CATASETUM - ITS CHARACTERS, VARIETIES, ETC. 133 
It also belongs to the open-flowering species, or rather, to the 
true species. The flowers are large and handsome ; their colour 
is a blueish grey. The lip is very singularly formed, having a 
ridge along the centre of it, and being somewhat concave on the 
under side ; and it has the appearance of being folded together, 
and as if one of the folds had risen higher than any of the others. 
A native of Mexico ; introduced in 1840. 
Catasetum maculatum. — In my opinion, this is nothing 
more than the abortive form of the above species ; but as it is 
described as a species, we shall speak of it as such. The pseudo¬ 
bulbs are short and thick, like those of laminatum ; the flowers 
are large, and beautifully spotted with brown ; the sepals and 
petals are green and white ; the spots are very large ; the lip is 
saccate at its base. The flowers of this variety are more open than 
in the varieties of cristatum; at the upper edge of the saccate 
portion of this species or variety there are no teeth as in triden- 
tatum ; there is also a number of varieties belonging to this, as 
well as to tridentatum; some are larger in their flowers, and some 
are smaller, as well as differently spotted; there is one variety 
almost green, dotted with purple, and it is smaller than the true 
maculatum. A native of Mexico; introduced 1836. 
Catasetum Hookerii. —This is another fine variety, for a 
species I cannot think it is, because it has every appearance of 
tridentatum , but differs from that variety in the form of the 
flowers. In a genus like this, little dependence can be placed 
on the forms of the flowers, as far as regards specific difference, 
unless those plants produce seed, and every one of the seedlings 
come like the parent; then it ought to be considered a species, 
but not otherwise. A native of Brazil; introduced in 1816. The 
colour of the flower is yellow and purple. 
Catasetum viridiflorum, (green-flowered.')—' This is only a 
variety of luridum, with green flowers; though published as a species 
in the Botanical Magazine. This at once shows what a confusion 
is produced by constituting species and genera without sufficient 
grounds. A native of Demerara. 
Catasetum poriferum, (pore-bearing.') This is, again, another 
variety, with pores or small holes, as if it was pricked with a pin. 
The colour of the flowers is green and purple. A native of De¬ 
merara ; introduced in 1837. 
