Volume 7 — PLATE CCCCXLI.

EPIDENDRUM FUSCATUM.

Brown-flowered Epidendrum.

CLASS XX. ORDER I.

GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA. Chives on the Pointals. Two Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Nectarium turbinatum, obliquum, reflexum.

Honey-cup top-shaped, oblique, and reflexed. See Pl. XIII. Vol. I. Epidendrum cochleatum.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Epidendrum, foliis lanceolatis, caulem vagina alterne tegentibus, contortis, atro-purpureo discoloratis; floribus umbellatis terminalibus fuscatis, leviter punctatis, vel striatis.

Epidendrum, with lance-shaped leaves, alternately sheathing the stem, twisted, and discoloured with a deep purple; flowers terminate the branches in umbels, of a brownish colour, dotted or striped.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

Amongst this numerous parasitic tribe there are many whose claim to beauty is by no means powerful, and certainly the present figure has little to boast of in that particular: but the singular and curious structure of their flowers will always render every new species and even distinct varieties desirable, particularly as they are an essential connecting link in the interesting family of the Orchidiæ. We were at first inclined to regard it as the E. fuscatum of Dr. Smith on rare plants; but on comparison with that figure we found it in foliage nearly the same, but so different both in the size and colour of its flowers, that, if it might be regarded as a variety, it must certainly be a very distinct one. It is a native of Jamaica, and as such requires the protection of the stove. From a plant plunged in the tan-bed our drawing was made at the gardens of G. Hibbert, esq.