banks of the Rio Negro, a tributary of the Amazon; where, in the 
neighbourhood of Barcellos, or Mariua, we found it growing in large 
clusters on the trees which lined the river, sometimes on the Mauritia 
aculeata, or even on the ground, where the soil consisted of vegetable 
mould. It was so luxuriant that some of the large clusters of stems, 
which sprouted from a common root, might have been from ten to 
twelve feet in circumference.” The profusion of orchidaceous plants in 
tropical America may be judged of by the following statement of Dr. 
Walsh: The destruction of a tree in these woods does not lessen the 
abundance of vegetable life. On every stem which had lost its own 
bark and leaves, a crop of parasites had succeeded, and covered the 
naked wood with their no less luxuriant leaves and flowers. Of these 
the different species of air-plants, and Tillandsias were the most 
remarkable. The first were no less singular than beautiful; they 
attach themselves to the dryest and most sapless surface, and bloom 
as if springing from the richest soils. A specimen of one of these, 
which I thought curious, I threw into my portmanteau, where it was 
forgotten; and some months after, in unfolding some linen, I was 
astonished to find a rich scarlet flower in full blow; it had not only 
lived, but vegetated and blossomed, though so long excluded from air, 
light, and humidity. Every withered tree here was covered with 
them, bearing flowers of all hues, from the brightest yellow to the 
deepest scarlet.” Notices of Brazil, II, p. 306. 
Introduction; Where grown; Culture. Sent, by Mr. Schom- 
burg, to the ever-augmenting stores of the Messrs. Loddiges, at 
Hackney, where our drawing was made, in 1840. It grows in a pot, 
in the stove. Much attention must be given to ensure free drainage. 
Derivation of the Names. 
Galeandra, a word most inelegantly compounded of Galea a helmet, and 
avrjp a stamen, from the helmet-shaped crest of the anther. DEVONiANA,a 
justly merited compliment to the Duke of Devonshire, President of the 
Horticultural Society. 
Synonyme. 
Galeandra Devoniana. Bindley, Sertum Orchidaceum, t. 37. 
