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ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA

OAKES AMES

AND

DONOVAN STEWART CORRELL

FIELDIANA: BOTANY

^VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1

Published by

CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

AUGUST 29, 1952

ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA

Lycaste virginalis (L. Skinneri). 1, flowering plant (X M); 2, flower and

peduncle (X /1>); 3, column, front-side view (X %). Drawn by D. E. Tibbitts.

ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA

OAKES AMES

Director, Botanical Museum of Harvard University, 1935-1950

AND

DONOVAN STEWART CORRELL

United States Department of Agriculture

Formerly Research Associate, Botanical Museum of Harvard University

FIELDIANA: BOTANY

VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1

Published by

CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

AUGUST 29, 1952

•*"!• UDHARY OF TH2

NOV101C32

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

mm nr,Y i IRRARY

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BY CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PRESS

PREFACE

The present work brings together for the first time information

concerning all the known orchids of Guatemala (and British Hon-

duras), a total of 527 species and 25 varieties in 89 genera. This

more than doubles the 238 species given by Hemsley, in 1886-88,

as occurring in Guatemala. All of the genera are illustrated, as

well as more than one hundred additional species. In view of the

extreme richness of the flora of Guatemala, further botanical col-

lecting will unquestionably result in the finding of additional genera

and species now not known to occur there.

Without the unselfish assistance of many individuals and institu-

tions this work would have been impossible. To all those individuals,

especially the botanical collectors and those concerned with the

various herbaria, we wish to express our sincere appreciation for

their valuable contributions and co-operation, and for the many

courtesies extended us during the course of this work.

The late Professor Oakes Ames was the guiding spirit and con-

structive critic of this research. He also supported the work and

made available most of the illustrations used herein. The junior

author did the active research and is personally responsible for all

specimen determinations and the text matter. This project was

carried on in the excellent Oakes Ames Herbarium and Library in

the Botanical Museum of Harvard University.

Our profound appreciation is extended to the artists, Blanche

Ames (Mrs. Oakes Ames) ; Gordon Winston Dillon, of the Botanical

Museum of Harvard University and the American Orchid Society;

Dorothy 0. Allen (Mrs. Paul H. Allen), United Fruit Company,

Costa Rica; D. E. Tibbitts, Chicago Natural History Museum;

Elsie H. Froeschner, and Eleonar B. Phillips, for the privilege of

including their fine drawings.

We are indebted to Margaret Ward Lewis (Mrs. B. B. Lewis),

not only for her botanical collections but also for the use of her

diagnostic photographs of many Guatemalan orchids. The courtesy

of Dr. J. R. Johnston in placing at our disposal his botanical col-

lections and watercolors of Guatemala orchids is also gratefully

acknowledged.

To our colleagues, Mr. Charles Schweinfurth, of the Botanical

Museum of Harvard University, and Dr. Louis 0. Williams, now

with the Escuela Agricola Panamericana, Tegucigalpa, Honduras,

we are especially indebted. Without Mr. Schweinfurth's valuable

and never failing generous help throughout the course of this work

and up to the last item of assembling materials for publication this

task would have been nearly insurmountable. The stimulating

discussions with Dr. Williams, who was simultaneously preparing

his present publication on the orchids of Mexico (Ceiba, No. 1: 1-98.

June 20, 1951, Part I), aided greatly in clarifying many controversial

points of nomenclature.

To the late Mr. Alfred C. Weatherby we are indebted for friendly

advice and valuable assistance, especially in the application of rules

of nomenclature.

We wish to acknowledge the co-operation of Professor Paul C.

Mangelsdorf, Director of the Botanical Museum of Harvard Uni-

versity, who greatly facilitated the final assembling of material

comprising this work, and Dr. Robert E. Woodson, Missouri

Botanical Garden, for the loan of certain of the orchid cuts.

To Mr. Louis C. Bierweiler, of the Botanical Museum of Harvard

University, we are grateful for considerate and unselfish co-operation

at all times, and to the junior author's wife, Dr. Helen Butts Correll,

we are indebted for assistance in the preparation of the manuscript.

Finally, we wish to thank Dr. Frans Verdoorn for his permission

to adopt, in part, the Introduction used herein from the junior

author's book, Native orchids of North America, north of Mexico,

published by Chronica Botanica, 1950.

The specimens that provide the basis for this work are those in

the Oakes Ames Orchid Herbarium and Gray Herbarium of Harvard

University, the Herbarium of Chicago Natural History Museum,

the National Herbarium, Washington, and the University of

Michigan Herbarium.

In the text, the treatment of the genera follows the recent

phylogenetic system of classification of the Orchidaceae proposed

by Rudolf Schlechter in 1926 ( Notizblatt des Botanischen Gartens und

Museums Berlin-Dahlem, Bd. 9, no. 88, pp. 563-591). In this

system the simple and primitive genera are followed by the more

complex and advanced. The arrangement of the species, which have

been treated rather broadly, is alphabetical within a genus. The

keys are basically artificial; that is, they have been constructed

primarily for utility and not for the purpose of showing relationship.

vi

The scientific names are in accord with the definite regulations

prescribed by the International Rules of Botanical Nomenclature

(1935) for the publication and treatment of botanical names.

We would be remiss if we did not give special mention to some

of the collectors who have provided the bulk of the material upon

which this work rests. Besides Mrs. Lewis and Dr. Johnston,

mentioned above, more than 75 individuals have made collections

of Guatemalan orchids that are cited in this work. Although it is

not possible to enumerate here each of these it would seem to be

worth while to mention those who have contributed most to this

publication.

Among the early collectors who visited Guatemala are George

Ure Skinner, Theodor Hartweg, Osbert Salvin, Frederick DuCane

Godman, Julius von Warscewicz, Hermann Wendland, and Gustav

Bernoulli.

Skinner first came to Guatemala in 1831 from England. Because

of his keen interest in living orchid plants, which resulted in his

introducing nearly 100 species into horticulture, he gave great

impetus to the cultivation of orchids in England. Many of these

introductions were new to science. It is of interest that he was the

first to introduce a living plant of Odontoglossum into England.

Many of Skinner's discoveries adorn Bateman's massive book on the

orchids of Mexico and Guatemala. It is unfortunate that the

Guatemala national flower, Ly caste virginalis (L. Skinneri), named

in honor of Skinner, had to be renamed because of the rules of

priority in botanical nomenclature.

Hartweg, in 1839, explored mainly Volcan de Agua. Warscewicz

first came to Guatemala in 1846. During his stay in Central America

he discovered many new orchids, some of which were of outstanding

ornamental value. Wendland collected primarily on Volcan de

Fuego in 1857, and later, in 1873, Godman and Salvin explored

both Volcan de Fuego and Volcan de Agua. Bernoulli was in

Guatemala between 1864 and 1878, during which time he collected

alone, or with Rich. Cario, primarily in the departments on the

Pacific slope.

Unquestionably, no department in Guatemala is so thoroughly

known in regard to orchids as Alta Verapaz, primarily because of

the large collections made by Hans von Tiirckheim, dating from

1877 to 1908, and later by Harry Johnson, in 1920. These two

collectors found a rather large number of species new to science.

vii

Their work demonstrates what can be accomplished when collecting

is concentrated and confined to a specific region.

Between 1889 and 1892 E. T. Heyde and Ernesto Lux collected

in several departments in central Guatemala and on the Pacific slope.

It is largely through their efforts that we have a fairly good record

of the orchids of Quich£ and Santa Rosa.

During 1905-06 William A. Kellerman made some collections in

several central and southern departments. In 1933-34, Alexander F.

Skutch obtained a small but excellently prepared collection from

several departments, mainly in Huehuetenango and Quiche". Simi-

larly, in recent years, Francis W. Hunnewell has made a small but

discriminating collection, primarily in five of the Pacific coast

departments.

Cyrus L. Lundell's collections from Pete"n, which, along with

those of H. H. Bartlett, formed part of the basis for his work,

The vegetation of Peten (1937), provided us with most of our knowl-

edge of the orchids of that department.

During the period from 1938 to 1942, Paul C. Standley and

Julian A. Steyermark made large collections in Guatemala in their

studies of the flora of that country. Between them they collected

in every department in Guatemala. Because of their work we

realize that any future intensive exploration for orchids in Guatemala

should appreciably augment the species, if not the genera, now

known to occur there, for, in this four-year period, during which

time the orchids formed only a part of a large general collection,

Standley and Steyermark collected specimens of 323 species and

19 varieties of orchids in 68 genera, of which 3 genera, 38 species,

and 4 varieties were new to Guatemala and 8 species were new to

science.

DONOVAN S. CORRELL

August, 1951

CONTENTS

Genera Included in Volume 26, Number 1

Cypripedium 20

Phragmipedium 23

Habenaria 24

Triphora 46

Psilochilus 52

Vanilla 54

Elleanthus 60

Sobralia 64

Crybe 71

Wullschlaegelia 73

Prescottia 75

Cranichis 78

Ponthieva 87

Spiranthes 94

Goodyera 138

Erythrodes 141

Tropidia 151

Corymborchis 153

Stelis 155

Physosiphon 182

Masdevallia 185

Scaphosepalum 193

Lepanthes 194

Pleurothallis 205

Malaxis 262

Liparis 278

Hexisea 284

Nageliella 285

Epidendrum 290

ix

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Lycaste virginalis Frontispiece

PAGE

Diagram 11

TEXT FIGURES

1. Cypripedium irapeanum 21

2. Phragmipedium caudatum 25

3. Habenaria alata 27

4. Habenaria bractescens 29

5. Habenaria clypeata, H. crassicornis, H. eustachya, H. novemfida,

H. strictissima var. odontopetala, H. repens and H. setifera .... 31

6. Habenaria distans 33

7. Habenaria limosa 37

8. Habenaria quinqueseta 41

9. Habenaria repens 43

10. Habenaria strictissima var. odontopetala 45

11. Triphora cubensis 47

12. Triphora trianthophora 49

13. Triphora trianthophora 51

14. Psilochilus macrophyllus 53

15. Vanilla Pfaviana 56

16. Vanilla planifolia 58

17. Elleanthus capitatus 61

18. Sobralia decora 65

19. Sobralia decora var. aerata 67

20. Crybe rosea 72

21. Wullschlaegelia aphylla 74

22. Cranichis muscosa and Prescottia oligantha 77

23. Cranichis hieroglyphica 83

24. Ponthieva racemosa 90

25. Ponthieva racemosa 91

26. Ponthieva Tuerckheimii 95

27. Spiranthes cinnabarina 104

28. Spiranthes costaricensis 105

29. Spiranthes cranichoides 107

xi

PAGE

30. Spiranthes elata 109

31. Spiranthes orchioides 119

32. Spiranthes parasitica and Malaxis Ehrenbergii 121

33. Spiranthes polyantha 123

34. Spiranthes prasophylla 125

35. Spiranthes stolonifera 132

36. Spiranthes vernalis 137

37. Goodyera major 139

38. Erythrodes ovatilabia 143

39. Erythrodes querceticola 147

40. Erythrodes vesicifera 150

41. Tropidia polystachya 152

42. 43. Corymborchis forcipigera and C. flava 154

44. Stelis bidentata 157

45. Stelis chihobensis 158

46. Stelis ciliaris 159

47. 48. Stelis ciliaris 160

49. Stelis cleistogama 161

50. Stelis despectans 163

51. Stelis Endresii 164

52. Stelis gracilis 165

53. Stelis gracilis 166

54. Stelis guatemalensis 167

55. Stelis hymenantha 168

56. Stelis Johnsonii 170

57. Stelis leucopogon 171

58. Stelis microchila 172

59. Stelis ovatilabia 174

60. 61. Stelis ovatilabia 175

62. Stelis purpurascens 177

63. Stelis rubens 178

64. Stelis rubens var. oxypetala 181

65. Stelis tenuissima 182

66. Physosiphon tubatus 184

67. Masdevallia simula 190

68. Masdevallia tubuliflora 192

69. Scaphosepalum Standleyi 195

70. Lepanthes excedens and Pleurothallis angustisepala 199

71. Pleurothallis Blaisdellii, P. dentipetala and P. Johnsonii 215

72. Pleurothallis verecunda, P. brighamii and P. Grobyi 217

73. Pleurothallis comayaguensis 222

74. Pleurothallis crucilabia and P. triangulipetala 225

xii

PAGE

75. Pleurothallis hastata, P. samacensis, P. divexa and P. abjecta .... 233

76. Pleurothallis Lewisae 239

77. Pleurothallis ruscifolia 249

78. Pleurothallis Broadwayi, P. stenostachya and P. hondurensis .... 255

79. Malaxis aurea and Epidendrum cobanense 266

80. Malaxis Soulei 274

81. Malaxis Steyermarkii 276

82. Malaxis unifolia 277

83. Liparis elata 281

84. Liparis fantastica 283

85. Hexisea bidentata 286

86. Nageliella (Hartwegia) purpurea, N. Bergeriana and N. gemma . . . 289

87. Epidendrum alticola 302

88. Epidendrum anceps 305

89. Epidendrum atropurpureum 308

90. Epidendrum Boothianum 310

91. Epidendrum ciliare 319

92. Epidendrum cochleatum var. triandrum 324

93. Epidendrum difforme 329

94. Epidendrum incomptum 337

95. Epidendrum Lindleyanum 342

96. Epidendrum nocturnum 347

97. Epidendrum oncidioides var. gravidum 351

98. Epidendrum pygmaeum 363

99. Epidendrum radiatum 365

100. Epidendrum rigidum 371

101. Epidendrum Schlechterianum 372

102. Epidendrum Schweinfurthianum 373

103. Epidendrum Skutchii 377

104. Epidendrum sobralioides 379

105. Epidendrum Stamfordianum 381

106. Epidendrum strobiliferum 383

107. Epidendrum trachycarpum and E. Lankesteri 387

xiii

Orchids of Guatemala

INTRODUCTION

The Orchidaceae, a cosmopolitan family attaining its highest

development in the tropics and warm temperate regions of both

hemispheres, is one of the largest families of flowering plants in the

world, consisting of several hundred genera and fifteen thousand

or more species and varieties. It is probably exceeded in number

of species only by the Compositae. In Guatemala, it may well

prove to be the largest family of phanerogamic plants.

The orchid family, which is considered to have originated from

the Liliaceae, is perhaps the most advanced in the Monocotyledoneae.

Some other closely allied families, besides the Liliaceae, are the

Burmanniaceae, Iridaceae, Amaryllidaceae and Hypoxidaceae. Al-

though the family is thought to be rather ancient in respect to

geologic time, no fossil remains have been found. While there is

enormous variation in the form and structure of the various genera

and species, all orchids have a distinctive feature in common which,

for our convenience, superficially separates them from other plants

in our flora. This feature is the column, an elongation of the floral

axis that bears the sexual organs. According to Pfitzer's observations

(1889), the technical and only real difference that separates the

orchids from all other plants is the absence of an embryonic root.

Besides its wide distribution and its large number of species,

the orchid family is unusual among the higher plants for several

reasons, namely, the extreme variations of its complex and highly

specialized flowers; its great variety of habit and diversity of habitat;

the enormous number of seeds produced in a single capsule. Very

few, if any, plant families possess the floral and vegetative variations

found in the Orchidaceae. Because of this extreme variability and

the consequent singularity of the flowers, orchids have acquired

numerous descriptive common names. It is also quite possible that

the physiological adaptations of the genera have no equal in any

other family. Parasitism on higher plants and carnivorism are

perhaps the only physiological functions not definitely known to

occur in the Orchidaceae.

2 FIELDI ANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

The number of seeds produced in an orchid capsule is in many

cases phenomenal. The astronomers at the Greenwich Observatory,

England, made an accurate count of the seeds in a capsule of

Cycnoches chlorochilon and found that it contained 3,770,000 seeds.

For a species of Maxillaria, Darwin (1877) accepted Fritz Mueller's

computation that a single capsule yields 1,756,440 seeds, and Darwin

himself estimated that the European Orchis maculata produces

approximately 6,200 seeds in a single capsule. Many of our orchids

produce large numbers of seeds, and it may be noted here that in

many instances the seeds exhibit distinct features for a given species.

In spite of this prolific seed production, however, orchids remain a

comparatively inconspicuous feature of most floras. Although a

number of theories have been advanced, no completely satisfactory

explanation has ever been arrived at in regard to the general rarity

of orchids. Perhaps a fundamental reason is the fact that for the

most part they depend upon external aid for pollination, and chiefly

because of faulty pollination and economy of vitality on the part

of the plant very few seed-pods are formed. Also, the period of

time elapsing between pollination and fecundation is often of long

duration, sometimes as much as several weeks. In the meantime,

the orchid is apt to lose its inflorescence through injury (with con-

sequent loss of fruit production) or succumb to some one of its many

natural enemies. Even so, considering the huge production of seeds

in a single capsule, it stands to reason that only a few fruits are

necessary for the survival of a particular species. Hence, this

delicate biological balance in the Orchidaceae remains in the realm

of speculation.

The microscopic seeds apparently contain no endosperm or stored

food and thus they are thought to be entirely dependent upon external

aid for germination and the growth of the seedling. In nature, fungi

are considered to furnish this assistance and, if the seed is not

destroyed, a compatible relationship is established between the

fungus and the orchid. The delicate balance between the orchid

seedling and the fungus, which may easily be upset to the detriment

of the seedling, is another reason for the rarity of orchids. Perhaps

in nature most, if not all, species of orchids contain within their roots

and rootstocks an endotrophic fungus that occupies the cellular

structure and remains in harmony with the orchid.

A most interesting natural phenomenon in the Orchidaceae is

insect pollination. Although many plants are wind-pollinated, with

few exceptions orchids are pollinated by insects. Each individual

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 3

species seems to have its own peculiar mechanism to insure its

receiving pollen from another plant of the same species. In most

species the column is so formed and placed in the flower that, in

order to reach the nectary, the visiting insect must touch the stigmas

and deposit there any pollen that it may be carrying. Upon leaving,

the insect must first come in contact with the anther and thus

become burdened with another load of pollen or an entire pollinium

that it carries to the stigmas of the next flower visited. In this

manner cross-pollination is effected and self-pollination of the

species is prevented or made unnecessary.

It is believed that many orchids can be pollinated only by a

single specific insect, such as a bumble bee. The pollinating agents

in the Orchidaceae include bees, wasps, various flies and ants as

well as butterflies, moths, beetles, snails and humming birds.

There is always the possibility that irregular flowers, such as

those found in orchids, may revert to a regular structure, the ancestral

and more primitive condition. This reversion of irregular to regular

floral parts is known as "peloria." This condition may also result

from an increase in the number of the modified segments. Peloria

is often hereditary.

Through the ages man has sought orchids, not only for their

satisfying beauty, but also for their once fancied value in alleviating

suffering and for their supposed restorative and procreative powers.

At first their supposed medicinal properties were of primary concern;

the Greeks, Theophrastus and Dioscorides, more than two thousand

years ago advanced the belief that most plants, including a species

of Orchis, could be used for curative purposes. Throughout Europe,

especially during the Renaissance, these ancient Greek concepts

were adhered to and consequently interest centered in those plants

thought to be of medicinal value. Even today in some parts of the

world primitive peoples use some orchids in their therapeutic

practices. However, the singular beauty of the flowers and the

bizarre forms that many of them assume are the primary reasons

for most of the present-day interest in orchids.

From an artistic and esthetic point of view orchids are universally

accorded first place in nature. Their extraordinary beauty makes

them the basis of a multimillion dollar floral industry in the United

States and England. However, aside from their ornamental value,

the family is otherwise of little economic importance. Vanilla, the

extract from the cured unripened pods of various species of the genus

Vanilla, especially V. planifolia in the western hemisphere, is the

4 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

most important commercial product of this large family. A few

Asiatic species have tubers and tuberoids that contain a nutritive

starch associated with a peculiar gum. These tubers are collected

and dried and are placed on the market where they are sold as salep.

