160 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
Gynandria Monandria.— Orchidece. 
Mormodes luocatum. The genus Mormodes has so entirely 
the habit of Catasetum, that we have no means of distinguishing 
those two genera except when in flower. At that time Mormodes 
presents some peculiarities, of so strange a nature, that if they 
were not found constant in several species we should be tempted 
to regard them as monstrosities. In particular, the column, 
instead of being straight, and standing erect in the centre of 
the flower, is bent over to one side, just as if it had been subject 
to violence. There is also a great irregularity of direction and 
proportion in the parts which surround the column : nowhere 
are these singularities so strongly marked as in this species, 
whose sepals and petals, instead of standing in an obviously 
alternate position with respect to each other, are so completely 
broken up and twisted out of their places that they can hardly 
be recognised, and the whole floral apparatus is as it were dis¬ 
located. For example: of the three sepals, the back one is 
placed almost opposite one of the petals; the other petal is 
shifted to one side, so as to stand half behind the first; and the 
lip, instead of being stationed exactly between the two petals 
and two lateral sepals, turns its back to the left-hand sepal, and 
its face to the right-hand petal : and then the column is bent to 
the left as well as the lip, though not to the same degree, so 
that even these two organs are not, as they usually are, opposite 
each other. — Bot. Reg . 
Dodecandria Monogynia. — Portulacece. 
Portulcica splendens. We presume this to be a mere variety 
of P. Thellusonii; but if so, it is one of singular beauty. Its 
origin is, however, unknown to us, Seeds of it were purchased of 
Mr.Charlwood, in Covent Garden, for the Horticultural Society; 
and in their garden it flowered in the autumn of 1842. It is a 
charming tender annual, about a foot high, ^ith an abundant 
supply of its large red flowers from July to September. — 
Bot. Reg . 
Lycaste plana. A Bolivian plant, imported by Messrs. Lod- 
diges, with whom it flowered in October last. It is conspicuous 
for the large size of its leaves, and is, in fact, very near L. ma- 
crophylla, from which it differs in the petals being quite even, 
not undulated, and in the lateral sepals being much more ex¬ 
actly oblong, added to which is a greater degree of bluntness 
on the tubercle of the lip. The beauty of the flowers of L., 
plana is far greater than in L. macrophylla, which wants the rich 
red-wine colour, and the pleasing contrast of pure white in the 
inner portions of the flower before us. — -Bot. Reg . 
