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Bifrenaria (From bis twice and fraenum)

(from bis, twice, and fraenum, a strap: in reference to a double strap or band, by means of which the pollen masses are connected with their gland). ORD. Orchideae. A genus of pretty stove Orchids, allied to Maxillaria, and distinguished from it by having two fraena or caudicles to their pollen masses. For culture, see Maxillaria.

B. aurantiaca (orange-coloured).* fl. orange; lateral lobes of lip semi-cordate, middle one transverse, sub-undulated, callous at the base; raceme erect. October. l. oblong, plicate. Pseudo-bulb roundish, compressed, two-leaved. h. 9in. Demerara, 1834. (B. R. 1875.) B. aureo-fulva (orange-tawny). fl. orange, on long pedicels; lip unguiculate, three-lobed; scape radical many-flowered. October. l. oblong-lanceolate. Pseudo-bulb roundish-ovate, wrinkled, one-leaved. h. 1ft. Brazil, 1840. B. Hadwenii (Hadwen's). fl. each nearly 4in. across; petals and sepals 1/2in. broad, yellow green, beautifully blotched or mottled with a rich brown; lip large, above 1in. broad, white, with striped spots of rose. June. l. long, 1/4in. broad. h. 1 1/2ft. Brazil, 1851. SYN. Scuticaria Hadwenii. (B. M. 4629.) B. H. bella (charming).* A new variety with sepals and petals whitish yellow outside, brilliant shining cinnamon inside, with a few spots, bars, and blotches of whitish sulphur colour; lip wide, white, with one light brown spot behind, and a larger one in front of the callus; radiating light brown lines on lateral lobes, and mauve ones on anterior lobe.

B. H. pardalina (leopard-marked).* A very beautiful variety, having sepals and petals with brown circles or polygonal figures on a light yellow ground; lip light ochre-coloured at its basilar part, white in front, with radiating mauve-purple streaks. This variety is extremely rare. B. vitellina (yolk-coloured).* fl. yellowish purple; lip cuneate, three-lobed; lateral lobes acute, crenulated; racemes drooping. July. l. lanceolate. Pseudo-bulb ovate, bluntly angular, one-leaved. h. 1ft. Brazil, 1838.