This drug is extensively used in oriental countries as a demulcent

nerve tonic, for paralysis, and as a food similar to tapioca. The

leaves of Angraecum fragrans (Jumellea fragrans), of the Seychelles

Islands, are used for making faham tea. Although for centuries

some orchids were considered efficacious in the healing of the sick,

they have fallen into disrepute, and not a single species has been

retained in modern medicine as an indispensable source of any drug.

A few species have miscellaneous household uses as a source of glue

and resin.

Surprisingly, in recent years orchids have received political

recognition. Minnesota has adopted the queenly Cypripedium

reginae as its state flower. Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guate-

mala and Honduras have all issued postage stamps commemorating

outstanding species prevalent in their respective geographical regions.

Guatemala has designated the white form of the exceptionally

beautiful Ly caste virginalis (Frontispiece), commonly known as

"Monja Blanca," as its national flower. Likewise, Costa Rica has

adopted Cattleya Skinneri, commonly known as "Guaria morada"

or "Flor de San Sebastian," as its national flower.

DISTRIBUTION OF GUATEMALA ORCHIDS

In 1945, Paul C. Standley and Julian A. Steyermark, whose

collections are of inestimable value to floristic studies of Latin

America and who have traveled and collected widely in Guatemala,

published an informative account of the vegetation of that country

("The Vegetation of Guatemala, a Brief Review," in Plants and

Plant Science in Latin America, edited by Frans Verdoorn, 1945).

This section, devoted to the distribution of Guatemalan orchids,

draws heavily upon their article for basic information, and the follow-

ing quotations are taken direct from them.

"The exceedingly varied types of soil and topography and diverse

geological history of the country, ranging from ancient mountain

masses connected with North America to relatively youthful volcanic

areas, combined with marked altitudinal and climatic variations —

hot desert to cold alpine regions — have given Guatemala the richest

flora in all Central America with an estimated total of 8,000 species

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 5

of vascular plants. Of this number, many are endemics confined

to particular canyons and volcanoes. Many genera and species of

the United States and Mexico reach their southern limits of dis-

tribution in Guatemala, while a large number of South American

genera and species either reach their northern limits of dispersal

here or are unknown elsewhere from other parts of Central America.

Orchidaceae, Leguminosae, and Compositae are especially prominent,

and include hundreds of species, many of which are not found out-

side of Guatemala.

"The great diversity of the country is responsible for the following

large number of floristic regions: (1) the limestone plains of Pete"n;

(2) the mangrove swamps along both coasts; (3) the rain forest of

the Atlantic coast; (4) the low savannas of Izabal and Pete"n; (5) the

mixed forest of the Pacific plains; (6) the arid desert plains-chaparral

of the plateaus of the Oriente and valleys of the Rio Motagua and

Rio Blanco (also called Rio Negro); (7) the wet mountain forest

of Alta Verapaz; (8) the mixed mountain forest of the Pacific boca-

costa; (9) the upland mixed forest of temperate and cold regions;

(10) the coniferous forests; and (11) the alpine regions. . . ."

Although orchids are found in every one of the phytogeographic

regions noted above, several are especially rich in orchids while

others have very few. Those regions where orchids occur most

abundantly are discussed below.

The greatest concentration of orchid genera and species is in

Alta Verapaz, where 242 species, representing 60 genera, have been

found. As Standley and Steyermark have pointed out, the wet

forests of Alta Verapaz, with abundant rainfall the year round,

possess an extremely large and diversified flora, the richest in all

Guatemala. It is especially rich in its abundance and variety of

Orchidaceae and Bromeliaceae.

The low rain forests of the Atlantic coast, covering most of

Izabal, have a luxuriant tropical flora, which, though largely derived

from that of South America and Atlantic Central America, is dis-

tinctive in having a number of endemic species. Izabal, which

includes most of this vegetational area, has 111 species of orchids in

43 genera. Standley and Steyermark write of this country: "The

entire area is included in the humid tropical zone. . . . Bromeliaceae,

Orchidaceae, Peperomias, and many kinds of mosses and hepatics

cover the branches of trees in dense masses. Many species of this

region are not found elsewhere in Guatemala, although some are

also found in the Pacific bocacosta."

6 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

According to Standley and Steyermark, "A large portion of

Guatemala above 5,000 feet [1,525 meters] possesses upland mixed

forests of broad-leaved species. It is a forest which comprises

xerophytic as well as moisture-loving (including cloud forest) types

of plants. Most of the cloud forests in Guatemala occur at an

elevation between 4,500-7,000 feet [1,370-2,135 meters] and have

a rich development of tree ferns, orchids, begonias, bromeliads,

aroids, and bryophytes. Many endemic species are found in these

cloud forests."

The Departments of Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, Guatemala,

and Zacapa lie, in part, in the upland mixed forests. Between 30

and 40 genera of orchids, comprising more than 75 species, are found

in each of these four Departments, with 116 occurring in the Depart-

ment of Guatemala.

The Guatemalan highlands (at 1,525 to 3,810 meters [5,000-

12,500 feet]) consist primarily of coniferous forests of various types,

each with a characteristic flora, and the alpine regions, usually con-

fined to open places on tops of the volcanoes above 3,050 meters

(10,000 feet). Huehuetenango, lying entirely in this region, has a

surprisingly large orchid flora, there being 110 species in 41 genera.

The orchids of this region are predominantly terrestrial. The species

here show affinity with both the Andes of South America and

the higher peaks of North and Central America, and endemism is

pronounced.

The vast limestone plains and low savannahs of Pete"n contain

57 species of orchids in 25 genera. Many of these also occur in

adjacent British Honduras. This region, comprising about one-

third of the total area of Guatemala and averaging about 185 meters

(600 feet) elevation, has a wet and a dry season with both the humid

and arid tropical flora developed.

With the exception of several Departments lying athwart the

Pacific bocacosta, the remaining Departments each have fewer

than 25 genera comprising less than 40 species. Standley and

Steyermark write, regarding the Pacific bocacosta: "The mixed

forests of the lower and middle humid slopes (bocacosta) of the

mountains (up to 3,000 feet) [915 meters] bordering the Pacific

coast possess a rich diversified flora similar to that of the low rain

forest of the north coast of the Atlantic. . . . Rain is plentiful much

of the year and there is a great variety of palms, ferns, vines, and

epiphytes."

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 7

The Departments lying partly in the Pacific bocacosta and the

number of orchid genera and species in each are Quezaltenango,

32 genera and 72 species; San Marcos, 24 genera and 59 species;

Santa Rosa, 27 genera and 58 species; Solola, 28 genera and 47

species; Suchitepequez, 27 genera and 53 species. It is of interest

that many of the species of ornamental value, such as those of

Cattleya and Ly caste, are found in this region.

Since British Honduras is phytogeographically similar to Pete"n,

an effort has been made to include in this work all the orchids that

are known to occur in that country. There are 91 species of orchids

in 40 genera in British Honduras, all but four of which have also

been found in Guatemala. These four are Epidendrum Boothianum,

Galeandra Baueri, Laelia Digbyana, and Spiranthes adnata.

Of the approximately 1,800 species in about 175 genera of

Orchidaceae found in North and Central America, Guatemala has

527 species and 25 varieties in 89 genera. This number is exceeded

only by Costa Rica (half the size of Guatemala) with some 900

species in about 115 genera and Mexico (about seventeen times the

size of Guatemala) with a little more than 600 species in about 80

genera.

Although a surprisingly large number of species in Mexico

(more than 200) have not been collected in Guatemala, there are only

five small genera, comprising only six species, that are found in

Mexico and not in Guatemala. These are Epipactis gigantea,

Acineta Barkeri, Erycina diaphana, E. echinata, Papperitzia Leiboldii,

and Hintonella mexicana. On the other hand, there are in Guate-

mala 14 genera that are not represented in Mexico.

Some of the largest genera in Guatemala are Epidendrum (87

species), Pleurothallis (55 species), Spiranthes (35 species), Oncidium

(33 species), Maxillaria (21 species), and Cranichis and Stelis (each

with 17 species). Since in tropical and warm temperate regions the

greatest number of orchids occur as epiphytes, it is not surprising

to find that of this number only Spiranthes and Cranichis are terres-

trial genera. Besides being the largest genus, Epidendrum is the

most widespread, for it is the only one represented in every

Department.

Although endemism is rather pronounced in some plant families

in Guatemala, most of the genera and species in the Orchidaceae

seem to be generally distributed. There are only 57 species of

orchids, representing 23 genera, apparently confined to Guatemala.

Of these, 9 species are in Epidendrum and 8 in Pleurothallis. Only

8 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

one monotypic orchid genus, Palumbina, is known to be endemic

to Guatemala.

A number of genera in Guatemala have species that are of

ornamental interest and, in the past, were of great commercial value

to the florist industry. Some of these are Brassia, Cattleya, Laelia,

Lycaste, Odontoglossum, and Oncidium. Of these, the largest and

most widespread is Oncidium. It is of interest that the above genera

are more or less concentrated on the Pacific slopes of Guatemala,

primarily in the bocacosta region.

Although soil and topography have a definite influence upon

terrestrial species, there is little doubt that temperature and moisture

are the essential factors that control the distribution and sur-

vival of orchids, both terrestrial and epiphytic. In tropical and

warm temperate regions, such as Guatemala, the greatest number

of orchids occur as epiphytes in rain forests on moderately cool

mountain slopes mainly between 1,000 and 2,300 meters (3,000-

7,500 feet) elevation. Very few species are found in arid regions,

and, of these, most are epiphytic or lithophytic with specially adapted

tissues for storing water.

As noted above, orchids are found in all regions in Guatemala,

from near sea level up to at least 4,000 meters (13,100 feet) altitude.

They thus approach the extreme altitudinal limits of phanerogamic

plants in the country. Although many species have a wide altitudinal

range, the species in some genera are usually found at very low

elevations, such as those in Cattleya and Scaphy glottis. Some species

in other genera, though also usually occurring at lower elevations,

are found at high altitudes. There are 29 species in 16 genera that

are found up to at least 3,050 meters (10,000 feet), while 26 species

in 14 genera extend above 3,100 meters (10,100 feet), and one of

these, Leochilus pygmaeus, occurs up to 4,000 meters (13,100 feet).

Those species found at high elevations in Central America are

often either endemic to the region or show affinity with the flora

of the Andes of South America or that of the high mountains of

North America. For this reason it is of interest to enumerate these

high montane orchids of Guatemala. Those found as high as 3,100

to 3,300 meters (10,100-10,900 feet) are Arpophyllum alpinum,

Corallorhiza macrantha, Cypripedium irapeanum, Epidendrum Chloe,

E. polybulbon, Habenaria entomantha, Malaxis lepanthiflora, Odonto-

glossum bictoniense, Spiranthes hyemalis, S. parasitica, and S. vernalis.

Those occurring as high as 3,300 to 3,500 meters (10,900-11,500

feet) are Epidendrum Lindleyanum, E. ochraceum, Lepanthes oreo-

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 9

charis, Physosiphon tubatus, and Spiranthes stolonifera. Those species

that occur at 3,500 meters (11,500 feet) or higher zreGovenia mutica

var. Purpusii, Habenaria limosa, Isochilus linearis, I. major var.

alatus, Leochilus pygmaeus, Malaxis Ehrenbergii, M. Soulei, Pon-

thieva pulchella, Spiranthes minutiflora, and Stelis ovatilabia.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ORCHIDS

Orchids are perennials and are either terrestrial, epiphytic,

lithophytic, semiaquatic or, very rarely, subterranean. Most of the

species found in the temperate zone are terrestrial, while the greater

number of tropical and subtropical orchids are epiphytic or litho-

phytic. The subterranean genera, of which there are two (Rhizan-

thella and Cryptanthemis), are confined to Australia.

Two distinctive types of vegetative growth are found in the

Orchidaceae, sympodial and monopodial. All terrestrial and many

epiphytic orchids have a sympodial main axis, in which growth of

the original main axis ceases at the end of the flowering season, to

be resumed the next year by the development of a different axis,

resulting in a series of successive annual axes. In this type of growth

the inflorescence may be either terminal on the shoot or borne on

the side of the shoot on a short leafless branch. The other form of

growth, monopodial, occurs when the main axis grows steadily

onward year after year, producing new leaves at the apex (rarely

leafless) and bearing flowers on lateral shoots that arise in the axils

of the older leaves.

In respect to the flowers, orchid plants may be hermaphroditic,

dioecious or monoecious, depending upon the genus.

In general, terrestrial orchids have an erect or ascending stout or

slender stem bearing one or more radical or cauline leaves or both

and terminated by one or more flowers. The leaves are either present

at flowering time or appear separately at a different season. When

present, the leaf is entire and varies from a bract-like sheathing leaf

to a slender or broad lamina that is filiform to orbicular, mem-

branaceous to coriaceous or fleshy and often plicate or duplicate.

The roots are fibrous, fleshy or tuberous. Many species have promi-

nent rhizomes upon which adventitious roots are borne; others

produce corms or tubers.

A few of the terrestrial species are saprophytic; that is, they

grow in and derive their nourishment from humus. These plants

are commonly small and inconspicuous. They usually develop a

10 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

coralloid rhizome, are more or less lacking or apparently lacking

in chlorophyll, and have an essentially naked or bracteate greenish,

yellowish or reddish purple stem terminated by a raceme of flowers.

Epiphytic and most lithophytic orchids have no permanent main

roots. Instead, there are adventitious roots that arise mainly from

the nodes of the stem and sometimes form a mat over the sub-

stratum, penetrating into the surrounding medium or hanging free

from the substratum for a considerable length. The aerial roots of

epiphytic orchids have a special development of the epidermis, called

the velamen, which consists of several layers of cells that form a

spongy tissue that rapidly absorbs moisture from the atmosphere.

When these roots are moist they are usually green, but when dry

they are whitish, brownish or ash-colored. When present, the leaves

are similar to those of terrestrial orchids.

Many epiphytic sympodial forms have pseudobulbs. These are

thickened secondary stems, composed of one to several internodes,

which serve as reservoirs of water and food. They are variously

shaped, being mostly globose, pyriform or fusiform, and bear leaves

either throughout their entire length or only at the apex. The

leaves are one or more, simple and entire, and are often thick and

fleshy, being usually well adapted for storing water because of a

thick cuticle.

The inflorescence of the Orchidaceae consists of one or more

flowers and is a spike, simple raceme, or panicle. The zygomorphic

flowers (diagram, p. 11) are either unisexual or bisexual and have an

inferior 1- or 3-celled ovary. They may be small and inconspicuous

or large and showy. Occasionally polymorphic, cleistogamous,

peloric or teratologic flowers are produced. The three sepals as

well as the petals are generally colored instead of being green, as in

most flowers. They may be free from one another or more or less

united, sometimes forming a tube. The symmetrical dorsal sepal

usually differs somewhat in shape from the lateral sepals, which are

more or less oblique. The lateral sepals are either free from each

other or somewhat coherent and are often united at the base, occa-

sionally forming a mentum, or chin, with the foot of the column.

Of the inner segments, the petals, two are regular and identical,

and the third, called the lip, or labellum, is more or less modified.

The lip is properly the uppermost petal of the flower, but in most

species it assumes the lower position in the perianth as a result of

the twisting of the pedicel or pedicel and ovary. It usually differs

markedly in shape, size and coloration from the other two petals

The upper drawing represents a cross section of an orchid flower at a time

in its age-long evolution when all of the organs were distinct. A1-A3, three

stamens of outer whorl; a, a, a, stamens of inner whorl; S, S, position (indicated)

of fertile stigmas; R, sterile stigma that has become the rostellum. The central

figure shows the fruit in cross section, with its three rows of dust-like seeds.

Below the upper drawing a typical column is shown. 1-3, stamens and stigmas

and the central axis of the flower have combined to form the column, the diagnostic

structure of the vast orchid family. The pollinia represent Al of the diagram.

Drawn by Blanche Ames.

11

12 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

and is commonly by far the most conspicuous feature of the flower.

The lip is either simple or variously lobed; flat or more or less saccate;

entire, fringed or variously toothed and notched; and its disk, or

upper surface, is frequently adorned with calli, papillae or lamellae.

It may be only slightly or greatly extended at the base to form a

spur, or nectary.

The column (see diagram), which represents a union of carpels

and is, in part, an elongation of the floral axis, bears at or near the

summit, or laterally, one to rarely three mobile or rigidly attached

anthers and in front on the ventral surface the more or less confluent

stigmas or stigma. In many species a modified stigma, called the

rostellum, projects out over the stigmatic surface and serves to

affix the pollinia to insects. The anther, or anthers, situated behind

the rostellum and often lying upon it, rest in a shallow cavity

called the clinandrium. It is more or less distinctly 2-celled and

contains a mass of pollen or two, four, six or eight distinct pollen

masses, or pollinia, the number present sometimes being used in the

differentiation of genera. The pollen is either powdery, granular-

mealy (sometimes composed of groups of grains), waxy or carti-

laginous. The columns of the various genera and species exhibit

a wide range of variation and are of basic importance in classification.

The column is often produced into a more or less distinct foot.

A detailed discussion of the various parts of the column and

their morphological origin would doubtless be of interest, especially

in relation to their dramatic significance to insect-pollination. How-

ever, in a primarily taxonomic work such as this, space will not permit

too lengthy a discussion of this subject. If detailed information

concerning this subject is desired, an excellent account may be found

in Darwin's Various Contrivances by which Orchids are Fertilized by

Insects (1877). Briefly, in many genera, asListera, Orchis, Oncidium,

etc., part of the rostellum forms a disk to which the pollinia are

attached by a caudicle or stalk. On its under surface this disk

secretes, or there collects, a sticky fast-setting cement. When an

insect enters the flower in search of nectar, the rostellum is

ruptured. The viscid disk is exposed and is so situated that it

comes in contact with the proboscis, head, thorax or abdomen of

the insect and thus becomes attached to the little pollinator.

The fruits of orchids, with few exceptions, are dry capsules and

are variously shaped, being commonly ovoid, ellipsoid or cylindrical.

They are frequently strongly 3-angled, and the angles may be winged.

Vanilla, however, has a more or less cylindrical fleshy pod or "bean."

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 13

In many species the withered flower persists at the apex of the

fruit. When ripe, the dry capsule dehisces along one, two, three

or six longitudinal sutures, with the valves usually, but not always,

remaining united above and below. The minute seeds, composed

of undifferentiated cells, are produced in enormous quantities and

are well adapted for dispersal by wind.

ORCHIDACEAE

Perennial herbs, vines or shrub-like plants of various habits and habitats,

terrestrial, epiphytic, lithophytic, semiaquatic or (very rarely) subterranean,

autophytic or saprophytic, hermaphroditic, dioecious or monoecious, produced

from a short or elongated or (rarely) coralloid rhizome, corm or tuber. Roots

subterranean or aerial, fibrous, fleshy or tuberous, solitary, fasciculate or adventiti-

ous and scattered on the rhizome or stem. Stems terete to ancipitous, sometimes

angular, much abbreviated to elongated, slender to very stout, often modified

as thickened pseudobulbs, naked, bracteate or leafy. Pseudobulbs variously

shaped, usually globose, pyriform or fusiform, one- or more-leaved, subtended

by leaves, sheaths or cataphylls. Leaves simple, radical or cauline or both, per-

sistent, deciduous or marcescent, occasionally altogether lacking, varying from

foliaceous sheathing bracts to a broad or narrow lamina; lamina filiform to orbicular,

membranaceous to fleshy or coriaceous, often duplicate or plicate. Inflorescence

terminal or lateral, supported by an abbreviated to greatly elongated peduncle,

consisting of one or more flowers, commonly a spike, simple raceme or panicle.

