanniana and a panicle or raceme of fine stellate 
“ flowers. Sepals and petals whitish rose outside with rows of purple 
“ blotches, purple inside, with a few white bars at the base of the petals. Side 
“ lacinia of the lip yellow, white at the top and base; middle lacinia white with 
“ much purple or nearly purple, and with a tuft of hairs at apex. It is remarkable 
“ that we hâve here once more an instance of the central blade of the lip becoming 
“ ancipitous and fleshy, and this is the distinguishing character of this species 
“ among its nearest allies. The column has a toothed anther-bed. The species 
“ seems to be very remarkable. It is much praised for perfuming the air in a 
“ delightful way. It is quite a new discovery. ” 
The plant now figured is thus described by Professor Reichenbach fil. in 
The Gardeners ’ Chronicle of April 30 th 1881 ; and the same author added, over 
a year later (December g th 1882) the following : — 
“ This plant is very clearly distinct from P. tetraspis , although it is allied 
“ to that plant in the same way that it bears a family resemblance to P. Lüdde- 
“ manniana. An experienced eye can, however, see a considérable distinction, 
“ even when out of flower, in the character of the leaves and the roots. The 
“ leaves, in P. tetraspis , are of a very dark green, and are of considérable 
“ thickness ; in P. speciosa the leaves are much lighter in colour, having almost 
“ a yellow tinge, and are of less substance, and the roots are less numerous and 
“ rather fiat. But when we corne to the flowers, a great différence présents itself. 
“ The plant is altogether more floriferous than P. tetraspis; the colour and 
“ markings are beautiful, the common form of the flowers having large blotches 
“ and streaks of rosy-purple (rose-madder) on a white ground, but scarcely any 
