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Cleisostoma (From kleio to close and stoma)

(from kleio, to close, and stoma, a mouth; in allusion to the mouth of the spur being closed by a toothed process). ORD. Orchideae. Stove epiphytes. Flowers small, fleshy, with a pouched lip, and distinguished from those of Saccolabium in having the orifice of the pouch closed by a large projecting tooth. Leaves leathery, narrow. Roots very long and tough. There are about fifteen species belonging to this genus, but, with one or two exceptions, they are not much grown. For culture, see Aerides. C. Dawsoniana (Dawson's).* fl. sulphur-coloured outside, darker inside, with elegant transverse brown bars; stellate, of a thickish substance; lip quinquefid, orange-yellow, with some brown blotches and streaks; disk covered with many golden hairs; column small, with two falcate penicillate ears. The inflorescence has a sword-shaped rachis; the branches bicarinate, and bearing the flowers in an alternating way; bracts very dry, triangular, carinate, shining brown. l. distichous, light green, about 6in. long. Moulmein, 1868. A very gay and pretty species.

C. striatum (striate). fl. yellow, red. Darjeeling, 1879. SYN. Echioglossum striatum.