Flowers small and inconspicuous to large and showy, zygomorphic, unisexual or

bisexual, sometimes polymorphic; perianth composed of three outer segments

(sepals) and three inner segments (petals), the segments free or more or less united,

adnate to the 1- or 3-celled inferior ovary, one petal (the lip or labellum) usually

complex in structure and differing only slightly to greatly in form, size and colora-

tion from the other segments; lip often extended at the base and forming a spur

or nectary. Stamens and pistils (including the filaments and styles) united to

form, in part, an organ called the column in the center of the flower. Column

various, formed by an elongation of the floral axis, bearing at or near its summit

or laterally one, two or (very rarely) three mobile or rigidly attached anthers,

producing in front on the ventral surface the somewhat confluent stigmas, with

one stigma usually modified to form the rostellum, often produced below into a

foot; anther situated behind the rostellum, resting in a bed or clinandrium, perfectly

or imperfectly 2-celled, containing a mass of pollen or two to eight distinct pollen-

masses or pollinia; pollen powdery, granular-mealy, waxy or cartilaginous. Fruit

a dry capsule or fleshy pod, commonly ovoid, ellipsoid or cylindric, dehiscing

along one, two, three or six longitudinal sutures; seeds numerous, scobicular

(except in Vanilla and Selenipedium).

14 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

KEY TO SUBFAMILIES, TRIBES AND GENERA

A. Stamens 2, a third one transformed into a large staminode; pollen granular,

not united into masses or bodies Subfamily DIANDRAE.

I. Tribe CYPRIPEDILOIDEAE

A. Stamen 1, the two lateral ones abortive or forming small staminodes; pollen

consolidated into masses or solid bodies (pollinia) . . . Subfamily MONANDRAE.

B. Caudicle and viscid disk (gland) arising from the base of the pollinia;

anther erect or more or less resupinate, the broad base very closely adnate

to the column, never deciduous after flowering; pollinia always granular.

Division BASITONAE.

II. Tribe OPHRYDOIDEAE

B. Caudicle and viscid disk (gland) arising from the apex of the pollinia;

anther erect or incumbent, the filament short and slender, generally very

narrowly joined to the column, usually deciduous but if persisting soon

withering Division ACROTONAE.

C. Pollinia granular, soft; anther commonly persistent but withering;

inflorescence (normally) always terminal.

III. Tribe POLYCHONDREAE

C. Pollinia waxy or cartilaginous; anther commonly soon deciduous; inflores-

cence terminal or lateral.

IV. Tribe KEROSPHAEREAE

I. Tribe CYPRIPEDILOIDEAE (Subtribe CYPRIPEDILEAE. Two genera in Guate-

mala).

1. Petals oblong-elliptic, up to 6.5 cm. long; ovary 1-celled. . .1. Cypripedium.

1. Petals narrowly lanceolate, falcate, up to 75 cm. long; ovary 3-celled.

2. Phragmipedium.

II. Tribe OPHRYDOIDEAE (Subtribe HABENARIEAE. One genus in Guatemala).

3. Habenaria.

III. Tribe POLYCHONDREAE (Seven subtribes and fifteen genera in Guatemala).

1. Anther more or less prone, incumbent.

2. Stems not pseudobulbous, usually elongate.

3. Leaves not articulated, persistent; stems not cane-like (Subtribe

VANILLEAE).

4. Low erect terrestrial herbs; flowers 2 cm. or less long.

5. Leaves clasping the stem; plant with stolons and bearing fleshy

tuberoids 4. Triphora.

5. Leaves with lax vaginate petioles; plant with a creeping rhizome.

5. Psilochilus.

4. Tall scandent herbs, usually epiphytic or trailing in trees or shrubs,

without tuberous roots; flowers rather large, more than 2 cm. long.

6. Vanilla.

3. Leaves articulated, early deciduous; stems cane-like (Subtribe SOBRA-

LIEAE).

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 15

6. Base of the lip strongly gibbous or subsaccate, ornamented with

two prominent calli; flowers relatively small 7. Elleanthus.

6. Base of the lip neither strongly gibbous nor subsaccate, without

prominent calli; flowers relatively large 8. Sobralia.

2. Stems pseudobulbous (at least at the base), very short (Subtribe BLE-

TILLEAE) 9. Crybe.

1. Anther more or less erect; rostellum erect or suberect.

7. Leaves not plicate-nerved, usually delicate; plant rarely not producing

leaves.

8. Roots fasciculate.

9. Lip uppermost in the flower, i.e. non-resupinate (Subtribe CRANI-

CHIDEAE).

10. Plant leafless, saprophytic, adorned with bifurcate hairs.

10. Wullschlaegelia.

10. Plant producing leaves, not saprophytic, hairs not bifurcate.

11. Petals and lip not inserted on the column.

12. Sepals connate at the base to form a cup 11. Prescottia.

12. Sepals free at the base, not forming a cup 12. Cranichis.

11. Petals and occasionally the lip inserted on the column.

13. Ponthieva.

9. Lip lowermost in the flower, i.e. resupinate (Subtribe SPIRANTHEAE).

14. Spiranthes.

8. Roots not fasciculate, arising singly from the nodes on the lower part

of the stem or rhizome (Subtribe PHYSUREAE).

13. Lip flat or subsaccate, neither produced into a prominent free sac

nor spur at the base 15. Goodyera.

13. Lip produced into a prominent free sac or spur at the base.

16. Erythrodes.

7. Leaves plicate-nerved, chartaceous or subcoriaceous (Subtribe TROPI-

DIEAE).

14. Lip broad at the base, concave, saccate or short-spurred; lateral

sepals forming a short mentum at the base; column short.

17. Tropidia.

14. Lip narrow at the base; sepals and petals narrow, more or less ad-

herent to form a tube; column elongate 18. Corymborchis.

IV. Tribe KEROSPHAEREAE (Twenty-six subtribes and seventy-one genera in

Guatemala).

A. Series a.. — ACRANTHAE. Inflorescence normally terminal or by abortion of

the terminal inflorescence axillary in the upper leaves, very rarely axillary.

1. Viscid disk (when present) arising from the apex of the pollinia, commonly

irregular, sometimes rudimentary or none.

2. Ovary manifestly articulated with the pedicel; pedicel always persistent;

stem slender, rigid, sometimes very abbreviated, usually unifoliate

(Subtribe PLEUROTHALLIDEAE).

3. Sepals all distinctly connate.

4. Sepals more or less rotate, not forming a narrow tube; petals and

lip commonly similar 19. Stelis.

4. Sepals forming a narrow tube at the base or campanulate; petals

and lip very dissimilar.

5. Inflorescence a raceme (in Guatemalan species); sepals with

relatively short free lobes 20. Physosiphon.

5. Inflorescence a single flower or rarely two flowers; sepals with

long free continuations 21. Masdevallia.

16 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

3. Sepals not distinctly connate, at least the dorsal sepal free or nearly so.

6. Inflorescence lateral, originating about the middle of the secondary

stem; lateral sepals with retrorse callosities above the middle.

22. Scaphosepalum.

6. Inflorescence terminal or rarely lateral at the base of the secondary

stem; lateral sepals without conspicuous retrorse calli.

7. Blade of the petals transverse, i.e. strongly bilobed, rarely simple

(or essentially so), from a very oblique base 23. Lepanthes.

7. Blade of the petals not transverse or strongly bilobed.

24. Pleurothallis.

2. Ovary not articulated with the pedicel; pedicel caducous with the flower;

stems slender or fleshy-thickened, 1- to several-flowered.

8. Pollinia always without appendages, i.e. no viscid disk or caudicles

present (Subtribe LIPARIDEAE).

9. Column very short; anther erect 25. Malaxis.

9. Column more or less elongate; anther incumbent 26. Liparis.

8. Pollinia appendaged, i.e. sometimes with a rudimentary viscid disk,

sometimes with a caudicle having a viscid apex.

10. Column entirely without a foot, more or less adnate to the base of

the lip (Subtribe LAELIEAE).

11. Pollinia two or four, with two in each cell of the anther when

four are present.

12. Lip gibbous or saccate at the base; flowers with an evident

mentum 28. Nageliella.

12. Lip neither gibbous nor saccate at the base.

13. Lip geniculate at its junction with the column . 27. Hexisea.

13. Lip not geniculate at its junction with the column.

14. Flowers usually not large and showy; stems either

pseudobulbous or epseudobulbous.

15. Lip without hollow horn-like processes, commonly

adnate to the column at base but not always so.

29. Epidendrum.

15. Lip with two large hollow horn-like processes, free or

nearly so 30. Diacrium.

14. Flowers large and showy; stems always pseudobulbous.

31. Cattleya.1

11. Pollinia eight, four in each cell of the anther.

16. Pollinia in four pairs, each pair joined by parallel caudicles;

anther operculate.

17. Lip from base gradually passing into the lamina; pollinia

nearly of one size, subequal 32. Laelia.

17. Lip abruptly broadened into the lamina; pollinia of two

sizes, unequal.

18. Lip very different from the sepals 33. Brassavola.

18. Lip similar to the sepals 35. Homalopetalum.

16. Pollinia a fascicle of eight, not paired, in one series; anther

not operculate 34. Meiracyllium.

10. Column produced into a distinct foot (though sometimes abbre-

viated); lip not adnate to the column or at most with margins

adnate to the base of the column-foot (Subtribe PONEREAE).

19. Pollinia four or six.

1 Cattleya and Epidendrum are technically indistinguishable and are scarcely

more than genera of convenience.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 17

20. Leaves not distichous on an elongate stem, terminal and

usually paired on pseudobulbs or short thickened stems;

pollinia four or six 36. Scaphy glottis.

20. Leaves distichous and scattered along an elongate stem; pol-

linia four.

21. Inflorescences 1-flowered, fasciculate.

22. Inflorescences lateral on the stem in the axils of leaves;

leaves not fleshy 37. Ponera.

22. Inflorescences terminal on the stem; leaves more or less

fleshy 38. Jacquiniella.

21. Inflorescences racemose.

23. Lip S-shaped at the base; inflorescence terminal only.

39. Isochilus.

23. Lip not S-shaped at the base; inflorescences terminal

and sometimes also lateral 37. Ponera.

19. Pollinia eight.

24. Leaf solitary, from the apex of a stout stem; inflorescences

subtended by a single large spat he 40. Arpophyllum.

24. Leaves two or more, from the apex of a pseudobulb; inflores-

cences not subtended by a single large spathe.

25. Column-foot much shorter than the column proper, very

inconspicuous; mentum obsolescent 41. Coelia.

25. Column-foot subequal in length to the column proper;

mentum conspicuous 42. Bothriochilus.

1. Viscid disk distinct, regular, with the margins well defined, arising from

the apex of the rostellum.

26. Column with a foot; plants with pseudobulbs or with swollen bases to

the stems; pollinia four or four joined into two pairs (Subtribe POLY-

STACHYEAE).

27. Lip without a spur 43. Polystachya.

27. Lip with a spur 44. Galeandra.

26. Column without a foot; plants without pseudobulbs; pollinia two

(Subtribe EPIDANTHEAE) 45. Epidanthus.

A. Series b.— PLEURANTHAE. Inflorescence lateral, arising near the base of

the pseudobulbs or in the axils of the leaves or of the sheaths of the lower

stems.

B. Subseries a. — SYMPODIALES. Plants forming a sympodium, i.e. with the

stems approximate or superimposed and manifestly terminated by com-

monly smaller apical leaves.

28. Pollinia without a stipe; viscid disk (if present) commonly rudimentary

or the apex of the caudicle glutinous.

29. Rhizome shortened or coralloid, bulbous, annulate, with short

internodes; pseudobulbs usually none; leaves plicate or entirely lack-

ing (in the saprophytic genera); plants terrestrial.

30. Plants saprophytic, without true leaves; rhizome coralloid; stems

elongate (Subtribe CORALLORHIZEAE).

31. Lip with 5 to 7 longitudinal lamellae on the disk; pollinia

eight 46. Hexalectris.

31. Lip with 2 lamellae at most; pollinia four. . . .47. Corallorrhiza.

30. Plants not saprophytic, with green leaves; roots not coralloid;

stems shortened or pseudobulbous (Subtribe PHAJEAE).

32. Lip with a spur 48. Calanthe.

32. Lip without a spur 49. Bletia.

29. Rhizome more or less elongate; stems pseudobulbous, 1- or several-

leaved; leaves flat or plicate; plants epiphytic.

18 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

33. Pseudobulbs homoblastic (i.e. of several nodes, only the terminal

one of which bears well-developed leaves), fusiform, several-

leaved; leaves plicate, rather thin; flowers relatively large (Sub-

tribe CHYSIEAE) 50. Chysis.

33. Pseudobulbs heteroblastic (i.e. of a single node with one or two

terminal leaves), usually small; leaves coriaceous or fleshy, not

plicate; flowers relatively small (Subtribe BULBOPHYLLEAE).

51. Bulbophyllum.

28. Pollinia with a prominent stipe (though sometimes short); viscid disk

distinct.

34. Pollinia of a waxy texture, easily compressed or crushed (Subtribe

CYRTOPODIEAE).

35. Lip spurred or with a strongly saccate base 52. Eulophia.

35. Lip neither spurred nor with a saccate base.

36. Lip prominently 3-lobed 53. Cyrtopodium.

36. Lip simple or at most crenulate 54. Govenia.

34. Pollinia of a cartilaginous texture, i.e. neither easily compressed

nor crushed.

37. Leaves convolutive in vernation.

38. Pseudobulbs large, fusiform, homoblastic, several-leaved (Sub-

tribe CATASETEAE).

39. Column twisted; flowers perfect (monomorphic or poly-

morphic) 55. Mormodes.

39. Column not twisted; flowers rarely perfect (dimorphic or

trimorphic).

40. Column thick, straight, usually with two retrorse antennae

in male flowers 56. Catasetum.

40. Column slender, curved or arcuate, without retrorse

antennae 57. Cycnoches.

38. Pseudobulbs short, heteroblastic, 1- to few-leaved.

41. Lip continuous with the base of the column or solidly attached

to the short column-foot, not articulated, more or less promi-

nently divided into a hypochile and epichile (Subtribe

GONGOREAE).

42. Petals conspicuously narrower than the sepals, usually

inserted near or on the very base of the column.

43. Epichile not saccate 62. Gongora.

43. Epichile deeply saccate 63. Coryanthes.

42. Petals not conspicuously narrower than the sepals.

44. Epichile saccate 63. Coryanthes.

44. Epichile not saccate.

45. Lateral sepals strongly reflexed in anthesis.

61. Stanhopea.

45. Lateral sepals not strongly reflexed in anthesis.

46. Pseudobulb with a solitary leaf 59. Houlletia.

46. Pseudobulb with two or more leaves.

47. Lip with a slender claw; lateral lobes of lip oblong-

falcate, acute 60. Paphinia.

47. Lip without a slender claw; lateral lobes of lip

subquadrate, truncate 58. Lacaena.

41. Lip articulated with the apex of the column-foot.

48. Inflorescence basal, i.e. arising at the base of the pseudo-

bulb; lip usually provided with a depressed longitudinal

callus (Subtribe LYCASTEAE).

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 19

49. Inflorescence a few- to many-flowered raceme.

64. Xylobium.

49. Inflorescence consisting of a single flower. . .65. Lycaste.

48. Inflorescence suprabasal, i.e. in the axils of the lower (some-

times leaf -bearing) sheaths; lip usually provided with a

transverse callus or a transverse flabellate crest (Sub-

tribe ZYGOPETALEAE) 66. Zygopetalum.

37. Leaves duplicative in vernation.

50. Column commonly produced into a foot and forming a mentum

with the lateral sepals; rostellum not produced, emarginate.

51. Callus of the lip transverse, commonly flabellate; inflorescence

suprabasal, i.e. in the axils of the lower (often leaf-bearing)

sheaths; pseudobulbs reduced or rudimentary (Subtribe

HUNTLEYEAE) 67. Chondrorhyncha.

51. Callus of the lip longitudinal, often depressed or rarely none;

inflorescence borne at the base of the pseudobulb; pseudobulbs

usually well developed and often with elongate stems (Sub-

tribe MAXILLARIEAE).

52. Sepals forming a short tube at the base. .70. Trigonidium.

52. Sepals not forming a tube at the base.

53. Viscid disk lunate; column almost footless; peduncle

commonly as long as or longer than the leaves.

69. Mormolyca.

53. Viscid disk rounded; column with a distinct foot;

peduncle usually much shorter than the leaves.

68. Maxillaria.

50. Column always without a foot; rostellum produced, commonly

bifid, sometimes subulate and acute.

54. Anther incumbent; rostellum porrect or deflexed, sometimes

with the apex ascending.

55. Base of the lip deeply saccate or spurred, or the lateral

sepals connate and saccate or spurred at the base.

56. Lateral sepals free; base of the lip deeply saccate or form-

ing a single spur; inflorescence 1- or 2-flowered (Sub-

tribe TRICHOCENTREAE) 71. Trichocentrum.

56. Lateral sepals connate, saccate or spurred at the base;

base of the lip neither deeply saccate nor forming a single

spur; inflorescence racemose or paniculate (Subtribe

COMPARETTIEAE) .

57. Lip with a pair of flattened porrect lamellate calli near

the apex 73. Scelochilus.

57. Lip without lamellate calli near the apex.

58. Lip with two filiform appendages at the base.

74. Comparettia.

58. Lip without filiform appendages at the base.

72. lonopsis.

55. Base of the lip neither saccate nor spurred; lateral sepals

free or connate, if connate neither spurred nor saccate at

the base (Subtribe ONCIDIEAE).

59. Pollinia two.

60. Leaves articulated, i.e. deciduous with age; plants with

pseudobulbs; inflorescence from the base of the pseudo-

bulb.

61. Base of the lip enfolding the column and shortly

adnate to it at its base (Subtribe TRICHOPILIEAE).

75. Trichopilia.

20 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

61. Base of the lip not enfolding the column.

62. Sepals and petals long-caudate; column not winged

at the apex 78. Brassia.

62. Sepals and petals not long-caudate (or if so the

column is winged or auriculate); column winged

or wingless at apex.

63. Lip inserted on the column near the middle.

77. Aspasia.

63. Lip not inserted on the column near the middle.

64. Lateral sepals entirely united. 79. Palumbina.

64. Lateral sepals not entirely united, at most

only partly united.

65. Anther produced in front into a membra-

naceous appendage longer than (rarely

equaling) the locule 81. Leochilus.

65. Anther not produced in front into a mem-

branaceous appendage longer than the

locule.

66. Lip long-unguiculate. .82. Sigmatostalix.

66. Lip not long-unguiculate.

67. Basal part of lip erect and more or

less parallel to the column; calli of the

lip usually two, parallel and not

joined; column usually not winged.

76. Odontoglossum.

67. Basal part of lip spreading (at almost

a right angle) from the column; calli

on the lip various; column usually

winged at the apex 80. Oncidium.

60. Leaves not articulated, i.e. marcescent, equitant,

closely approximate; stems elongate and pseudo-

bulbose (Subtribe LOCKHARTIEAE) 83. Lockhartia.

59. Pollinia four (Subtribe ORNITHOCEPHALEAE).

84. Ornithocephalus.

54. Anther erect on the back of the column or on the apex of

the column under the clinandrium; rostellum erect (Sub-

tribe NOTYLIEAE).

