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Mormodes (From mormo a goblin referring)

(from mormo, a goblin; referring to the strange appearance of the flowers). ORD. Orchideae. A genus comprising about fourteen species of stove orchids, inhabiting Columbia and Central America, as far as Mexico. They are allied to Catasetum, but are distinguished by the want of cirrhi upon the column, the lip being membranous, turned upwards, and often somewhat saddle-shaped; and the pollen-masses being four in number, connate in pairs, fixed to a thick caudicle, which adheres to a fleshy gland. Leaves elongate, plicate, veined. The species are more curious than ornamental. For culture, see Catasetum.

M. atropurpureum (dark purple).* fl. dark purple-brown, or between chocolate and blood-colour; sepals and petals ovate-lanceolate; lip porrected, velvety, with short hairs, tapering below into a stipes. October. h. 1ft. Panama, 1834. (B. M. 4577; B. R. 1861.) M. buccinator (trumpeter).* fl. pale reddish-brown, everywhere sprinkled with dark-coloured dots; sepal and petals oblong-acute, with margins singularly recurved; lip large, fleshy, with revolute side, almost like the flaps of a saddle; column shorter than the lip. April. l. 9in. long, lanceolate, membranous, striated. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. Central America. (B. M. 4455, under name of M. lentiginosum.) M. Cartoni (Carton's). fl. numerous, in a rather long oblong spike; sepals and petals yellow, streaked longitudinally with red, similar in shape and size, much spreading, almost reflexed; lip equal to the petals, but twisted, also pale yellow, with a few interrupted streaks; columns slightly oblique. July. l. three or four, 1ft. or more long. h. 1ft. Santa Martha. (B. M. 4214.) M. colossus (colossal). fl. from 5in. to 6in. across; sepals and petals narrow-lanceolate, spreading or reflexed, pink at the base, passing into yellow at the tips; lip ovate, bright yellow; raceme many-flowered. l. elliptic-ovate. Central America, 1870 (B. M. 5840.) M. Greenii (Green's). A synonym of M. uncia.

M. igneum (flery). fl. red, purple. January. h. 2ft. Central America, 1852. M. lentiginosum (freckly). A synonym of M. buccinator. M. lineatum (lined). fl. dull olive-green, increasing with maturity in intensity of colouring; lip variable, but always covered with loose, straggling hairs. March. Guatemala, 1836. (B. R. xxviii. 43.) M. luxatum (dislocated). fl., sepals and petals creamy-white; lip of the same colour, with stripes of brown in the centre; peduncle many-flowered. July. l. broad. Mexico, 1842. A handsome species. (B. R. xxix. 33.) M. Ocanae (Ocana).* fl. dark orange-yellow, closely speckled with red-brown spots, about 3in. in diameter when spread out; sepals and petals concave, spreading; lip with a long claw; racemes six to ten-flowered. October. l. 1ft. long by 1 1/2in. broad, narrowly-lanceolate, acuminate. Pseudo-bulbs elliptic-oblong. Columbia, 1879. (B. M. 6496.) M. pardinum (panther-spotted).* fl., sepals and petals bright yellow, spotted with rich brown. July. Mexico, 1837. A handsome species, rarely seen in cultivation. (B. M. 3900.) M. p. unicolor (whole-coloured). fl. deep lemon-yellow, in many-flowered racemes; sepals and petals ovate, acuminate, concave; lip cuneate, with three acuminated lobes, the two lateral ones smaller and reflexed; scape 1ft. and more long. September. l. lanceolate, membranous, strongly striated. (B. M. 3879.) M. uncia (uncial). fl. whitish externally, 2 1/2in. in diameter; inner surface of perianth pale yellow, covered with dark red spots; base of lip dark purple, the inner surface yellow, with red streaks; column green inside, curved; raceme large, pendulous, many-flowered; powerfully aromatic. June. l. narrow-lanceolate, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long. Pseudo-bulbs somewhat two-edged. Mexico, 1869. (B. M. 5802, under name of M. Greenii.) M. Williamsii (Williams'). fl. creamy-white, sweet-scented; spikes twelve to fifteen-flowered. Mexico. A handsome species.