[99]

(1) Mormodes luxatum. This rare & large species, nearly white, sent me by Mr Reuben (June 8th/62) has flowers extraordinary unsymmetrical [insertion: in both sepal & petal] no part symmetrical. Placing flower so that column faces one. Of two lower sepals flowers left-hand one is flat at ∠' to ovary - the other concave & stands upright. Upper sepal pushed to right side - Of 2 upper petal left hand flat & at ∠' the other like the other sepal. Labellum twisted laterally, so as to face the flower left side - It is furnished with 2 great lateral lobes, the right lobe clasps the column like arm round waist the left lobe stands much more open with the neck separating it from middle part open - Central terminal part of Lab. form a bucket, in top of which the bent filament of column lies free but not pressed against its surface with apex

[99v]

Labellum too rigid to be depressed & bend filament.

[100]

(2)

in middle in highest point - The whole labellum somewhat resembles that of Catasetum planiceps?

Along middle of Lab broad purple band. Column twisted laterally, so as to face obliquely the left & more expanded lobe of Labellum. From the flatness & rectangular position of left-hand lower sepal & upper sepal; from 1 upper sepal being pushed on one side & position of Labellum & column there is a fairly wide open entrance to flower laterally but rather towards posterior end of flower. The flowers are right & left-hand facers.

Bases of petals not swollen: I cannot doubt that the attraction to insects is the terminal mass. Whole lab. thick & fleshy with usual taste. I now suspect little cup of M. ignea may be attractive point

[101]

Stigma in M. ignea. Top of filament of column bent at nearly right angles to anthers, which is as in M. ignea, not extending nearly to summit. Pollinium as in ignea - straightens itself in 14 or 15 minutes. Curtain to disc.

These flowers had [spontaneously] exploded in [illeg], & disc were sticking to basal edge of anther-case & hinge unbroken; knob of Rostellum not very protuberant - Force of ejection weak. In one good flower a touch with needle on this filament & not on hinge caused explosion & disc struck obliquely to needle.

The filament evidently guards the terminal small cup of Labellum; & I have hardly a doubt that insect stands on the

[102]

expanded side of Lab. where open neck separates the expanded lobe from middle part, & insects head & touches filament, cause explosion, when pollinium adheres to head or body of insects whilst with Lab. I shd think adhesion would be lateral to insects, but this is [only] improbable as flowers face both ways. I do not clearly understand whole mechanism. I pricked Lab. & column & stigmatic surface severely without causing explosion. I do not see use of one lower sepal & one upper petal being so widely expanded. If an insect entered & clambered up face of column till it touched the filament, the disc would stick to abdomen & I could understand all, but I doubt.