68. Lip simple, not lobed 85. Notylia.

68. Lip 3- or 4-lobed.

69. Lip 4-lobed, the lateral lobes linear to narrowly lanceo-

f late 86. Cryptarrhena.

69. Lip 3-lpbed, the lateral lobes suborbicular-ovate to

semiorbicular 87. Macradenia.

B. Subseries b. — MONOPODIALES. Plants forming a monopodium, i.e. the

stems with unlimited growth.

70. Inflorescence 1-flowered; lip without a spur; column often with an

infrastigmatic ligule (Subtribe DICHAEEAE) 88. Dichaea.

70. Inflorescence racemose, several- to many-flowered; lip with a basal

spur; column always without an infrastigmatic ligule (Subtribe

SARCANTHEAE) 89. Campylocentrum.

1. CYPRIPEDIUM L.

Terrestrial herbs with fibrous roots rising from a short rootstock. Leaves

cauline, plicate. Flowers showy, subtended by foliaceous bracts. Sepals spread-

FIG. 1. Cypripedium irapeanum. Flowering plant (X 2A). Drawn by D. E.

Tibbitts.

21

22 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

ing, free or with the lateral pair partially or wholly united. Petals spreading,

free, usually smaller than the sepals. Lip sessile, strongly inflated, pouch-shaped.

Column declined, with two laterally placed fertile stamens each bearing a 2-celled

anther and a dorsally placed sterile petaloid thick staminode; pollen granular.

Ovary 1-celled.

This genus consists of about fifty species that are widespread in

boreal, temperate and tropical regions of Europe, Asia and America.

They are considered to be the most primitive orchids extant and

represent what appears to be a section isolated from the rest of the

family, without any intermediate or connecting genera surviving

today.

Cypripedium irapeanum Llave & Lex. Nov. Veg. Descr.

(Orch. Opusc.) 2: 10. 1825. Figure!.

On open grassy hillsides or in loamy soil in pine-oak forests on

mountain slopes, up to 3,200 meters alt. Mexico and Guatemala.

Often common locally.

Plant stout, densely pilose throughout, 3.5-10.5 dm. tall; stem leafy. Leaves

suborbicular-ovate to narrowly lanceolate, acute to acuminate, 3-13 cm. long,

2-8.5 cm. wide. Inflorescence a solitary flower or few-flowered raceme (as many

as six flowers). Floral bracts similar to but somewhat smaller than the leaves.

Flowers bright yellow, with strongly arcuate pedicellate ovaries that are 3-5 cm.

long and densely covered with brownish glandular pubescence. Perianth parts

more or less pubescent. Sepals often suffused or striped with pale green; dorsal

sepal broadly elliptic, acute or submucronate, 3-6 cm. long, 1.8-3.5 cm. wide;

lateral sepals connate; lamina oblong-elliptic, emarginate or subacute, 3-5 cm.

long, 2-3 cm. wide. Petals oblong-elliptic, antrorsely curved, 3-6.5 cm. long, 2.7-3

cm. wide. Lip obovoid, strongly saccate, interior surface at base densely tomentose

and with bright red spots, exterior surface glabrous, 4-6 cm. long, 3-3.5 cm.

wide at the widest point. Column about 2 cm. long; staminode ovate, acuminate,

subtrilobed, about 1.2 cm. long.

Although C. irapeanum is not common in collections, collectors'

notes often state that it occurs abundantly where it grows naturally.

It is a showy species and rivals in beauty the North American

C. reginae Walt., which it resembles. It is one of the two species of

diandrous orchids found in Guatemala, and here represents the

southernmost extension of the genus in the western hemisphere.

Guatemala: Near San Rafael, about 10 miles from Guatemala,

Margaret Ward Lewis 151. — Huehuetenango: Along Rio Selegua,

opposite San Sebastian H., Steyermark 50491. Above La Libertad,

on Cerro Pueblo Viejo, "common here by the thousands of plants,"

Steyermark 50973. — Sacatepe*quez : Volcan de Agua, Hartweg (fide

Hemsley). San Luis Pastores, Johnston 1645. — Solola: Volcan San

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 23

Pedro, north-facing slopes toward Lago de Atitlan, above village

of San Pedro, Steyermark 47181. "Guatemala," Skinner.

2. PHRAGMIPEDIUM Rolfe

Terrestrial or epiphytic herbs with fibrous roots. Leaves coriaceous, ligulate,

conduplicate, sulcate. Flowers large, showy in few- to many-flowered racemes or

panicles. Sepals spreading, with the dorsal one free and the lateral ones entirely

united. Petals free, spreading, similar to the sepals or long-caudate (in our species).

Lip sessile, inflated, calceolate. Column short, stout, with two laterally placed

fertile stamens each bearing a 2-celled anther and a dorsally placed sterile, petaloid

staminode; pollen granular. Ovary 3-celled.

There are in this genus in tropical America about a dozen species,

which are mainly confined to South America. The elongated petals

are characteristic.

Phragmipedium caudatum (Lindl.) Rolfe, Orch. Rev. 4: 332.

1896. Cypripedium caudatum Lindl. Gen. & Sp. Orch. PI. 531. 1840.

Figure 2.

Epiphytic on trees or in humus on open or shaded rocks, up to

2,000 meters alt. Rare in Guatemala and Panama; widespread in

northern South America.

Plant rather stout, erect or ascending, 4-5 dm. tall. Stem scapose, densely

and finely pilose, supporting 2-4 flowers, provided about the middle with a con-

duplicate foliaceous bract that is about 8 cm. long and 3 cm. wide. Leaves radical,

spreading, distichous, ligulate, obtuse to subacute, dorsally sulcate, leathery and

glossy, glabrous, 10-35 cm. long, 2-4 cm. wide. Floral bracts conduplicate,

elliptic, obtuse to broadly rounded at the apex, 4-9.5 cm. long, 3-4.5 cm. wide

when spread out. Flowers variously colored, usually yellow-green flushed with

reddish brown or purple, with stout arcuate pedicellate ovaries that are 12-19 cm.

long and finely pilose. Sepals pubescent on the outer surface, conspicuously

nerved, undulate- wavy along the margins; dorsal sepal lanceolate, long-acuminate

with an obtuse tip, arched over the lip, 9-16 cm. long, 2-3 cm. wide near the base;

lateral sepals united into a broadly lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate lamina that is

long-acuminate at the apex and concave below the middle, 8-13 cm. long, 3-4.5

cm. wide. Petals narrowly lanceolate and falcate at the base, extended into ex-

tremely long pendent caudae which are up to 75 cm. long (rarely only a few cm.

in length), about 1 cm. wide near the base, pubescent especially near the tip with

brown articulated hairs, with a dense tuft of hairs on the inner surface at the base.

Lip calceolate, inflated, ellipsoid, open above with the anterior margins of the

orifice induplicate and pubescent within, puberulent on the outer surface, usually

greenish with a reddish brown reticulation, purple-spotted on the interior surface,

5-6.5 cm. long. Staminode flat, transversely triangular with the angles obtuse,

purplish, more or less pubescent along the margins, about 1 cm. long, 1.2-1.6 cm.

wide. Capsule cylindrical, about 10 cm. long and 8 mm. in diameter.

24 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

This species is characterized by having extremely long petals.

When the flower-buds first open the petals are about the length of

the sepals. However, after the flower is completely opened, the

petals continue growth until they attain a length of from 30 to 75 cm.

Alta Verapaz: Rare on trees in Pansamala, May, 1887, Tiirckheim

1248. Xuchaneb (cultivated in garden of Don Mariano Pacheco H.

in Guatemala City), Steyermark 46392. — Huehuetenango : Vicinity

of Maxbal, about 17 miles north of Barillas, Sierra de los Cuchuma-

tanes, Steyermark 48522.- — Guatemala: "The plant was purchased in

Guatemala City by Mrs. [W. P.] Cockerell. ... It was presumably

collected in the mts. of Guatemala by an Indian. T. D. A. Cockerell,

June 1918." Somewhere between San Agustin A. and Salama, '

specimen purchased in Coban, Margaret Ward Lewis 127.

3. HABENARIA Willd.

Terrestrial or semiaquatic herbs with fleshy or tuberous roots; tuberoids ovoid

or fusiform-elongate. Plants erect, simple; stem with cauline or basal leaves or

both, rarely with the leaves reduced to bracts. Flowers in showy or inconspicuous

racemes, rarely solitary. Sepals free or somewhat coherent at the base, subequal;

lateral sepals spreading or deflexed; dorsal sepal erect or forming a hood over the

column. Petals free, usually connivent with the dorsal sepal, entire or bifid,

polymorphic. Lip usually slightly adnate to the column, entire, toothed, or

tripartite, at the base produced into a spur. Column short; stigmas with or with-

out papillose processes; anther one, two-celled, persistent; pollen granular.

This is a polymorphic genus of approximately five hundred species

that are natives mainly of the warmer regions of the world. They

are found chiefly in woodlands, savannas, meadows and swamps,

where they usually occur in moderately to strongly acid soils.

1. Petals entire or merely toothed at the base; lip entire, toothed on each side

at the base or three-lobed.

2. Lip deeply three-lobed; leaves basal H. distans var. jamaicensis.

2. Lip not deeply three-lobed; leaves cauline.

3. Stigmatic processes wanting; lip entire H. limosa.

3. Stigmatic processes well developed, conspicuous; lip entire, toothed or

sharply angled on each side at the base.

4. Ovary conspicuously winged, with the wings minutely papillose on the

edges H. alata.

4. Ovary not conspicuously winged.

5. Lip rounded or reduced to a narrow claw at the base; spur less than

1.5 cm. long H. eustachya.

5. Lip toothed or sharply angled on each side at the base; spur more

than 1.5 cm. long.

6. Petals rotundate-quadrate to suborbicular, obtuse . . H. strictissima.

6. Petals subquadrate to oblong-quadrate, usually with the apex more

or less trilobulate H. strictissima var. odontopetala.

FIG. 2. Phragmipedium caudatum. Flowering plant (X M)- Drawn by

D. E. Tibbitts.

25

26 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

1. Petals bifid; lip always three-lobed.

7. Flowers one to three H. pauciflora.

7. Flowers more than three.

8. Leaves basal H. distans.

8. Leaves not essentially basal.

9. Spur more than 3.5 cm. long.

10. Leaves mainly linear, coarse and thick when dry, more or less

equitant; semiaquatic H. bractescens.

10. Leaves ovate to oblong-lanceolate, thin and papery when dry, not

equitant; non-aquatic H. quinqueseta.

9. Spur less than 3.5 cm. long.

11. Leaf -sheaths maculate; leaf -margins undulate-scarious.

H. monorrhiza.

11. Leaf -sheaths not maculate; leaf -margins not undulate-scarious.

12. Mid-nerve of the sepals, lobes of the lip, and anterior lobes of the

petals papillose H. crassicornis.

12. Sepals, lip and petals smooth.

13. Flowers white; mid-lobe of lip conspicuously wider than the

lateral lobes, subequal in length H. clypeata.

13. Flowers green or yellowish green; mid-lobe of lip not con-

spicuously wider than the lateral lobes, subequal or unequal in

length.

14. Lobes of the lip subequal, pendent; semiaquatic. . .H. repens.

14. Lobes of the lip unequal (rarely subequal) in length; lateral

lobes mostly spreading and recurved; not aquatic.

15. Leaves small, scattered along the stem; spur less than

2 cm. long H. entomantha.

15. Leaves comparatively large, mostly near the middle of the

stem; spur more than 2 cm. long H. novemfida.

Habenaria alata Hook. Exot. Fl. 3: t. 169. 1826. Figure 3.

Rather common on grassy hillsides and brushy slopes, in open

meadows and pastures, and moist soil in open pine-oak forests, up

to 1,900 meters alt. Widespread in the West Indies and Mexico,

through Central America to South America.

Plant slender, glabrous, 1.7-7 dm. tall; stem leafy. Leaves narrowly lanceo-

late, acuminate, 6-14 cm. long, up to 2 cm. wide. Raceme 6-20 cm. long, 2.5-4.5

cm. in diameter. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, acuminate, 2-3.5

cm. long, about 6 mm. wide near the base. Flowers pale green, with broadly

winged pedicellate ovaries that are about 1.5 cm. long. Sepals connivent at first,

then spreading, with minutely papillose margins. Dorsal sepal broadly ovate to

suborbicular, concave, rarely apiculate, the median nerve dorsally carinate, 6-10

mm. long, 5-7 mm. wide. Lateral sepals somewhat obliquely elliptic-lanceolate,

apiculate and recurved at the apex, 7-10.5 mm. long, 3.5-4.5 mm. wide. Petals

thick, opaque, lanceolate, obtuse to subacute, with a small lobe at the base on

the anterior margin, 5.5-11 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. wide. Lip thick, linear-lanceo-

late, with a tooth on each side near the base (occasionally with the basal triangular

teeth inconspicuous or obsolete), directed forward, 5.5-8 mm. long, about 2 mm.

wide. Spur recurved, clavate, 9-13 mm. long. Column about 2.5 mm. long.

Capsule obliquely ellipsoid, prominently winged, about 1.5 cm. long.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA

27

FIG. 3. Habenaria alata. 1, flower, side view (about X 2); 2, flower, with

lateral sepals spread apart, front-side view (about X 2); 3, lip, spur, and column,

front-side view (about X 4); 4, section from margin of sepal, showing papillose

character (much enlarged); 5, petal (about X 4). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

This is a polymorphic species. The lip commonly has a triangular

protuberance on each side near the base. Sometimes these protuber-

ances are so strongly developed that they give to the lip a three-

lobed appearance, but frequently they are so much reduced that they

become inconspicuous and obsolete.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Turckheim II 1501. — Chimaltenango: Be-

tween Chimaltenango and San Martin Jilotepeque, Standley 80868.

28 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Near Finca La Alameda, near Chimaltenango, Standley 59143;

79764. Near Rio Pixcaya, between Chimaltenango and San Martin

Jilotepeque, Standley 64482.- — Guatemala: Guatemala, Jesus Morales

1137. — Jutiapa: Between Agua Blanca and Amatillo, Steyermark

30388. — Sacatepe*quez: Near Antigua, Standley 58547. — Santa Rosa:

San Juan Utopa, Heyde & Lux 6247. Cerro Redondo, Steyermark

52213. — Zacapa: Lower slopes of Sierra de las Minas, above Rio

Hondo, Steyermark 29538. Along Rio Lima, Sierra de las Minas,

between Rio Hondo and summit of mountain at Finca Alejandria,

Steyermark 29631. From Dona Edna Sarg de Rodriguez, Finca

San Jose* Buena Vista, Margaret Ward Lewis 211.

Habenaria bractescens Lindl. Gen. & Sp. Orch. PL 308.

1835. H. Pringlei Robinson, Proc. Am. Acad. 27: 184. 1892.

Figure 4.

Uncommon in bogs, marshes and on the border of lakes, semi-

aquatic, up to 1,000 meters alt. Widespread and rather common,

generally, from Mexico through Central and South America to

Argentina.

Plant large, stout, glabrous, 4.5-12 dm. tall; stem leafy. Roots long, slender,

fibrous, with the central one tuberous. Leaves linear to narrowly lanceolate,

acuminate, conduplicate and keeled, 9-26 cm. long, 1.5-3 cm. wide. Raceme

laxly few-flowered, 8-23 cm. long, 6-9 cm. in diameter. Floral bracts ovate-

lanceolate, acuminate, 3.5-6 cm. long, up to 1.7 cm. wide near the base. Flowers

large, white and pale green, with slender pedicellate ovaries that are 4-6.5 cm.

long. Dorsal sepal elliptic, acute or apiculate and recurved at the apex, scarcely

concave, 1.3-2.1 cm. long, 8-14 mm. wide. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-elliptic,

acute to acuminate, 1.4-2.4 cm. long, 6.5-10 mm. wide. Petals bipartite; posterior

lobe linear-lanceolate, falcate, 1.2-2.2 cm. long, about 2 mm. wide; anterior lobe

filiform, 1.2-2.5 cm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide. Lip tripartite to within 3-4 mm.

of the base; mid-lobe narrowly linear, subacute, 1.5-2.2 cm. long, about 2 mm.

wide; lateral lobes filiform, 1.6-2 cm. long. Spur slender, 5-15 cm. long. Capsule

obliquely cylindrical, prominently ribbed, about 2.5 cm. long.

The extraordinarily large flowers, being white, make this species

one of the most showy in the genus. It is easily distinguished from

the closely related H. quinqueseta by its narrower leaves.

Escuintla: 2 km. north of San Jose", Stork & Horton 8832. — Izabal:

Boca del Rio Polochic, Smith 1583. — Pete*n: Lake Zotz, Lundell

3324. — Solola: Around lake at Finca Moca, slopes of Volcan Atitlan,

Steyermark 47881. Jocolo, marshy edge of lake, Johnson 1001.

Habenaria clypeata Lindl. Gen. & Sp. Orch. PL 311. 1835.

H. lactiflora A. Rich. & Gal. Ann. Sci. Nat. se"r. 3, 3: 28. 1845. H.

FIG. 4. Habenaria bractescens (H. Pringlei). 1, flower, side view (X 1);

2, lip (about X 2); 3, petal (about X 2). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

29

30 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

spithamaea Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 195. 1918 (type: Guatemala,

in pinetis inter Casillas et Laguna de Ayarza, July, 1870, Bernoulli

& Cario 551). Figure 5.

In dry rocky pine-oak scrub forests, also in boggy ground, on

grassy slopes, pastures, loamy soil of ridges and sandy, limy soil,

up to 2,500 meters alt. Rather rare in Mexico, Guatemala, Hon-

duras, Costa Rica and Panama.

Plant small, slender, glabrous, with a globose tuber attached to the base of

the stem, 1.1-5.3 dm. tall; stem leafy. Leaves small, oblong-elliptic to narrowly

lanceolate, acute, acuminate or cuspidate, equitant, mostly strongly conduplicate,

ensiform, 3.5-7 cm. long, 0.8-3 cm. wide. Inflorescence a few- to many-flowered

raceme, 4-10 cm. long, 3-4 cm. in diameter. Bracts large, ovate-lanceolate,

acuminate, cucullate and clasping the pedicellate ovary, 1.5-3 cm. long. Flowers

white, fragrant of hyacinth, with slender pedicellate ovaries that are 1.5-2 cm. long.

Dorsal sepal elliptic, strongly concave-galeate, 9-10 mm. long, 6-7 mm. wide.

Lateral sepals obliquely oblong-elliptic, obtuse or subacute, 8-9 mm. long, 3-4.5

mm. wide. Petals bipartite; posterior lobe linear-oblong, falcate, connivent with

the dorsal sepal, 6-10 mm. long, 1.8-3 mm. wide; anterior lobe filiform, recurved,

11-12.5 mm. long. Lip tripartite to the base or to within 2.5-3 mm. from the base;

mid-lobe linear, obtuse, 6.5-12 mm. long, 1-2.5 mm. wide; lateral lobes filiform,

8-15 mm. long. Spur stout, clavate, somewhat recurved, 1.5-2.5 cm. long.

Column about 3 mm. long.

The lateral segments of the lip are basal or sometimes, together

with the mid-lobe, separated from the base of the lip by a well-

developed claw and are either shorter than or about equal to the

mid-lobe.

Huehuetenango: Between Chanquejelve" and Ixcacao, Sierra de

los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 51804. — Jalapa: Between Miramundo

and summit of Montana Miramundo, between Jalapa and Mata-

quescuintla, Steyermark 32697. — Santa Rosa: Cerro Gordo, 1,100

meters, Heyde & Lux 3858. Between Casillas and Laguna de

Ayarza, Bernoulli 706 (fide W. B. Hemsley). — Zacapa: Sierra de

las Minas, between Rio Hondo and summit of mountain at Finca

Alexandria, Steyermark 29639.

