P late XI.
LEPTOTES SERRULATA.
L. serrulata ; caule subdiphyllo, foliis glaucis maculosis, labelli lobo medio oblongo-
lanceolato acuminato lateralibus rotundatis serrulatis.
Epidendre ficoide. Descourtilz drawings, plate 28. p. 63.
This fine species is evidently distinguished from the rare Leptotes bicolor by its glaucous
leaves, which often grow in pairs, by its flowers which are three or four times as large, by the
labellum which is merely streaked with rays of purple, and by the auricles at its base being
serrulated.
The following is a translation of M. Descourtilz’s manuscript account of the species.
This charming plant is especially remarkable for the sweet odour of the Lilac which its flowers
exhale. It is found in blossom, in the month of December, on the trunk of Cedrela trees, in the
ancient Rocas of Brazil, where, without any sign of suffering, it survives the conflagrations that
destroy so many other plants. I also found it in plenty in the district of Upper Macahe, and
in that of Ilha Grande, where however it is more rare.
, The stems are cylindrical, creeping, covered with a sort of dry, smooth membrane, of a silvery
whiteness, and covering a portion of the base of each leaf. The leaves are cylindrical, thick,
succulent, fusiform, deeply channelled on the upper side, glaucous green or bluish, dotted with
violet-purple, especially underneath. Ther.e is a variety with the leaves twice as long, and falcate.
The scapes are cylindrical, both terminal and axillary, bright purple, covered with acute alternate
bracts. The ovaries are very long, united into a drooping raceme. The flower-buds are of a
yellowish rose, protuberant at their base. The flower is very large, stellate; the sepals
ribbon-shaped, rather broad, and white as the purest enamel; the petals narrower and thinner,
but equally white. The lip has, at its base, two short rounded auricles; otherwise it is strap-shaped
at the base with a white centre, whence there radiate numerous lines of the most brilliant lilac, and
is afterwards dilated into an ovate pointed or lanceolate limb of a beautiful white.