Polycycnis
(from polys, many, and kyknos, a swan; referring to the lip and column, which, together, bear some resemblance to a swan). ORD. Orchideae. A genus comprising about five species of stove, epiphytal orchids, closely allied to Cycnoches and Mormodes, natives of tropical America. Flowers rather large, pedicellate, in loose, floribund, often nodding racemes; sepals free, spreading, narrow; petals similar, or narrow and sub-stipitate at base; lip affixed to the base of the column, sometimes biauriculate; column very long, slender, curved, resembling the neck of a swan. Leaves ample, plicatevenose, contracted into petioles. Rhizomes or scapes erect, few-sheathed, simple. For culture, see Catasetum.
P. barbata (bearded). This is correct name of plant described in this work as Cycnoches barbatum.
P. gratiosa (agreeable). fl. brownish-purple; raceme deflexed, drooping, many-flowered. Costa Rica, 1871. "This is a species in the way of P. lepida; yet it appears very distinct by the very short claw of the lip and the anterior part of the same organ" (Reichenbach). An elegant plant. P. lepida (neat). fl., sepals and petals light brown, slightly tipped with yellow at the apex; lip light yellow, spotted with chocolate-brown, and white towards the apex; raceme drooping, from fifteen to twenty-flowered. Pseudo-bulbs about 2in. high, tapering, dark green. Columbia, 1870. A very pretty species. (I. H. ser. iii. 19.) P. muscifera (fly-bearing). This is the correct name of plant described in this work as Cycnoches musciferum.
P. vittata (striped). fl. yellow, streaked with so much deep chocolate that the former colour is scarcely discernible on the lip, disposed in an erect raceme. h. 1ft. British Guiana, 1841. (B. R. 1841, 69, under name of Houlletia vittata.)