Habenaria crassicornis Lindl. Gen. & Sp. Orch. PI. 311. 1835.

Figure 5.

FIG. 5. Habenaria clypeata: Flower (about X 2). H. crassicornis: Flowering

plant (XI); individual flower (about X 2). H. eustachya: Flower (about X 2).

H. novemfida: Flower (about X 2). H. strictissima var. odontopetala (H.

odontopetala) : Flower (about X 2). H. repens: Two flowers (front and side views;

about X 2). H. setifera: Plant (X 1); individual flower (about X IJlj); not found

in Guatemala. Drawn by Blanche Ames.

HABENARIA.

31

32 FIELDI ANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Uncommon in pine-oak woods, moist ravines, open grassy fields,

and mountain woods, up to 2,700 meters alt. Mexico, Guatemala

and Honduras.

Plant slender, glandular-puberulent above, with a small globose tuber attached

to the base of the stem, 1.2-3.8 dm. tall; stem leafy. Leaves small, ovate to lanceo-

late, acute or acuminate, equitant, keeled, 2-5 cm. long, 0.7-2.2 cm. wide. In-

florescence a very loose few-flowered raceme, 5-11 cm. long, 3-4.5 cm. in diameter.

Bracts broadly ovate, acuminate, clasping, 1.2-2.2 cm. long. Flowers yellowish

green and white, with slender, pedicellate ovaries that are 2-2.5 cm. long. Sepals

carinate along the mid-vein. Dorsal sepal ovate-elliptic, apiculate, concave,

7-8.5 mm. long, 4-5 mm. wide. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-lanceolate, acute

or acuminate (often apiculate, recurved at the apex), 8-11 mm. long, 4-4.5 mm.

wide. Petals bipartite; posterior lobe narrowly linear, falcate, 8.5-10 mm. long;

anterior lobe filiform, setaceous, divergent and recurved, 13-17 mm. long. Lip

tripartite to within 2-3 mm. of the base; mid-lobe filiform, 10-13.5 mm. long;

lateral lobes filiform, setaceous, 13-16 mm. long. Spur thick, semi-oblong at the

apex, ascending from a very slender basal portion, 1.5-2.1 (rarely as much as

2.8) cm. long. Column 2.5-3.5 mm. long. Capsule obliquely cylindrical, ribbed,

about 1.5 cm. long.

This species is distinguished from a nearly related species, namely

H. entomantha, by the minutely glandular puberulence of the

various parts of the flower and often of the entire inflorescence.

The ovary is also glandular along the ribs.

Chimaltenango: Finca Alameda, J. R. Johnston 155. — Huehue-

tenango: Terrestrial in dry scrubby woods of oak, pine and arbutus,

Skutch 1635. — Jalapa: Cerro Alcoba, just east of Jalapa, Steyermark

32510.— Santa Rosa: Cerro Gordo, Heyde & Lux 3858b.

Habenaria distans Griseb. Cat. PI. Cub. 270. 1866. H. Tuerck-

heimii Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 2: 129. 1906 (type: Guatemala, in

Felsspalten bei Cubilgiiitz, August, 1903, H. von Turckheim 766).

Figure 6.

Uncommon in shady damp forests, on moist grassy slopes, up

to 1,800 meters alt. Ranging widely from Florida and Mexico to

Guatemala and Costa Rica, and throughout the West Indies.

Plant slender, glabrous, 1.4-3.3 dm. tall; stem clothed with bracteal leaves.

Leaves 2-6, essentially basal, oblong-elliptic (rarely ovate or obovate), acute,

abruptly diminishing into bracts above, 6-15 cm. long, 2-5 cm. wide. Inflorescence

a loose raceme composed of 5-21 scattered flowers, 4-13 cm. long. Floral bracts

FIG. 6. Habenaria distans. 1, plant (X 1); 2, flower, front view (X

3, petal (X 3); 4, pollen mass (highly magnified). Original drawing by Blanche

Ames; redrawn by G. W. Dillon.

33

34 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, 1-2 cm. long. Flowers greenish, with slender

pedicellate ovaries that are 1-1.5 cm. long. Dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic, concave,

5-8 mm. long, 4-5 mm. wide. Lateral sepals somewhat deflexed, curved upward

toward the apex, obliquely oval to ovate-oblong, acute, 5-8 mm. long, 2-3 mm.

wide. Petals bipartite, the two lobes about equal in length, 6-8 mm. long; posterior

lobe suberect, narrowly linear, falcate, about 1 mm. wide; anterior lobe filiform,

usually slightly longer than the posterior lobe. Lip tripartite; mid-lobe narrowly

linear, pendent, 7-10 mm. long; lateral lobes filiform, spreading, curved upward,

8-11 mm. long. Spur gradually clavate at the apex, 1.2-1.5 cm. long. Capsule

ellipsoid, strongly ribbed, about 1.2 cm. long.

Habenaria distans is distinctive in that its leaves are essentially

basal or in a basal rosette. This species is the only Guatemalan

Habenaria that has this character.

Alta Verapaz: Cubilgiiitz, Tilrckheim 8308; 8588 (isotype of

H. Tuerckheimii Schltr.). — Chiquimula: Along Rio Taco, between

Chiquimula and Montana Barriol, 3-15 miles northwest of Chiqui-

mula, Steyermark 30633 (probably). — Huehuetenango: Trail between

Santa Ana Huista and Nenton, via hamaca over Rio Azul and "La

Laguna," Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 51379.

Habenaria distans Griseb. var. jamaicensis (Fawc. & Rendle)

Cogn. in Urban Symb. Antill. 6: 300. 1909. Habenaria jamaicensis

Fawc. & Rendle in Journ. Bot. 47: 126. 1909.

Among mosses on rocky or clayey banks in shade, in cloud forests,

up to 1,800 meters alt. Widespread but rare in Mexico, Guatemala,

Costa Rica, Jamaica, Haiti and Santo Domingo.

Variety jamaicensis is identical in habit with the typical form. However, the

flowers are usually fewer and smaller and the petals are entire or develop only a

short anterior lobe. As originally described, the petals of H. jamaicensis possessed

short, inconspicuous anterior lobes. However, in the Guatemalan and Mexican

material seen the petals are entire. It seems best, nevertheless, to treat all of

these plants as var. jamaicensis.

Chiquimula: Upper slopes of Montana Tajuran, in vicinity of

El Barriol, Steyermark 30799.

Habenaria entomantha (Llave & Lex.) Lindl. Gen. & Sp.

Orch. PI. 311. 1835. Orchis entomantha Llave & Lex. Nov. Veg.

Descr. (Orch. Opusc.) 2: 8. 1825. Habenaria tetranema Schltr. Beih.

Bot. Centralbl. 36, Abt. 2: 373. 1918 (type: Guatemala, Camino

de Sapote, locis herbidis, July, 1866, G. Bernoulli 325).

Rather common in moist soil of mixed pine-hardwood forests,

damp soil of grassy hillsides, fields, in earth pockets of lava flow,

edges of lakes and sedge bogs, up to 3,300 meters alt. Widespread

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 35

in Mexico, Guatemala, British Honduras, and Honduras; reported

from Venezuela.

Plant slender, with a small ovoid tuber attached to the base of the stem,

1.3-4.5 dm. tall; stem leafy. Leaves small, ovate, linear-oblong to ovate-lanceo-

late, subacute to acuminate, equitant, often reduced to tubular-clasping bracteal

leaves, silvery beneath, 1.5-5 cm. long, 0.8-2.5 cm. wide. Inflorescence a loose

or dense cylindrical raceme of many or few flowers, 3.5-16 cm. long, 1.5-4 cm.

in diameter. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 1.3-2.5 cm. long. Flowers green or

greenish yellow, with slender pedicellate ovaries that are 0.8-1.7 cm. long. Sepals

carinate along the mid-vein. Dorsal sepal suborbicular-ovate to broadly elliptic,

obtuse to acute, occasionally apiculate and recurved at the apex, 6-7 mm. long,

3.5-5 mm. wide. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, acute

and strongly recurved at the apex, 6-7 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide. Petals bipartite;

posterior lobe narrowly linear, falcate, 5.5-6 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide; anterior

lobe filiform, recurved, 7-10.5 mm. long. Lip tripartite to the base; mid-lobe

linear-filiform, 5.5-12 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide; lateral lobes filiform, 9-13

mm. long. Spur fusiform-clavate, recurved, 0.9-1.7 cm. long. Column about 2 mm.

long. Capsule obliquely ellipsoid, about 1.3 cm. long.

Habenaria entomantha is a highly variable and polymorphic

species. The small flowers and diminished equitant leaves of this

plant are more delicate and graceful than the robust appearance and

spreading leaves of H. novemfida, with which it is sometimes confused.

This orchid is commonly called "jasmin de monte."

Alta Verapaz: Santa Cruz, Turckheim 1393. — Chimaltenango:

Finca Alameda, J. R. Johnston 920. Near Tecpam, Skutch 519.—

El Progreso: Between Calera and summit of Volcan Siglo, Steyermark

43054 (?). — Huehuetenango: Cerro Pixpix, above San Ildefonso Ixta-

huacan, Steyermark 50619a. Cerro Negro, 2 miles east of Las Palmas,

Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 51727. Above Democracia

on trail towards Jutal, Steyermark 51059. About Laguna de Ocubila,

east of Huehuetenango, Standley 82624. Cerro Victoria, Sierra de

los Cuchumatanes, near Barillas, Steyermark 49759. Between San

Mateo Ixtatan and Santa Eulalia, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes,

Steyermark 49901. — Quiche": Jose Ignacio Aguilar 1534. — Solola:

Volcan Santa Clara, Steyermark 46985.

Habenaria eustachya Reichb. f. Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesell. 3:

274. 1885. Figure 5.

Uncommon in rich hillside woods, soggy or wet ground in dense

forests and open woods, up to 800 meters alt. West Indies, Mexico,

Guatemala and Honduras.

Plant rather stout, 2-10.5 dm. tall; stem leafy. Leaves narrowly elliptic to

lanceolate, obtuse, acute to acuminate, 5-20 cm. long, 2-4 cm. wide. Inflorescence

a loosely or densely flowered, cylindrical raceme, 6-42 cm. long, 3-3.5 cm. in diam-

36 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

eter. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 1.3-2.5 cm. long. Flowers green or yellowish

green, with stout pedicellate ovaries that are 1.1-1.8 cm. long. Dorsal sepal

suborbicular, deeply concave-galeate, 4-5 mm. long, about 4 mm. wide. Lateral

sepals obliquely oblong-elliptic, obtuse to broadly rounded, strongly deflexed,

spreading, 6-7 mm. long, about 3.5 mm. wide. Petals somewhat obliquely oblong-

quadrate, with obtuse angles, rounded or sinuately 2-3 toothed at the apex, with

a protuberance at the base on the anterior margin, 4-5 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm.

wide. Lip entire, linear-oblong, subacute, deflexed, rounded or reduced to a narrow

claw at the base, 5-8 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide. Spur slender, slightly thickened

toward the apex, 10-12 mm. long. Capsule obliquely cylindrical-fusiform, 11-13

mm. long, about 4.5 mm. in diameter.

This species approaches H. strictissima very closely. It differs

from H. strictissima in that the lip is not lobed or toothed at the

base and the spur is much shorter, being constantly between 10 and

12 mm. in length.

Alta Verapaz: Cubilgiiitz, Turckheim 8298.

Habenaria limosa (Lindl.) Hemsl. in Godm. & Salvin, Biol.

Centr.-Am. 3: 305. 1884. Platanthera limosa Lindl. Ann. Nat. Hist.

4: 381. 1840. P. guatemalensis Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 193.

1918 (type: Guatemala, locis graminosis, Volcan de Sta. Maria,

September, 1876, Bernoulli & Cario). Figure 7.

Rather frequent in mossy ground in open woods, along cold

brooks and in open sedge marshes at high elevations, up to 3,700

meters alt. Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, south through

Mexico to Guatemala.

Plant slender or stout, glabrous throughout, 3-16.5 dm. tall; stem leafy,

provided at the base with tubular sheaths. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, silvery

green, suberect, 9-28 cm. long, 1.2-3.5 cm. wide. Raceme cylindrical, laxly or

densely flowered, with the flowers approximate or sometimes compact or distant,

elongated, 6-45 cm. long, 1-2.5 cm. in diameter. Floral bracts narrowly lanceolate,

the lowermost up to 4 cm. long and greatly exceeding the flowers. Flowers small,

green, fragrant. Dorsal sepal ovate-oblong to elliptic, obtuse, concave, connivent

with the petals to form a hood over the column, 3-nerved, 3-6 mm. long, 2-3 mm.

wide below the middle. Lateral sepals strongly deflexed, ovate-lanceolate to

linear-elliptic, oblique, obtuse to subacute, 3-nerved, 4-8 mm. long, 1.8-2.5 mm.

wide. Petals ovate-oblong to lanceolate, more or less falcate, obtuse to subacute,

obliquely dilated at the base, connivent with the dorsal sepal, 3.2-6.5 mm. long,

1.5-3 mm. wide at the base. Lip linear-elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, taper-

ing or rounded at the base, strongly arcuate-decurved in natural position, with a

thick cushion or tubercle on the median face near the base, often with lightly

FIG. 7. Habenaria limosa. 1, plant (X K); 2, flower, side view (X 4); 3,

dorsal sepal (X 4); 4, petal (X 4); 5, lateral sepal (X 4); 6, lip (X 4). Drawn by

G. W. Dillon.

37

38 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

revolute margins, 4-8.5 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. wide below the middle. Spur

cylindrical, filiform, tapering at the apex, usually about twice as long as the lip,

1-2.5 cm. long, rarely shorter. Column stout, short, 1-2 mm. long.

Chimaltenango: Sierra Santa Elena, near Tecpam, Caec. & Ed.

Seler 2294. Near Tecpam, Skutch 492. — Huehuetenango : 2^ miles

east of San Mateo Ixtatan, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark

49879. Between Tojquia and Caxin bluff, summit of Sierra de los

Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 50168. Alpine areas in vicinity of

Tunima, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 48342. Sierra de

los Cuchumatanes, Skutch 1093. — Quezaltenango : Volcan Santo

Tomas, Steyermark 34818.

Habenaria monorrhiza (Sw.) Reichb. f. Ber. Deutsch. Bot.

Gesell. 3: 274. 1885. Orchis monorrhiza Sw. Prodr. 118. 1788, in

part. Habenaria maculosa Lindl. Gen. & Sp. Orch. PI. 308. 1835.

Rather common in low weedy ground, wet meadows and thickets,

on wooded hillsides and open slopes, rarely on the base of trees, up

to 1,500 meters alt. Widespread throughout the West Indies,

Jamaica, Guatemala and northern South America.

Plant rather stout, glabrous, 1.8-12 dm. tall; stem leafy. Leaves ovate to

lanceolate, acute or acuminate, with the margins undulate-scarious, 4-12 cm. long,

2-4 cm. wide; leaf-sheaths maculate. Raceme 5-22 cm. long, 2.5-4 cm. in diameter.

Bracts ovate to oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, with the margins scarious, 1.2-2 cm.

long. Flowers white, with stout pedicellate ovaries that are about 2 cm. long.

Dorsal sepal oval to suborbicular, concave, the median nerve carinate, 6.5-7.5 mm.

long, 4.5-5 mm. wide. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate or elliptic, somewhat

carinate along the median nerve, 6-8 mm. long, 3.5-4 mm. wide. Petals bipartite;

posterior lobe narrowly oblong or elliptic, obtuse, 6-8 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide; an-

terior lobe filiform, 5-7 mm. long. Lip tripartite to the base; mid-lobe narrowly Un-

gulate, rising from a broad base, 6.5-10 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide; lateral lobes

filiform, 7.5-11.5 mm. long. Spur slender, 1.8-2.3 cm. long. Column 2.5 cm. long.

Habenaria monorrhiza is distinguished by its undulate-scarious

leaf -margins and maculate leaf-sheaths.

Alta Verapaz: Cubilgiiitz, Turckheim 8299. Coban, Turckheim

8459; II 1507. Finca Mocca, Johnson 58. Senahie, Goll 172. Be-

tween Coban and Finca Chimote", near Rubeltein, Steyermark

44165. — Quezaltenango: Finca Helvetia, Skutch 1377. Finca San

Jos£ Buenavista, near Coatepeque, Margaret Ward Lewis 211.—

Retalhuleu: Near Chivolandia (Dept. Quezaltenango), along road

to San Felipe, Standley 87210.

Habenaria novemfida Lindl. in Benth. PL Hartw. 94. 1842.

H. diffusa A. Rich. & Gal. Ann. Sci. Nat. ser. 3, 3: 28. 1845. H.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OP GUATEMALA 39

dipleura Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 194. 1918 (type: Guatemala,

Dept. Quiche", inter Joyabaj et Chichicastenango, September, 1870,

Bernoulli & Cario 560). H. quinquefila Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15:

195. 1918 (type: Guatemala, locis graminosis inter Coban et Gualan,

August, 1870, Bernoulli & Cario). Figure 5.

Rather common on grassy slopes of open woods and shrub forests,

along streams and in meadows and on open rocky hills, up to 2,800

meters alt. Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador and Costa

Rica.

Plant rather slender, glabrous, 2.5-7.5 dm. tall; stem leafy at or above the

middle. Leaves oblong-elliptic to linear-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, spreading,

3-14 cm. long, 1.5-4 cm. wide. Raceme loose or compact with few to many flowers,

6-20 cm. long, 3.5-5.5 cm. in diameter. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 8-23 mm.

long. Flowers pale green or yellowish green, with slender pedicellate ovaries that

are 1.5-2.5 cm. long. Sepals carinate along the three central veins. Dorsal sepal

ovate-elliptic to suborbicular, subacute, concave, 4.5-7 mm. long, 4-5 mm. wide.

Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-elliptic to oblong, obtuse to subacute, 7-10 mm.

long, 3-3.5 mm. wide. Petals bipartite; posterior lobe linear, falcate, 4.2-6 mm.

long, 1-1.5 mm. wide; anterior lobe filiform, 7-10.5 mm. long. Lip tripartite to

the base; mid-lobe narrowly linear, 6-11 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide; lateral

lobes filiform or narrowly linear, spreading at right angles to the mid-lobe, strongly

curved upwards (in some specimens irregularly denticulate on the concave margin),

11-15 mm. long. Spur slender, recurved, somewhat thickened at the apex, 2-3.2

cm. long. Column 2.5-3 cm. long.

Habenaria novemfida is an extremely variable species. The

flowers resemble those of H. entomantha but are much larger. The

plants of H. novemfida are larger and more robust than those of

H. entomantha and the leaves are mostly near the middle of the stem

and spreading, whereas the leaves of H. entomantha are scattered

along the stem and are equitant.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Turckheim II 1991. — Guatemala: Road to

Lake Amatitlan, about 3 miles from Guatemala, Margaret Ward

Lewis 147. — Huehuetenango: Cerro Pixpix, above San Ildefonso

Ixtahuacan, Steyermark 50619. — Quiche*: Between Joyabaj and Chi-

chicastenango, Bernoulli & Cario 1134. — Zacapa: Sierra de las

Minas, between Rio Hondo and summit of mountain at Finca

Alejandria, Steyermark 29686.

Habenaria pauciflora (Lindl.) Reichb. f. Bonpl. 2: 10. 1854.

Bonatia pauciflora Lindl. Gen. & Sp. Orch. PI. 329. 1835.

Rare in boggy or upland grasslands, savannas, thickets, and

open forests, on rocky grassy slopes, up to 1,350 meters alt. Mexico,

Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and South America.

