Govenia
(named after J. R. Gowen, Esq., the raiser of some fine hybrid Rhododendrons, &c.). ORD. Orchideae. A genus containing about sixteen species of stove terrestrial orchids, natives of tropical America. Flowers usually white or cream-coloured, but in some yellow, with or without blood-red spots; sepals and petals free, of nearly equal length; lip much shorter, without spur, entire, and jointed to the base of the column. About seven species have been cultivated; but, in all probability, those described below are the only ones now to be met with. For culture, see Bletia.
G. Andrieuxii (Andrieux's). fl. yellowish, white at base; lip white, spotted purplish-red in front, above yellow, barred with brown. Mexico, 1884.
G. deliciosa (delicious). fl. white, marked with small purple bars inside; lip nearly elliptic, apiculate, with dark brown spots in front. Mexico, 1884. G. Gardneri (Gardner's).* fl. white, spotted, refracted after flowering; raceme elongated; sepals and petals ovate, bluntish; lip ovate, acute, naked, marked with five marginal spots and two convergent convex lines in middle; scape bluntly tetragonal, sheathed in middle. h. 2ft. Brazil, 1837. (B. M. 3660.)
G. utriculata (bladdery). fl. white; racemes elongated, many-flowered; sepals and petals curved, acuminated; lip oblong, ovate, acute. September. l. twin, broad-oblong, plicate, Pseudo-bulbs ovate, inclosed in a large, membranous, oblong-pellucid, striated, sheath. h. 1 1/2ft. Jamaica, 1843. (B. M. 4151.)