E IP E 3 E W "B M lU IL T A Pi T UH flJ M
ñíé.* i/ J Ruig wty i Jon J. ¡63, Tutádilfy. My,
TAB. XXXIV.
EPIDENDRUM POLYANTHUM
M A J S Y ' F h O W B R E D E P I D E N D I W M .
E. pohjanthum ; folüs disticliis ovali-Ianceoliitis aciuninaüs, caule ramoso raceinis plurimis multifloris
cernuis basi spathaceis sepalis ovato-lanceolatis aciitis striatis petalis liuearibus reflexis, labelli trilobi lobis
laleralibus ovatis dimidi atis denticulatis : intermedio linean re tuso disco tri costil to.—Lindi. Gen. et Spe-
Ch-chid. 106.
Epidendrum polystaeliiuni, PAVOÍJ MSS.
Habitat in Mexico, PAVOY; in Guatemala, IIAIITWEG.
d e s c r i p t i o n .
STEMS from one to three feet long, thicker than a guosc-qmU, bear lug several di.iiichoiis, oml,
lanceolate, acuminate LEAVES, ubotd six iiichcs long. At its upper extremity the stein in destitute of
leaves, hut amphj furnished with large injlate.d, sheathing, sharp-pointed BRACTS, from whidt-issne
nunierous mawj-jlowered RACESIES. SEPALS ovate, or inclining to obovate, with rather sharp
points, orange-coloured. PETALS shorter than the sepah, and so narrow as to resemble fine hairs.
Ln- attached to the upper e.vtreiniti/ of the cohivin, three-lobcd—the lateral lobes divided, and
.wniewhat scimitar-shaped, not so broad as the intermediate lobe, of which the margins are pressed
inicards in such a manner as to present the appearance of two teeth ; a three-ribbed process is situate
at the junction of the column with the lip; the latter is a rich orange colour. COLUMN stipitate,
twice the length of the lip.
T H I S pretty Epidcnclrum, altliough long since known to bolajiists irom PA\-ON'S description and tlie
specimens in L.VMUKRT'S berbariimi, has but lately been seen in this country in a living stiite. It tlowered
for the lirst time in Messrs. LOUDIGES'S collection, and afterwards in the garden of tlie Horticultural
Societjs to whom it was sent from Guatemala by their zealous collector, Mr. IIARTWEC. AS yet, however,
tlic cidtivated plunLs have not exhibited the vigour and beauty of tlie naUve specimens a circumstance
that may be attributed to iheir tender age, and which will probably cease when they are more fully
esliiblished. They grow freely under ordinaiy ti-eatment in a moderate temperature.