40 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Plant rigidly erect, slender, from a small solitary tuber, 2.5-6 dm. tall. Stem

nearly concealed by the leaves, provided at the base with several reddish brown

sheaths. Leaves small, spathaceous, acuminate, suberect to erect-spreading,

clasping the stem, 5-20 cm. long. Inflorescence composed of one to three flowers.

Floral bracts similar to the leaves but smaller. Flowers white to light green or

cream-colored, with long conspicuously arcuate pedicellate ovaries that are up

to 12 cm. long. Dorsal sepal erect, cymbiform, oval in outline, obtuse and mucro-

nate at the apex, 9-15 mm. long, 6-9 mm. wide. Lateral sepals strongly deflexed,

ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, oblique, acute and with a slender recurved

mucro at the apex, deeply concave, 1.2-1.6 cm. long, about 5 mm. wide below the

middle. Petals bipartite, erect; posterior lobe fleshy, linear-oblong to elliptic-

oblong, subacute, falcate, somewhat contorted, 9-13 mm. long, 2.5-3 mm. wide;

anterior lobe fleshy-coriaceous, linear, falcate, subacute, 8-10 mm. long, about

1 mm. wide. Lip tripartite to near the base, fleshy-coriaceous, pendent, with the

lateral lobes somewhat spreading, 1.3-1.7 cm. long, about 4 mm. wide below the

divisions; lobes subequal, linear, obtuse to acute, 9-14 mm. long, about 2 mm.

wide. Spur elongated, arcuate, slender below, somewhat clavate above, 4-8 cm.

long. Column short, stout.

The one- to three-flowered inflorescence distinguishes this species

from all other Habenarias found in Guatemala. It is known as "cho-

chol" in Guatemala.

Huehuetenango: Between Democracia and Santa Ana Huista,

Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 51291. Between Nenton

and Las Palmas, via Yalisjao, Rincon, Chiquite, Chiaquial, Guaxa-

cana, in Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 51589. — Pete"n:

La Libertad and vicinity, M. Aguilar H. 208.

Habenaria quinqueseta (Michx.) Sw. Adnot. Bot. 46. 1829.

Orchis quinqueseta Michx. Fl. Bor.-Am. 2: 155. 1803. Habenaria

macroceratitis Willd. Sp. PI. 4: 44. 1805. H. macroceratitis var.

brevicakarata Ames, Orch., Fasc. IV: 224. 1910 (type: Guatemala,

Dept. Solola, San Lucas Toliman, alt. 1,800 meters, February,

1894, Heyde & Lux 6383). Figure 8.

Uncommon in sandy pine woods, along wooded streams, and in

open or shady places on dry hills, up to 2,000 meters alt. Wide-

spread from South Carolina and Florida through Alabama to

Louisiana and Texas, Mexico and Central America to northern

South America, and the West Indies.

Plant slender or stout, glabrous, 2-9 dm. tall; stem leafy. Leaves oblong-

lanceolate to oblong-obovate, broadly rounded to acuminate at the apex, 6-25 cm.

FIG. 8. Habenaria quinqueseta. 1, plant (X %); 2, lip and column, front view

(X 2); 3, petal (X 2); 4, lateral sepal (X 2); 5, dorsal sepal (X 2). Drawn by

Blanche Ames.

41

42 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

long, 2.5-6 cm. wide. Raceme few- to many-flowered, lax, 7-25 cm. long, 5-6 cm.

in diameter. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 1.5-2.8 cm. long, 7-15 mm.

wide. Flowers greenish white, with slender pedicellate ovaries that are 2-3 cm.

long. Dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic to suborbicular, obtuse, concave, 6-13 mm.

long, 5-10 mm. wide. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate,

obtuse to acute, 8-16 mm. long, 4-7 mm. wide. Petals bipartite; posterior lobe

oblong-linear, falcate, obtuse to acute, 6-15 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide; anterior

lobe filiform, recurved, 13-25 mm. long. Lip tripartite; mid-lobe linear, with

revolute margins, 8-20 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide; lateral lobes filiform, recurved

at the apex, 15-30 mm. long. Spur varying from slender to strongly clavate, re-

curved, 4-18 cm. long.

The flowers of H. quinqueseta are very variable, particularly in

respect to the spur. A number of segregates have been made,

based mainly upon the relative length of the spur and the various

shapes of the leaves.

Guatemala: Aguilar 39. Guatemala market, Johnston 1564. —

Huehuetenango : Along Rio Cuilco, between Cuilco and aldea of

San Juan, 2^ miles west of Cuilco, Steyermark 50857. — Retalhuleu:

Near Rio Xabe, Finca San Jose" Nil, W. R. Hatch & C. L. Wilson

391B. San Sebastian near Retalhuleu, Bernoulli & Cario 679.

Habenaria repens Nutt. Gen. N. Am. PI. 2: 190. 1818. Figures

5, 9.

In ditches, streams, swamps, ponds, and along lake shores, often

on floating mats, also in wet soil of meadows, fresh-water marshes

and bogs; usually in the lowlands, rarely above 1,800 meters alt.

This is one of the most common and widely ranging species of

Habenaria. It occurs in the United States from North Carolina

to Florida, along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas, from

Guatemala through Central and South America, and throughout

the West Indies.

Plant semi-aquatic, stout or slender, glabrous, 1-9 dm. tall; stem leafy. Leaves

linear-oblong to linear-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, chartaceous, 5-24 cm. long,

3.5-20 mm. wide. Raceme densely flowered (rarely consisting of a few scattered

flowers), 6-28 cm. long, 2.5-3 cm. in diameter. Bracts lanceolate, acute, 1.5-9 cm.

long, about 1 cm. wide at the base. Flowers small, greenish, with slender pedicel-

late ovaries that are 9-14 mm. long. Dorsal sepal oval to orbicular-ovate, mucro-

nate, concave, 3-7 mm. long, about 3 mm. wide. Lateral sepals ovate to ovate-

oblong, mucronate, 4-7 mm. long, about 3 mm. wide. Petals bipartite; posterior

lobe lanceolate, falcate, acute, 3-7 mm. long; anterior lobe filiform, falcate, 4-7.5

mm. long. Lip tripartite to within 2 mm. of the base; mid-lobe linear, 4-7 mm.

long; lateral lobes filiform, 5-11 mm. long. Spur slender, 9-14 mm. long.

A striking peculiarity of this species is its adaptation to life in

wet places. Again and again it is reported as being associated with

FIG. 9. Habenaria re-pens. 1, plant (X 1); 2, flower, front view (X 2); 3,

petal (X 3). Original drawing by Blanche Ames; redrawn by G. W. Dillon.

43

44 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

aquatic plants. It is occasionally found floating on deep lakes and

quiet waters with water hyacinth and other floating plants.

Alta Verapaz: Near Coban, Turckheim II2189. East of Tactic,

Standley 92377. Near San Juan Chamelco, Standley 92448; 92242.

East of Tactic, Steyermark 43982.— Chimaltenango : Lago de los Pinos,

J. R. Johnston 1400. Duefias, Salvin 183 (fide Hemsley). — Guate-

mala: Near Finca La Aurora, Ignacio Aguilar 311. — Izabal: Shores

of Lago Izabal, on side opposite San Felipe, between Punta Dos

Reales and Punta de Lechuga, Steyermark 39594. — Jalapa: Los

Amates, Kellerman 8091. South and east of Jalapa, Steyermark

32064. Chichoy, Johnston 1576. — Jutiapa: Lago Retana, between

Ovejero and Progreso, Steyermark 32020. — Sacatepe"quez: Along

Rio Guacalate, northwest of Antigua, Standley 64700. — Santa Rosa:

Pueblo Viejo, Heyde &Lux 6244. Lago de los Pinos, near Sabanetas,

Standley 60434. — Solola: Finca Moca, J. Bequaert 50. — Jocola,

Johnson 1006.

Habenaria strictissima Reichb. f. Linnaea 18: 407. 1844.

H. latipetala Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 194. 1918 (type: Guate-

mala, Dept. Pete*n, Sacluc, in dumetis apricis, September, 1877,

Bernoulli & Cario).

Rather rare in rich soil of woods, on rocky brushy hills and grassy

plains, up to 2,000 meters alt. Apparently restricted to Mexico,

Guatemala, and Nicaragua.

Plant slender, glabrous, 2-9 dm. tall; stem leafy. Leaves ovate-lanceolate

to oblong-elliptic, acute to subacuminate, occasionally much reduced, 4-14 cm.

long, 1.5-5 cm. wide. Raceme lax, with approximate flowers, 8-30 cm. long, 2.5-4

cm. in diameter. Bracts ovate-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 1-2.5 cm. long.

Flowers yellowish green, with slender pedicellate ovaries that are about 1.5 cm.

long. Dorsal sepal broadly ovate, obtuse, cucullate, 5-7.5 mm. long, 4-5.5 mm.

wide. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate or elliptic, semilunate, 5-9 mm. long, 3.5-4.5

mm. wide. Petals rotundate-square to suborbicular, obtuse or broadly rounded

at the apex, often auriculate at the base on the anterior margin, 2.5-4 mm. long,

2.5-3.5 mm. wide. Lip linear-oblong, obtuse, with an angular tooth on each side

at the base, 6.5-10 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. wide. Spur slender, slightly thickened at

the apex, 1.8-2.8 cm. long.

Chiquimula: Above El Rincon, Standley 74731.- — Escuintla: 4 km.

north of San Jose", Worth 8627. — Jutiapa: Vicinity of Jutiapa,

FIG. 10. Habenaria strictissima var. odontopetala. Plant (X %$);!, lateral

sepal (X 5) ; 2, lip and column, front view (X 5) ; 3 and 4, two types of petals ( X 5).

Drawn by Blanche Ames.

45

46 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Standley 74899. — Pete"n: La Libertad and vicinity, Mercedes Aguilar

H. 156.

Habenaria strictissima var. odontopetala (Reichb. f.) L. 0.

Wms. Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harv. Univ. 7: 184. 1939. H. odontopetala

Reichb. f. Linnaea 18: 407. 1844. H. Selerorum Schltr. Bull. Herb.

Boiss. 7: 539. 1899 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, ad mar-

gines silvarum prope Coban, December, Seler 2492). Figures 5, 10.

Rather common in moist rich soil of woods and swamps, up to

1,500 meters alt. Widespread in Florida, Mexico, Guatemala,

Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and the West Indies.

Variety odontopetala is very similar to H. strictissima. It is on the average a

much larger plant than the species. Although the shape of the lip is the same in

both, that of var. odontopetala is usually much slenderer and longer than that of

H. strictissima. The petals are the most dissimilar character of the two segregates.

The petals of var. odontopetala are essentially oblong-quadrate, 3-lobulate at the

blunt apex and have a protuberant anterior basal angle; whereas, the petals of

the species are essentially suborbicular, obtuse or broadly rounded at the apex

and usually lack the basal protuberance.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Turckheim II 1425. — Chiquimula: Cerro

Tixixi (Tishishi), 3-5 miles north of Jocotan, Steyermark 31571.—

Izabal: Between Puerto Barrios and Santo Tomas, Steyermark

42031.

DOUBTFUL AND EXCLUDED SPECIES

Habenaria laatiana Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 21: 330. 1925 (type:

Guatemala, Praderas de Guatemala, 1,400 meters, July, 1921,

A. Tonduz 741). Possibly referable to H. entomantha.

Habenaria maxillaris Lindl. Duefias, Wendland (fide Hemsley).

Habenaria sparsiflora Wats. Chimaltenango: Near Tecpam in

Sierra S. Elena, Seler 2294 (fide Schlechter). Quezaltenango : Moun-

tain woods between Totonicapan and Los Encuentros, Seler 2295

(fide Schlechter). Apparently misidentified, because it is too far out

of the range of this species.

4. TRIPHORA Nutt.

Inconspicuous terrestrial herbs, stoloniferous and bearing fleshy tuberoids;

stem slender, with several small clasping alternate leaves. Inflorescence composed

FIG. 11. Triphora cubensis. 1, plant (X 1); 2, flower, side view (X 4);

3, column, side view (X 4); 4, petal (X 4); 5, dorsal sepal (X 4); 6, lateral sepal

(X 4); 7, lip, front view, spread open (X 4). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

47

48 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

of small nodding flowers borne in the axils of the upper leaves, racemose or corym-

bose. Perianth parts distinct. Lip three-crested, obscurely or deeply three-lobed.

Column free, slender, straight, entire or simply lobed at the apex; anther erect

or subincumbent, rigidly attached to the top of the column. Pollen granular,

extine pitted or reticulate. Capsule nodding, ellipsoid.

This is a small genus of about ten species, which are widely

distributed in temperate and tropical America.

1. Lip obscurely or shallowly 3-lobed, crested with 2 parallel keels. . .T. debilis.

1. Lip prominently and deeply 3-lobed, crested with 3 longitudinal keels.

2. Column 9 mm. or more long; lip 5 mm. or more wide across the lateral

lobes T. trianthophora.

2. Column about 7 mm. long; lip 4 mm. or less wide across the lateral lobes.

T. cubensis.

Triphora cubensis (Reichb. f.) Ames in Sched. Orch. 7: 35.

1924. Pogonia cubensis Reichb. f. in Ned. Kruidk. Arch. 4: 322.

1858 (by typographical error as rubensis). Figure 11.

In pinelands and clearings, up to 1,500 meters alt. Rare in

southern Florida, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama and the West Indies.

Plant glabrous, slender or stout, 6-26 cm. tall, produced from an elongated

cylindrical tuber that is up to 6 cm. long. Leaves abbreviated, ovate, spathaceous,

acute or apiculate, sheathing or appressed to the stem, scattered alternately along

the stem, 7-15 mm. long. Inflorescence corymbose, rarely one or two flowers,

composed of as many as ten (rarely more) flowers that are borne in the axils of

the upper leaves on slender pedicels (the pedicels of the lower flowers are elongated

to form a corymb). Flowers magenta, somewhat arcuate, small, with the segments

connivent. Sepals subequal, linear-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic-lanceolate,

obtuse to subacute, 6-11 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide; lateral sepals oblique. Petals

linear to filiform, 6-10 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide. Lip obovate-oblanceolate

to subspatulate, 3-lobed, 7-10 mm. long, 3-4 mm. wide across the lateral lobes;

lateral lobes obliquely triangular, obtuse, incurved, projecting 1-1.5 mm.; mid-

lobe suborbicular to suborbicular-rhombic, acute to apiculate, 2-3 mm. long and

wide. Column about 7 mm. long, slender. Capsule ellipsoid-ovoid, usually

erect, 1.2-1.5 cm. long.

This species is distinguished by its typically corymbose inflores-

cence and abbreviated leaves.

Zacapa: Sierra de las Minas, along trail between Rio Hondo and

summit of mountain at Finca Alejandria, Steyermark 29653.

FIG. 12. Triphora trianthophora. 1, plant, in bud (X 1); 2, flower, side view

(X 2); 3, flowers (X 1); 4, upper part of column, with pollinia removed (X

5, upper part of column, side view (X 8^); 6, column, side-front view (X

7, lip, spread out (X 3); 8, longitudinal section through center of lip (X 5); 9,

pollinia (X 14); 10, pollen tetrad, median section to show pitted extine (highly

magnified); 11, capsule (X 1); 12, seed (highly magnified). Drawn by Blanche

Ames.

49

50 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Triphora debilis Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 196. 1918 (type:

Guatemala, Chilion, shady places, August, 1867, Bernoulli & Carlo

520).

Found only in Guatemala.

Plant erect or ascending, glabrous, about 10 cm. tall; stem weak, about 1.5 mm.

in diameter. Leaves usually 4, spreading, broadly ovate or suborbicular, subacute

or shortly acuminate, clasping the stem at the base, 1-1.7 cm. long, 8-14 mm.

wide below the middle. Inflorescence a solitary, suberect flower terminating the

stem, subtended by a foliaceous bract, with a subclavate pedicellate ovary that is

about 9 mm. long. Bract ovate, acuminate, about 4.5 mm. long. Sepals lanceo-

late or liguliform, subacute, becoming narrow at the base, about 1.8 cm. long;

lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, somewhat

narrowed at the base, about 1.6 cm. long, wider than the sepals. Lip rhomboid-

spatulate, obscurely or shallowly 3-lobed, 1.6 cm. long, about 6 mm. wide above

the middle, crested with two parallel obtuse keels from the base to about the middle

of the lip; apical lobe quadrate and adorned with small subulate tubercles that are

scattered over the disk. Column slender, 1.3 cm. long.

This species is closely related to T. trianthophora. It is very

probable that when more collections are available for study from

Central America this segregate will be relegated to T. trianthophora

or considered as a variety of that species. Represented from Guate-

mala only by the type collection.

Triphora trianthophora (Sw.) Rydb. in Britton, Man. Fl.

Northern States and Canada, ed. 1: 298. 1901. Arethusa tri-

anthophoros Sw. Kongl. Sven. Vet. Acad. Nya Handl. 21: 230.

1800. Triphora mexicana (S. Wats.) Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 17:

139. 1921. Figures 12, 13.

In leaf mold of pine and oak forests, occasionally on rotten limbs

of trees, up to 3,000 meters alt. Widespread but not common in

the eastern and middle United States; uncommon in Mexico, Guate-

mala and Panama.

Plant slender, weak, glabrous, 6.5-27 cm. tall, somewhat stoloniferous; stem

1-3 mm. in diameter, tinged with maroon, translucent in drying. Leaves small,

sessile, ovate-elliptic to cordate-ovate or cordate-reniform, obtuse to acute, usually

FIG. 13. Triphora trianthophora. 1 and 2, fruiting plants (X 1); 3, tuber and

stolons (X 1); 4, young tubers, showing original point of attachment to stolon,

at basal end (lower right), and illustrating development of stolon and minute

tuber (lower left), and formation of bud from which a stem is about to arise

(upper center) ( X 2) ; 5, tubers (later stage of development than shown in figure 4)

with stolon elongated and tuber enlarged (X 2); 6, longitudinal section through

middle uppermost tuber shown in figure 5 (semidiagrammatic). Drawn by

Blanche Ames.

LIBRARY

52 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

tinged with purple, clasping the stem, 8-25 mm. long, 5-25 mm. wide. Inflores-

cence composed of 1-3 (rarely more) flowers borne in the axils of the upper leaves.

Flowers pale pink, rose-magenta or almost white, marked with white, green and

purple, nodding, ringent, with pedicellate ovaries that are 1-1.3 cm. long. Dorsal

sepal linear to linear-oblanceolate, obtuse or acute, somewhat concave, 10-17 mm.

long, about 2 mm. wide. Lateral sepals lanceolate, somewhat falcate, subacute

or acute, 10-17 mm. long, about 2.5 mm. wide. Petals linear-oblong to linear-

spatulate, falcate, obtuse or acute, 9.5-18 mm. long, about 2.5 mm. wide. Lip

prominently 3-lobed, obovate or cuneate in outline, narrowed to a short slender

claw, 10-16 mm. long, 5-9 mm. wide across the lateral lobes; lateral lobes ovate-

triangular, obtuse; mid-lobe suborbicular to subdeltoid, with undulate-crenate

margins; disk with 3 green keels on the median line which disintegrate at the free

ends and vanish toward the lower part of the mid-lobe into tiny teeth that are

traceable as minute papillae nearly to the apex of the mid-lobe. Column semi-

terete at the base, laterally dilated near the middle, 9-12 mm. long. Capsule

pendent, 1.5-2 cm. long.

Because of its color and small size this species is easily over-

looked in its native habitat.-

Chimaltenango: Chichavac, Skutch 494. — Huehuetenango : Be-

tween Santa Ana Huista and Nenton, via hamaca over Rio Azul

and "La Laguna," Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 51397.

