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Peristeria (From peristera a dove)

(from peristera, a dove: referring to the dove-like appearance of the column, whence the plant is called, in South America, "Flower of the Holy Spirit"). Dove Flower. SYN. Echardia. ORD. Orchideae. A small genus (four species) of stove orchids, having fleshy pseudo-bulbs, natives of the Columbian Andes. Flowers showy, in short or elongated racemes, shortly pedicellate; sepals concave and connate at the base; petals similar, but rather smaller; lip with its lower half continuous with the column, and sagittate at the base, and its upper half articulated with the lower, undivided, and bent down over the face of the column, which is short, fleshy, and wingless; pollen masses two, furrowed, sessile on a narrow gland; scapes simple, erect, nodding, or deflexed at base. Leaves large, plicate. For culture, see Acineta, to which the present genus is closely allied. P. Barkeri (Barker's). A synonym of Acineta Barkeri. P. cerina (waxy). fl. yellow, produced in bunches on pendulous spikes. June. l. large, coriaceous, dark green. Pseudo-bulbs strong, two-leaved. h. 1ft. Central America, 1835.(B. R. 1953.) P. elata (tall).* Dove, or Holy Ghost Flower. fl. white, with small lilac specks on the base of the lip, waxy, very sweet-scented, about 1 1/2in. across, almost globose; spikes erect, 3ft. or more in height, and rising from the base of the pseudo-bulbs. July to September, and continuing to produce flowers for two months, when the growths are strong. l. lanceolate, strongly ribbed and plicate, sometimes up wards of 3ft. high and 6in. across. Pseudobulbs striated, green, as large as swans' eggs, bearing three to five leaves. h. 4ft. Panama, 1826. A very handsome, noble, and free-growing plant; the Espiritu Santo (Holy Ghost Flower) of the Spaniards.3116.) P. guttata (spotted). fl. yellow and red; spikes produced close to the pseudo-bulbs, pendulous, and hanging over the edge of the pot. September, and remaining two or three weeks in perfection. h. 6in. South America, 1837. A curious, rather than showy, species.

P. Humboldtii fulva (Humboldt's tawny). A synonym of Acincta Humboldtii. P. pendula (pendulous).* fl. pale yellow, spotted with red and brown; lip crested at the base of the disk, thick; scape short, few-flowered. h. 1ft. Demerara, 1855. (B. M. 3479.)