OBCHIDS OF THE SJICKIM-HIJiALAVA.
T h e flowers aro -pm-e wliitc and are very toautiful. Morphologically they are of
extreme iaterest. because in them a theory, of tlie structure of the flower of Ophri/dece*
suggested with various degrees of distinetacss in the different species o£ JMcnaria, is
i n d i c a t e d witli comparative clearness. The siiperior (sterile) stigma stands quito separate
f r om the other two (fertile) stigmas, and equally so from the anther-colls. It fomis a
l a r g o smooth concavo erect termination to the column, while tho two other stigmas form
two elongate parallel processes overhanging the claw of the lip, conjoined by their edges
i n the lower half, but with their anteiior halves free and ciu-ved downwards. At each
side of and beiiiud the infertile stigma lies a triangular anther-cell, bearing on its exterior
surface tho staminode which, on this tiieory, is regarded as the rudimeat of its second
cell. The tubes of the parfect cells pass liorizontally outside and along the sides of the
i n f e r t i l e stigma and project hoiizontally far beyond it, each containing a caudicle
which bears on its extremity the viscid gland. This gland is quite ainconnected vdth
t h e walls of the tube. From these sti-uctm-al arrangements the following conclusions
a r e by tliis theory deduccd: (a) that in Diplomeris there are two anthers, one placed on
eacJi side of the posterior or infertile stigma; (}) that the staminode represents the second
cell of each anther; (c) that the viscid glands of the polHnia are not, in the expanded
flower, connected with the infertile stigma.
PLATE 443.—Diplomn-h hirsuia, Lindl. Pour entire plants growing on a stone, of natural s'se. Kg. 1
profile view of bract, OTary, base of lip and spur, and the columa showing the superior (infertile)
stigma ()•), perfect stigmas («), anther-cells (ac) and their pollininr glands (pg); 2 front -yiew of tho base
of the lip (?), imperfect stigma (>•), pwfect stigmas («), polliniar glands (j> <j) and orifice of tlie q)ur (c),
3 section of spur, 4 pollinia; all enUa-geii.
90. Satyr mm, Swartz.
T e r r e s t r i a l leafy erect herbs with undi-v-ided tubers. Leaves (in the Indian species)
large, flaccidly membranous, with wide sheaths (orbicular in tlie S. Indian specimens).
Flotvcrs in dense spikes. Sepals and peíais sub-similar, fi-ce, spreading or reflexed. Lip
superior, (from the ovary not being twisted), adnate to the base of the column, erect,
broad,- hood-shaped, 2-spurred (in the Indian species) or 2-saccate. Column much arched,
t e r e t e . Stigma single, large, convex or concave, borne on the upper lobe of the column.
Anther-cells dorsal or latej-al (lateral in the Indian species), tumid, sub-parallel, their tubes
a t a lower level than the stigma, pointing fonvard; pollinia two, the candieles curved,
e n d i n g in two large naked (sometimes connate) glands; species mostly African, onl y a few
Asiatic.
SATYRIUM NEPALENSE, Don Prodr. Fl Nep. 26.
Whole plant 20 to 30 in. high; iuier ellipsoidal, bearing stolons each with a small
t u b e r at its end. Siem glabrous, sheathed near the base; upwards beaiing two or three
leaves and, above these, several sub-tubular, lanceolate-oblong, acute or acuminate bracts.
Leaves somewhat fleshy, narrowly elliptic, sub-acute, the bases broad and sheathing;
l e n g t h 4 to 10 in., breadth 1-5 to 3-5 in. Spike 2 to 6 in. long. Flowers -3 in. in
diam. at tlie mouth; floral hract oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, deflexed, much longer than
t h e flower and turgid ovary. Sepals linear-oblong, obtuse, ciliolate, recurved. Petals
n a r r o w e r than the sepals, entire, obtuse. Lip superior, broadly-oblong, hooded, strongly
• Ste introduction. ' .
CYPlilPEDmif.
keeled on the back; spurs vai-ying in thickness and length, usually twice as long as
t h e ovary (ciuite short in var. eiUata). Colivnm curved, contracted at the base, expanded
a t tho apex. Stigma projecting foi-wards above the anther, convcx, anticous. Anthercells
turgid, distant, from each other, suVpai-allel on the sides of tho column at a
lower level than the stigma; pollinia two, pyriiorm, bipartite, each ending rather abruptly
i n a slender cm-ved caudicle directed downwards and forwards, and terminated by a
t l i i ck discoid gland. Stamivodcs rugulose, hemispheric, situated on the upper sides of
t h e , anther-cells; rostellum broadly and. b lunt l y triangular, having the anther-cells at its
upper comers. Lindl. Gen. and Spec. Orch. 340; in Joum. Linn. Soc. HI, 44; Wight
l e t 929; Bot. Mag., t. 6625; Wall. Cat. 7025; Hook. fil. Fl. Er. Lid. VI, 108.
S. Perrotictiamm, A. liich. in Ann. 9c. Nat., Ser. 2, XV, 76,- t. 53; Wight Ic.
t . 1716. S. albifiorum. A. Rich. 1. c. ; Wight Ic. t. 1717. S. pallidum, A. Rich. 1, c.
Sikkim and Bhotan, very common at elevations of from 8,000 to 10,000 feet; m
flower du2-ing September and October; Pantling No. 464, Distributed westwards along
t h e range to Kashmir, whore it descends to 4,000 feet; Khasia Hills, about 6,000 feet;
t h e hill ranges of Southern India; Upper Burma.
Var. CILIATA; whole plant under a foot in height; spurs of lip shorter than the
b o l d l y ciliate sepaU; petals erose; stigma convex, over-arching, hispid; rostellum tmncate;
caudicles exceeding in length tho cleft pollinia. S. cHiatum, Lindl. Gen. and Spec.
i. c. 341. . , ^ J .
I n Sikkim and Bhotan at the same elevations as the typical form and growing
i n t e r m i x e d with it; Pantling No. 297.
T h e usual colour of the flowers is rose-pink, but occasionally it is pure white. The
•flowers smell faintly of musk. In the Nilgiri and other of the hiU ranges of Southern
I n d i a a f o m occurs with a much shorter and very densely-flowered spike and with
b r o a d radical leaves. This has been separated off as a variety under the name Wightiana.
I t is never found in Sikkim, • w h e r e the variety named ciliata is very common.
PLATE Ui.—Satyrium nepaknsc, Don. Parts of a plant, of natural sine. Fig. 1 a flower with its
deflexed bract, 2 view of the back .of a flower showing tho two spurs, 3 apes of ovary and column, seen
from the front (the sepals and petals having been removed), showing the anthor and the glands of its
pollinia, the stigma {«), and the rosteUmn (r), 4 pollinia; all enlarged.
PLATE 444 lis.Saiynim ncpaknse, Don, vsx. ciliata. ioi entire plant, of naiural size. Fig. 1 a flower
with its bract, ji-OBi Vitw, 2 flower and ovary, hack victc, 3 apes of ovary and column, the two petals
(pi) and the dorsal sepal (s/) in position, the rost«Uum (>•), cmtiier-ceUs (p), gland of a poUen-mass
(g), stigma (s), ajid staminode (e), 4 pollinia; all enlarged.
Tribe VII.-CYPRIPEDIEAB.
P e r f e c t anthers two, one on each side of the conjoined stigmas. Staminode single,
largo, fleshy; lip large, saccatc.
91. Cypripedlum, Linn.
T e r r e s t r i a l herbs, stemlcss or with a leafy annual stem. Leam coriaceous, ever
green, smooth and often coloui-ed; or membranous, deciduous and plicatei Flowers large,