Paso del Boqueron, along Rio Trapichillo, below La Libertad,

Steyermark 51198.

5. PSILOCHILUS Barb. Rodr.

Terrestrial herbs with creeping rhizomes. Roots adventitious, fleshy. Leaves

membranaceous with lax vaginate petioles. Flowers few, in a short, terminal,

spicate raceme. Sepals free, dorsally carinate along the mid-vein. Petals free,

not carinate. Lip free, three-lobed, crested with three longitudinal calli on the

central face of the disk, spurless. Column elongate, clavate, marginate, entire

or simply lobed at the apex. Anther terminal, stipitate, mobile, 2-celled. Pollinia

4; pollen grains compound with the extine pitted or reticulate.

This is a monotypic genus of tropical America.

Psilochilus macrophyllus (Lindl.) Ames, Orch., Fasc. VII: 45.

1922. Pogonia macrophylla Lindl. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 3,

1: 335. 1858. Figure 14.

Rare in rich moist humus in mountain forests, up to 1,600 meters

alt. Throughout the West Indies, Guatemala and northern South

America.

Plant coarse, glabrous, purplish, from a creeping rhizome, 1-3.6 dm. tall;

stem leafy. Leaves ovate-cordate to ovate-oblong, acute or acuminate, 2-11 cm.

long, 1.2-4 cm. wide; petiole arising from a lax vaginate base. Raceme short,

occasionally branching, composed of 2 to 8 flowers, 2.5-7 cm. long. Bracts am-

PSIL-OCHIL^US

inijiii

FIG. 14. Psilochilus macrophyllus. Plant (X 1); 1, flower, side view (X 2);

2, column, front view (note supplementary anthers; X 4); 3, lip, spread out (X 4);

4, supplementary anthers ( X 7) ; 5, pollen tetrad, showing pitted extine. Drawn

by Blanche Ames.

53

54 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

plexicaul, broadly ovate, acute, 1-2 cm. long, 7-15 mm. wide at the base. Flowers

ringent, on slender pedicels that are 4-7 mm. long. Sepals dark greenish purple,

carinate along the mid-vein, with the margins involute; dorsal sepal linear to

narrowly oblanceolate, acute, incurved, 1.8-2 cm. long, about 3 mm. wide; lateral

sepals linear, acute, somewhat falcate, 1.7-1.8 cm. long, 3-3.5 mm. wide. Petals

greenish white, narrowly linear, obtuse or subacute, 1.5-1.7 cm. long, 2-3.5 mm.

wide. Lip broadly spatulate, with a narrow channeled claw, 3-lobed, with three

inconspicuous longitudinal calli on the median face of the disk, greenish yellow

or white, with a purple tip, 1.2-1.5 cm. long; mid-lobe subrotund, recurved, with

the margin crisped, extending 5-6 mm. beyond the lateral lobes; lateral lobes

short, obtuse, about 2 mm. long. Column incurved, subclavate, slightly winged,

1.2-1.4 cm. long.

Alta Verapaz: Near Coban, Turckheim II 1998. Between Tactic

and the divide on road to Tamahu, Standley 91359. — Huehuetenango :

Vicinity of Maxbal, about seventeen miles north of Barillas, Sierra

de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 48897. Cerro Victoria, Sierra de

los Cuchumatanes, near Barillas, Steyermark 49721. — San Marcos:

Above Finca El Porvenir, up Loma Bandera Shac, lower south-

facing slopes of Volcan Tajumulco, Steyermark 37344.

6. VANILLA Swartz

Stout scandent terrestrial herbs, branching; stems with leaves or sometimes

aphyllous, emitting adventitious roots. Leaves leathery, chartaceous or mem-

branous. Raceme or spikes lateral or subterminal, short. Flowers large. Sepals

subequal, free, spreading. Petals similar to the sepals. Lip adnate to the column

and often enclosing the base of the column, simple or three-lobed. Column long,

without a foot. Anther one, attached to the margin of the clinandrium, incumbent.

Pollen powdery or granular. Capsule long, fleshy.

This is a complex genus of fifty or more species found in the

tropics throughout the world. Several of the species are cultivated

for their aromatic properties. Unfortunately our knowledge of the

genus is still very imperfect. The flowers are ephemeral and very

difficult to press, so that the specimens brought in by collectors are

usually sterile or so poorly preserved that the floral characters are

difficult to interpret. Throughout the literature devoted to the

genus, this situation has been emphasized. With the increasing

interest now being taken in the vegetation of the American tropics,

it is hoped that efforts will be made to preserve flowers of vanilla

in alcohol, so that the difficulties of identification of old species and

the proper characterization of new ones will be simplified.

1. Floral bracts foliaceous, similar to the leaves but usually much smaller; lip

without a retrorse tuft of scales or hairs on the disk; capsule not fragrant.

2. Lip 3-keeled, more than 3.5 cm. long V. inodora.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 55

2. Lip with a large fleshy callus on the mid-lobe, less than 3.5 cm. long.

V. Pfaviana.

1. Floral bracts not foliaceous, dissimilar to the leaves; lip with a retrorse tuft

of scales or hairs on the disk; capsule fragrant.

3. Lip less than 7 cm. long, conspicuously verrucose along the center near the

apex V. planifolia.

3. Lip more than 7.5 cm. long, not conspicuously verrucose along the center.

V. pompona.

Vanilla inodora Schiede, Linnaea 4: 574. 1829.

On trees in rocky woodlands and in coffee plantations, up to

about 1,200 meters alt. Widespread from Mexico through Central

America to northern South America and the West Indies.

Stem thick, somewhat flexuose, leafy, about 8 mm. thick. Leaves subsessile,

ovate-elliptic to oblong-elliptic, shortly acuminate, much longer than the inter-

nodes, membranaceous to subcoriaceous, nervose, up to 28 cm. long and 11 cm.

wide. Raceme axillary or subterminal, flexuose, with about six flowers, up to

15 cm. long. Floral bracts in two ranks, foliaceous, membranaceous, similar to

the leaves but much smaller and variable in size, ovate-oblong to ovate-lanceolate,

subacute, up to 3 cm. long, occasionally much longer. Flowers greenish, with

the lip white and yellowish at the base, with pedicellate ovaries that are about

3.8 cm. long. Sepals lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, subobtuse, 4.5-5 cm. long,

1-1.5 cm. wide. Petals oblong-lanceolate, subobtuse, 4.5-5 cm. long, 1-1.4 cm.

wide. Lip deeply 3-lobed, about equal to the sepals and petals but broader,

shortly adnate to the base of the column, 3.8-4.5 cm. long, about 3 cm. wide when

spread out; lateral lobes oblong, obtuse; mid-lobe spreading and then erect, broadly

ovate-oblong, subacute; disk 3-keeled, without a tuft of hairs. Column clavate,

2-3 cm. long. Capsule linear-elongate, slightly tapering at the apex, slender, up

to 25 cm. long, not fragrant.

No specimens from Guatemala have been seen. The description

has been drawn from the original description and supplemented by

that in Fawcett and Rendle in their Flora of Jamaica. It is suspi-

ciously similar to V. Pfaviana and with further research that species

may prove to be referable to V. inodora. The following collections

are sterile, but vegetatively match the above description. They

are cited here with some reservation as to their true identity.

Izabal: Near Entre Rios, Standley 72709. — Huehuetenango : Cerro

Chiblac, between Finca San Rafael and Ixcan, Sierra de los Cuchu-

matanes, Steyermark 49171. — Suchitepequez : Southern lower slopes

of Volcan Zunil, vicinity of Finca Las Nubes, along Quebrada Chita,

east of Pueblo Nuevo, Steyermark 35412.

Vanilla Pfaviana Reichb. f. Gard. Chron. n. s. 20: 230. 1883.

Vanilla Preussii Kranzl. Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Mus. Berlin 7: 320.

1919 (type: Guatemala, in shrub-forest near El Baul plantation,

torrid zone, Preuss 1445). Figure 15.

FIG. 15. Vanilla Pfaviana. Plant, flowering portion (X 1); 1, lip, front view,

spread out (X 1M); 2, column, front view (X 13^). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

56

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 57

Climbing on trees in oak-pine forest, up to 1,500 meters alt.

Mexico, British Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Stem slender, flexuose, leafy, about 3 mm. thick. Leaves suborbicular-ovate

to oblong-elliptic, abruptly acute or acuminate, longer than the internodes, fleshy-

coriaceous, up to 21 cm. long and 8 cm. wide. Raceme terminal or lateral. Floral

bracts foliaceous, similar to the leaves but usually smaller, occasionally as large

as the leaves. Flowers rather close or distant, green with a white lip and orange-

yellow in the throat. Sepals and petals conspicuously contorted throughout and

revolute at the apex. Sepals elliptic-lanceolate, broadly obtuse to acute, about

4 cm. long and 1.1-1.3 cm. wide. Petals elliptic-lanceolate, narrowly obtuse to

acute, about 4.2 cm. long and 8 mm. wide. Lip deeply 3-lobed, adnate to the

column for about 5 mm., arcuate in natural position with the sides involute and

the apex reflexed, about 3 cm. long and 2.7 cm. wide across the lateral lobes when

spread out; lateral lobes semiobcordate, broadly rounded above; mid-lobe obcordate

to subquadrate, emarginate, with the margins crenate, 1.5-2 cm. wide; disk with

a pair of short keels just in front of the column and with a large elliptic thickened

callus extending along the center to the sinus of the mid-lobe, without a tuft of

hairs. Column slender, arcuate, thickened at the apex, about 2 cm. long. Capsule

very slender, curved, tapering at the apex, not fragrant, up to 18 cm. long and

about 1 cm. in diameter.

Except for some differences in the size of the floral segments,

the concept V. Preussii agrees very well with that of V. Pfaviana.

The following material is sterile but it has the slender stem and leaves

of this species and probably belongs here.

Baja Verapaz: Turckheim 1764. — Escuintla: El Zapote, Muenscher

12480. — San Marcos: Above Finca El Porvenir on "Todos Santos

Chiquitos," lower south-facing slopes of Volcan Tajumulco, Steyer-

mark 37076.

Vanilla planifolia Andrews, Bot. Repos. 8: t. 538. 1808. Vanilla

fragrans (Salisb.) Ames, Sched. Orch. 7: 36. 1924. Figure 16.

Rooted in soil and climbing on trees in swamps, wet thickets,

savannas and mixed forests, up to 600 meters alt. Rather common

in the lowlands from southern Florida and Mexico through Central

America to northern South America and the West Indies. Culti-

vated throughout the tropics of both hemispheres.

Plant scandent, branching, leafy. Stem terete, about 1 cm. in diameter.

Leaves subsessile, oblong-elliptic to narrowly lanceolate, acute to shortly acumi-

nate, fleshy-succulent, up to 23 cm. long and 8 cm. wide, usually smaller. Racemes

axillary, with as many as twenty or more flowers, up to 8 cm. long. Floral bracts

ovate-oblong, obtuse to subacute, 5-10 mm. long, unlike the leaves. Flowers

greenish yellow, with pedicellate ovaries that are about 2.5 cm. long. Sepals

and petals sublinear to oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse to subacute. Sepals 4-5.5

(rarely 7) cm. long, 1-1.5 cm. wide above the middle. Petals somewhat shorter

and narrower than the sepals. Lip attached to the column almost to its apex to

FIG. 16. Vanilla planifolia. 1, plant (X /^); 2, lip, front-side view, in

natural position (X 1); 3, lip, spread open (X 1); 4, column, front-side view ( X 2).

Drawn by G. W. Dillon.

58

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 59

form a tube, dilated and reflexed at the apex, when spread out 4-5 cm. long and

1.5-3 cm. wide at the widest point; lamina obscurely 3-lobed, cuneate-obovate

in outline, retuse and irregularly fringed on the revolute margins; disk with a

retrorse tuft of hairs near the center and several verrucose lines extended from

the tuft to the thickened apex of the lip. Column arcuate, bearded on the ventral

surface, about 3 cm. long. Capsule narrowly cylindrical, fragrant, up to 25 cm.

long and 8 mm. in diameter.

This species is the common vanilla of commerce and is grown

for commercial purpose in many parts of the tropics. It has been

known ever since the discovery of America. Pollination for com-

mercial purposes is artificial. For information concerning the history,

cultivation and importance of this species see Correll (Lloydia 7:

236-264. 1944).

Alta Verapaz: Jocolo, Johnson 1178. Vicinity of Finca Yalpe-

mech, near Alta Verapaz-Pete'n boundary line, Steyermark 45286.

North of Conception, 3-5 miles southeast of Finca Yalpemech, near

Alta Verapaz-Pete'n boundary line, Steyermark 45233. — Izabal:

Vicinity of Puerto Barrios, Standley 25064. Between Milla 49.5

and ridge 6 miles from Izabal, Montana del Mico, Steyermark

38539. Swamps of Salomon Creek, one-half to one mile south of

Bananera, Steyermark 38944. — Pete*n: La Libertad and vicinity,

Lundell 164.

Vanilla pompona Schiede, Linnaea 4: 573. 1829.

On trees and shrubs in forests, up to 1,000 meters alt. Wide-

spread from Mexico through Central America to northern South

America.

Stem large, up to 1.5 cm. thick, leafy. Leaves ovate-oblong to broadly lanceo-

late, obtuse to subacute, coriaceous, up to 30 cm. long and 8 cm. wide, much

exceeding the internodes. Raceme axillary, composed of about 8 flowers (some-

times more or less), up to 15 cm. long. Floral bracts broadly elliptic-oblong to

suborbicular, rounded to obtuse at the apex, unlike the leaves, up to 2.5 cm.

long and 2.5 cm. wide. Flowers large, fleshy, greenish yellow or creamy yellow,

fragrant. Sepals narrowly oblanceolate, obtuse, up to 9 cm. long and 1.8 cm. wide.

Petals narrowly oblanceolate, obtuse, dorsally keeled, up to 8.8 cm. long and 1.5 cm.

wide. Lip orange-yellow, attached to the column almost to its apex to form a

tube, upcurved in natural position with the apex flared, up to 9.5 cm. long, about

4.5 cm. wide near the apex when spread out; lamina obscurely 3-lobed, obovate

in outline, retuse and broadly rounded and undulate-crenulate at the apex, with

an apicule in the sinus, somewhat keeled on the back; disk prominently veined

with the veins somewhat thickened, thin, adorned with a retrorse tuft of fimbriate

scales about the middle and sometimes with several obscure lines of excrescences

from the tuft of hair to near the apex. Column arcuate, bearded on the ventral

surface, up to 7 cm. long. Capsule thick, fragrant, linear-elliptic, obtuse, trigonous,

up to 18 cm. long and 2.5 cm. thick.

60 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

This species is cultivated for its aromatic properties. Although

not now an important source of commercial vanilla, its fruits were

at one time, under the name of "vanillons," a well-known tropical

product, and may have furnished the "vanilloes" referred to by

James Petiver in 1693 as an imperfectly known and "most earnestly

desired" article of commerce. The flowers, which last but a day,

are large and showy, creamy yellow in color, with a delightful fra-

grance. Under cultivation it is said that the plants will yield two

crops a year, six months being required from flower to "bean."

Pollination is artificial. The specimen cited below is sterile but

probably represents this species.

Izabal: Between Virginia and Lago Izabal, Montana del Mico,

Steyermark 38703.

7. ELLEANTHUS Presl

Terrestrial or epiphytic herbs with coarse, fleshy, matted roots; stem simple

or branched, leafy. Leaves sessile above a sheath, strongly nerved. Flowers

in dense heads or spicate racemes. Sepals subequal, free, erect. Petals as long

as the sepals, narrower. Lip attached to the base of the column and usually enclos-

ing it, erect, concave-saccate at the base with two prominent calli in the cavity,

usually slightly constricted above the cavity. Column erect, semiterete or winged,

without a foot. Anther 2-celled, operculate. Pollinia 8 (4 in each anther cell);

pollen waxy. Capsule ellipsoid or shortly cylindrical, erect or spreading.

In this genus there are approximately fifty species that are native

to tropical America from Mexico, Central America and the West

Indies to Brazil and Peru. The genus attains its highest develop-

ment in the Andean region of South America.

1. Flowers in a dense head; leaves lanceolate or broader E. capitatus.

1. Flowers in a short raceme, distichous; leaves linear, grass-like.

2. Flowers congested; floral bracts imbricated; rachis straight. . .E. linifolius.

2. Flowers distant, about 3 mm. apart; floral bracts not imbricated; rachis

fractiflex E. poiformis.

Elleanthus capitatus (R. Br.) Reichb. f. Walp. Ann. 6: 475.

1862. Bletia capitata R. Br. in Ait. Hort. Kew. ed. 2, 5: 206. 1813.

Figure 17.

Common in wet forests, open wet banks, terrestrial and epiphytic

or on rocks, up to 2,400 meters alt. Widespread in the West Indies,

Mexico, through Central America south to Peru and southern Brazil.

Plant tall, stout, simple or branching above, in sparse clumps, 6-30 dm.

tall; stem leafy, 3-5 mm. in diameter, covered with leaf sheaths. Leaves charta-

ceous, elliptic-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, long acuminate, conspicuously

FIG. 17. Elleanthus capitatus. 1, upper part of plant with head of flowers

(X 1A); 2, column, side view (about X 1); 3, column, front-side view (about XI);

4, flower, side view (X 1) ; 5, flower, from above (X 1) ; 6, pollinia (much enlarged) ;

7, anther (much enlarged). Drawn by D. E. Tibbitts. Adapted in part from

Fawcett and Rendle, Flora of Jamaica 1: pi. 20. 1910.

61

62 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

nerved, 10-23 cm. long, 2-7 cm. wide. Inflorescence a determinate hemispherical

head of many flowers, entire head covered by a mucilaginous fluid, 3-8.5 cm.

long, 2.5-6 cm. in diameter. Floral bracts imbricate, ovate-triangular to lanceo-

late, acuminate, membranous, the outer ones without flowers, 2.5-6 cm. long,

8-15 cm. wide. Flowers rose-purple, on pedicellate ovaries that are 1-1.5 cm.

long. Sepals oblong-elliptic, 9-13 mm. long, 3-3.5 mm. wide; dorsal sepal obtuse

to subacute; lateral sepals subacute to acute, apiculate. Petals linear to linear-

oblanceolate, obtuse, 9-12 mm. long, 1.5-2.2 mm. wide above the middle. Lip

rotund-flabellate to orbicular-obcordate, involute and enclosing the column, apex

broadly emarginate with the margin erose-ciliate, saccate and with 2 subglobose,

white calli at the base, 10-14 mm. long, 8-12 mm. wide; calli about 2.5 mm.

long and 1.5 mm. wide. Column slightly dilated above, with a projecting, obtuse

process on the anterior side just below the stigma. Capsule ellipsoid, about 1.2 cm.

long and 5 mm. in diameter.

This species is especially common throughout most of Central

America and northern South America. It reaches its maximum

development in the Andes of Colombia and Peru.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Turckheim 2289. Chama to Coban,

Harry Johnson 558. Large swamp east of Tactic, Standley 92372.

