P late X X X .
AERIDES QUINQUEVULNERA.
A. quinquevulnera; foliis ligulatis apice rotundatis obliqub emarginatis apiculo
interjecto, racemis pendulis multifloris foliis longioribus, labelli cucullati infun-
dibularis laciniis lateralibus erectis intermedia oblong^ inflexa denticulate,
calcare conico incurvo.
Mr. Hugh Cuming, who has been passing some time in the Philippines, and who has investigated
the Botany of those rich islands with great zeal and industry, sent the plant now published
to Messrs. Loddiges; with whom it flowered in August last.
It is one of the most showy of that beautiful race which is confined to the tropical parts of
Asia, and which claims for itself more particularly the name of air plants. Of these a great store,
by far the largest number, inhabit the eastern parts of A sia; in the genus Aerides proper, for
instance, out of twenty six species, sixteen are Javanese; and of them very little is known to
botanists in this country. Let us hope that the labours of Mr. Cuming will by degrees make them
familiar to us.
What is now represented is nearly allied to the delicious A. odoratum of Bengal, of which it
has all the habit; but it wants the delicate fragrance of that species, and yet it has a pleasant
aromatic odour; its flowers have each five purple blotches, and the middle lobe of the lip is
serrated; in all which circumstances the two species disagree.
The stem, leaves, and mode of growth are altogether those of A. odoratum.
The sepals and petals are fleshy, firm, roundish—white, with a few purple speckles near the
base, and a rich crimson stain at the apex ; the lateral sepals are much larger than the upper or the
petals. The lip is funnel-shaped, curved inwards at the base of its spur, which is conical and
green ; with its mouth it presses against the column, which is embraced by its two lateral lobes,
which are white speckled with purple ; the middle lobe is oblong, convex, serrated, deep crimson
with a white edge, and pressed close to the anther.