On tree, along Rio Carcha, between Coban and San Pedro Carcha,

Standley 90084; 89835. On tree, wet forest near Tactic, above the

bridge across Rio Frio, Standley 90481. On high mossy hump in

swamp, just east of Tactic, Steyermark 43951. — Chimaltenango:

Quisache", Standley 62305. — Chiquimula: Volcan Ipala, near Amatillo,

Steyermark 30494. — Huehuetenango : Around lake southeast of Max-

bal, about 17 miles north of Barillas, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes,

Steyermark 48823; 48704. — Sacatepe"quez : Antigua, on mossy hum-

mock, Margaret Ward Lewis 168. — Solola: Volcan Atitlan, south-

facing slopes, Steyermark 47395. Terrestrial, pine woods bordering

Rio Bravo, in vicinity of Finca Moca, south-facing slopes of Volcan

Atitlan, Steyermark 47945. — Suchitepequez : Epiphyte, Volcan Santa

Clara, between Finca El Naranjo and upper slopes, Steyermark

46646. — Zacapa: Terrestrial, slopes of Monte Virgen, Sierra de las

Minas, around summit of mountain, Steyermark 42634. — Guatemala:

Ignacio Aguilar 426.

Elleanthus linifolius Presl, Rel. Haenk. 1: 97. 1827.

Rather uncommon on trees and rocks in wet forests, up to

1,300 meters alt. Found in the West Indies, Mexico, through Cen-

tral America to Peru.

Plant simple, grass-like, glabrous, growing in clumps from a mat of coarse,

fleshy roots, 1-3.5 dm. tall; stem very leafy. Leaves obliquely erect, linear,

unevenly tridentate at the apex, membranous, 3-15 cm. long, 1-3 mm. wide.

Raceme spicate, short, 1-2.5 cm. long, 1.5-4 cm. wide. Bracts imbricate, broadly

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 63

ovate to ovate-oblong, subacute to acuminate, strongly carinate and concave,

longer than and usually enclosing the flowers, the margins scarious, 5-13 mm.

long, about 6 mm. wide (when spread out). Flowers small, distichous, white, on

short pedicellate ovaries. Dorsal sepal linear-oblong, acute, concave, 3-3.5 mm.

long, about 1 mm. wide. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, tapering to an acuminate

apex, subcordate at the base, often strongly carinate above the middle. Petals

linear-spatulate, broadly rounded at the apex, about 4 mm. long, mostly less than

1 mm. wide. Lip subquadrate-flabellate to broadly obovate, involute, completely

infolding the column, with the margins undulate and denticulate-ciliate, decurved,

somewhat constricted at the middle, saccate and with 2 small ovoid calli at the

base, 3.5-4.2 mm. long, about 4 mm. wide. Column short, subclavate, incurved,

about 2 mm. long.

This species is often represented in herbaria by specimens having

flowers in poor condition. It is rather distinct, however, in that its

whole aspect resembles a grass and the apex of the leaves (in our

material) is constantly unevenly tridentate.

Alta Verapaz: Chama, Harry Johnson 829. Epiphyte on tree,

lowland forest in valley, "pantano," 2^ miles west of Cubilgiiitz,

Steyermark 44330. Epiphyte on top of limestone ridge, Cerro

Chinaja, between Finca Yalpemech and Chinaja, above source of

Rio San Diego, Steyermark 45673. — Izabal: Quirigua, Harry Johnson

1309. Between Bananera and "La Presa" in Montana del Mico,

Steyermark 38238; 38288. Lower slopes of rocky ravine along

tributary to Rio Frio, Steyermark 41572. Epiphyte, trail between

Rio Frio and Cayo Piedra, Steyermark 41649. Uppermost ridges

and summit, Cerro San Gil, Steyermark 41964.

Elleanthus poiformis Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov., Beih. 19: 164.

1923.

On trees in pastures and forests, up to 1,700 meters alt. Guate-

mala and Costa Rica.

Plant small, densely caespitose, grass-like, 1-3 dm. tall; roots glabrous, rather

fleshy and branched. Stem filiform, about 1 mm. in diameter, concealed by the

leaf-sheaths, often drooping from the weight of the leaves. Leaves erect or

spreading, sessile, linear-filiform, membranous, unequally tridentate at the apex,

up to 7 cm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide, grass-green. Raceme laxly few-flowered, con-

spicuously fractiflex, about 3 cm. long, with the flowers distichously arranged

about 3 mm. apart; rachis covered with reddish brown hairs on the surface facing

the flowers. Floral bracts as long as or usually exceeding the flowers, fibrous-

chartaceous, broadly triangular-ovate, abruptly acuminate, conduplicate, 5-10

mm. long. Flowers small, white, with short pedicellate ovaries that are about

2 mm. long and with the ventral surface and sides densely covered with reddish

brown hairs. Sepals 3-4 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide, 1-nerved, with the outer

surface partly covered with reddish brown hairs; dorsal sepal elliptic to narrowly

lanceolate, acute to apiculate, cymbiform; lateral sepals triangular-lanceolate,

64 FIELDI ANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

acute to acuminate, oblique, dorsally keeled at the apex. Petals linear-spatulate,

obtuse, 3.2-4 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide near the apex. Lip suborbicular-flabellate

when spread out, with the apical margins denticulate, saccate at the base and with

the sides upcurved in natural position, 3-5 mm. long, 3.5-4 mm. wide, with a

pair of ellipsoid calli nestling in the saccate base; calli attached to base of lip by

a thin thread. Column 2-2.5 mm. long.

This species is easily distinguished from the closely allied E. lini-

folius by its laxly flowered fractiflex raceme.

Alta Verapaz: Dense wet limestone forest near Chirriacte", on the

Pete"n highway, Standley 91976. — Izabal: Cerro San Gil, Steyermark

41963. La Vigia, between Bananera and Quirigua, Margaret Ward

Lewis 170. Salama, Johnston 1828.

8. SOBRALIA Ruiz & Pav.

Reedy terrestrial or epiphytic herbs with strongly nerved cauline leaves.

Leaves coriaceous, articulate with long sheaths. Flowers usually large, showy,

in a terminal axillary raceme. Bracts several, carinate, rigid, somewhat imbricate.

Sepals subequal, erect, connate at the base. Petals similar to but slightly broader

than the sepals. Lip adnate to the base of the column, entire or two-lobed, with

the basal half involute enclosing the column, the apex exserted, spreading, undulate

or fimbriate; disk smooth or variously crested with calli. Column elongate, foot-

less, sub-incurved, semiterete, acutely angled or narrowly winged, 3-lobed at the

apex. Pollinia 8 (4 in each cell of the bilocular anther), granulose. Capsule oblong

or elongate, rigid or fleshy.

This genus consists of about thirty-five species and is confined

to the tropics of Mexico and Central and South America. Some

of the species have very showy flowers.

1. Flowers solitary, large; lip more than 7 cm. long.

2. Flowers lavender or rose-purple, with pedicellate ovaries that are about

2.5 cm. long S. macrantha.

2. Flowers yellow, subsessile S. xantholeuca.

1. Flowers 1-2, small; lip less than 6 cm. long.

3. Stem flattened, two-edged; lip deeply fimbriate S. fragrans.

3. Stem terete; lip undulate-crisped, not deeply fringed.

4. Stem, lower surface of leaves and leaf -sheaths black warty or hispidulous;

flowers pale lavender and white; lip more than 3.8 cm. long. . .S. decora.

4. Stem, leaves and leaf-sheaths glabrous; flowers pale green or yellowish

white; lip less than 3.3 cm. long S. mucronata.

Sobralia decora Bateman, Orch. Mex. & Guat., t. 26. 1841

(type: Guatemala, Skinner). Figures 18, 19.

In deep shaded ravine in leaf mold, on rocks in oak-pine forests,

occasionally in the crotch of trees, up to 1,700 meters alt. Rather

common from Mexico to Honduras.

FIG. 18. Sobralia decora. Plant (X %). Drawn by Dorothy O. Allen.

65

66 FIELDI ANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Plant erect, reed-like, 3.5-7.5 dm. tall, with the stem, lower surface of leaves

and leaf-sheaths more or less black warty or hispidulous; stem leafy above. Leaves

oblong-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, long acuminate, 5.5-22 cm. long, 1.5-6.5

cm. wide. Flowers 1-2, terminal, sessile or subsessile, pale lavender and white,

subtended by short, scarious sheaths. Sepals strongly apiculate and recurved at

the apex; dorsal sepal linear-oblong, 4-5 cm. long, 1.2-1.7 cm. wide; lateral sepals

linear-oblong, slightly falcate, 4-5 cm. long, 1-1.2 cm. wide. Petals oblong-elliptic,

subacute to acute, 3.5-4 cm. long, 1-1.1 cm. wide. Lip tubular-involute in natural

position, cucullate at the base, undulate-crisped and flared on the anterior margin,

retuse or apiculate at the broadly rounded apex, rose-purple or lavender streaked

with yellow and brown on the disk, when spread out obovate-rhomboid, 4-4.5 cm.

long, 3-3.5 cm. wide near the apex; disk covered with numerous sinuately anas-

tomosing veins, provided with numerous minute lamellae that traverse it longi-

tudinally. Column white, slender-clavate, 2-2.5 cm. long, trilobed at the apex;

lateral lobes slender-falcate; mid-lobe galeate. Capsule cylindrical, blackish,

prominently 6-ribbed, about 8 cm. long when mature.

This species is easily distinguished from other species of Sobralia

found in Guatemala by the short blackish pubescence found on the

stem, leaf-sheaths and lower surface of the leaves. All of the plants

in any one locality usually flower on the same day and last only one

day.

Alta Verapaz: Chama, Harry Johnson 907. Cubilgiiitz, Turck-

heim 8006; 8458. — Chiquimula: Montana Castilla, vicinity of Mon-

tana Cebollas, along Rio Lucia Saso, three miles southeast of Quezal-

tepeque, Steyermark 31326. — Izabal: On tree along Rio Tameja,

Cerro San Gil, Steyermark 42004. — Pete"n: La Liber tad, Lundell 2961.

The following collections are sterile but probably represent this

species: Chiquimula: Rocky volcanic slopes, Rio Grande (Rio Con-

ception), on Socorro Mountain, above Finca San Jose", southeast of

Conception de las Minas, Steyermark 31106.— Pet^n: On tree trunk,

low forest along Rio Chinaja, north of Chinaja on trail towards

Zacatal, Steyermark 45461. — Zacapa: On rocks, oak-pine woods

along upper reaches of Rio Sitio Nuevo, between Santa Rosalia

and first waterfall, Steyermark 42235.

Sobralia fragrans Lindl. Gard. Chron. 598. 1853. S. eublepharis

Reichb. f. ex Kranzl. Repert. Sp. Nov. 26: 255. t. 78. 1929 (type:

Guatemala).

Rather common on trees in wet forests, in partial shade, where

it usually occurs in large bunches, occasionally terrestrial. Some-

what limited in distribution from Guatemala to Panama.

Plant glabrous, short, 1.8-3.5 dm. tall; stem and peduncle flattened, 2-edged,

weak, with 1-2 leaves. Leaves oblong-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acute

or acuminate, somewhat toothed at the apex, rather fleshy, chartaceous-coriaceous

FIG. 19. Sobralia decora var. aerata. Plant, upper part (about X 1A)', upper

left, column (X 1); bottom (left to right), lateral sepal, petal, dorsal sepal, lip

(X 1). A variety found in Panama. Drawn by G. W. Dillon.

67

68 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

when dry, 6.5-23.5 cm. long, 1.5-5 cm. wide. Flowers 1-2, small, terminating a

long peduncle, yellowish white, tinged with pink, fragrant, with slender pedicellate

ovaries that are 2-3 cm. long, subtended by 2-3 uneven bracts. Bracts elliptic-

lanceolate, obtuse or subacute, carinate, with whitish scarious margins, 3-5 cm.

long, 1-1.5 cm. wide. Sepals narrowly linear to oblong-lanceolate, acute or

abruptly apiculate, 3-4 cm. long, 4-7 mm. wide; lateral sepals somewhat falcate.

Petals lanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, subobtuse to acute, occasionally apiculate,

slightly falcate, 3-3.8 cm. long, about 5 mm. wide. Lip obovate-cuneate, with the

lower margins entire and strongly involute, crisped and deeply fringed along the

apical, spreading-decurved margin, when spread out 2.5-3.2 cm. long, 1.5-1.8 cm.

wide; disk provided with about nine elevated lamellae that are finely fringed toward

the apex of the lip. Column semiterete, clavate, 1.6-1.8 cm. long. Capsule

cylindrical, very slender, about 6 cm. long at maturity, about 6 mm. in diameter.

Sobralia fragrans is distinctive in that its stem and peduncle are

conspicuously flattened. It is thus easily distinguished from S.

mucronata, which has a similar habit but a terete stem.

Alta Verapaz: Cubilgiiitz, Tiirckheim 8301. Chama, Harry

Johnson 271. — Izabal: Between Milla 49.5 and ridge 6 miles from

Izabal, Montana del Mico, Steyermark 38570. Rio Dulce, between

Livingston and 6 miles up river, Steyermark 39390. Cerro San Gil,

along Rio Frio, Steyermark 39968. "Montufar Flats," Margaret

Ward Lewis 230.

Sobralia macrantha Lindl. Sert. Orch., sub t. 29. 1836.

Rather common in leaf mold on calcareous rocks in forests, in

wet soil of ravine and in sandy soil along stream banks, occasionally

epiphytic, up to 3,333 meters alt. Widespread from Mexico to

Costa Rica.

Plant tall, glabrous or tuberculate on the leaf sheaths, 4.5-21 dm. tall; stem

leafy, often growing in large clusters from the same root mass. Leaves narrowly

to broadly lanceolate, long-acuminate, spreading, rigid, 13-30 cm. long, 2-7.5 cm.

wide. Inflorescence consisting of a solitary flower that is subtended by a large

foliaceous bract. Bract narrowly lanceolate, carinate, membranous, with scarious

margins, up to 13 cm. long. Flower very large, rose-purple, showy, with stout

arcuate pedicellate ovaries that are about 2.5 cm. long. Sepals linear-oblong,

subacute or acute, minutely apiculate, recurved, 8-10.2 cm. long, 1.5-2.6 cm. wide.

Petals oblong-obovate, broadly rounded and inconspicuously mucronate at the

apex, with the margins undulate-crisped above the middle, 6.5-9 cm. long, 2.3-4

cm. wide near the apex. Lip very large, the lower half forming a laterally com-

pressed tube around the column, rotundate and deeply bilobed at the apex,

expanding and undulate-crisped along the margins above the middle, white on

the inside of the tubular basal portion, tinged with yellow in the center; when

spread out broadly oblong-obovate, 8-11 cm. long, about 7 cm. wide above the

middle. Column 3-3.5 cm. long, slender-clavate. Capsule elongate-fusiform,

recurved, 6-angled, about 11.5 cm. long and 2 cm. in diameter.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 69

This species has the most attractive flowers of any of the sobralias

occurring in Guatemala. Several horticultural varieties have been

found in Guatemala; namely, "S. macrantha pallida," which has

large, pale flowers about 18 cm. across; S. macrantha var. albida,

with whitish flowers; and "S. macrantha splendens," which has smaller

and darker flowers than those of the species. This species is com-

monly known as "Candelaria," "Cebollin," and "lirio."

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Turckheim 2462. — Baja Verapaz: Fatal,

Standley 69559. Rocky hills near and above Santa Rosa, in pine-

oak forest, Standley 91053. — Chimaltenango(?) : Santa Maria de

Jesus, J. R. Johnston 922. — El Progreso: Sierra de las Minas, hills

north of Finca Piamonte, between Finca Piamonte and summit of

Volcan Santa Luisa, Steyermark 43615. — Escuintla: Escuintla, J. R.

Johnston 1316. — Guatemala: Guatemala, S. Hayes. — Huehuete-

nango : Paso del Boqueron, along Rio Trapichillo, below La Libertad,

Steyermark 51195. — Retalhuleu: Finca Helvetia, W. C. Muenscher

12442. — San Marcos: Above Finca El Porvenir, along Rio Cabus

to within 2 miles of Cueva de las Palomas, south-facing slopes of

Volcan Tajumulco, Steyermark 37936. — Santa Rosa: Estanzuela,

Heyde & Lux 3861. — Solola: Trail between slopes of Volcan Santa

Clara and town of San Pedro, Steyermark 47119. — Suchitepequez :

Southwestern slopes of Volcan Zunil, between Finca Asturias and

Finca Alto Mira, northeast of Pueblo Nuevo, Steyermark 35331. —

Zacapa: Sierra de las Minas, along Rillito del Volcan de Monos,

Volcan de Monos, Steyermark 42337. — Road from Santa Maria to

Quezaltenango, Margaret Ward Lewis 162.

The following collections are sterile or in fruit but probably

represent this species: Alta Verapaz: Terrestrial, Cerro Tortuga

(Sahacoc), vicinity of Cubilguitz, Steyermark 44611. On mossy

hummock, large swamp east of Tactic, Standley 92658. — Chiquimula:

On rocky slopes near summit, Cerro Tixixi (Tishishi), 3-5 miles

north of Jacotan, Steyermark 31657. — Huehuetenango: Covering

slopes of barranco and growing by the thousands of plants for

several acres, associated with Quercus-Pinus, Cerro Victoria, across

river from Finca San Rafael, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark

49618.

Sobralia mucronata Ames & C. Schweinf. Sched. Orch. 8: 54.

1925.

Epiphyte in dense forests, up to 600 meters alt. Very rare in

Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica.

70 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Plant glabrous, erect, 2.6-9 dm. tall; stem leafy, slender, mostly concealed

by leaf sheaths. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, coriaceous, with 2 or

more teeth at the apex, 4-18 cm. long, 1-3.5 cm. wide. Inflorescence comprising

1-2 flowers that arise in the axil of the uppermost leaf, subtended by several im-

bricating bracts. Bracts conduplicate, lanceolate, 2 or more toothed at the apex,

up to 4.5 cm. long. Flowers small for the genus, pale green or yellowish-white,

with slender pedicellate ovaries that are about 3 cm. long. Sepals and petals

subacute or acute, mucronate. Dorsal sepal linear-oblong, 2.6-3.8 cm. long, 5-7

mm. wide. Lateral sepals slightly obliquely elliptic-oblong to narrowly oblong,

2.5-3.8 cm. long, 6.5-7.5 mm. wide. Petals linear-oblong to narrowly oblanceolate,

slightly falcate, 2.3-3.5 cm. long, 5-6 mm. wide. Lip in natural position tubular-

involute near the base, when spread out broadly oblong-elliptic or quadrate-oblong,

2.5-3 cm. long, 1.1-1.5 cm. wide above the middle, entire, retuse or apiculate at

the broadly rounded apex, anterior margins strongly undulate-crisped and some-

what crenulate; disk with 2 short calli at the base and several more or less con-

spicuous keels extending from the base nearly to the apex of the lip (these keels

are supplemented above the middle of the disk by the central 5-7 nerves that

become similarly carinate; all of the keels become conspicuously sinuate and

raised above the middle of the lip). Column slender-clavate, with prominent

lateral wings on the anterior surface, apex 3-lobed, with the lateral lobes erect,

linear-falcate and incurved, the middle lobe suborbicular and strongly galeate.

Capsule slender, elongate, up to 9 cm. long when mature.

Alta Verapaz: Cubilgiiitz, Turckheim 8294.

Sobralia xantholeuca Hort. ex Williams, Orch. Grow. Man.

ed. 6: 576. 1885.

Uncommon, epiphytic on trees and on rocks up to 1,550 meters

alt. Thus far found only in Guatemala.

Plant up to 18 dm. tall, glabrous; stem rather stout, leafy, covered with leaf-

sheaths that are pale green speckled with red-brown. Leaves articulate with the

sheaths, oblong-lanceolate, long-acuminate, spreading and drooping, 15-28 cm.

long, 3-7 cm. wide below the middle. Bracts narrowly lanceolate, carinate, with

scarious margins, up to 14 cm. long. Flowers solitary, terminal, large and showy,

yellow, subsessile. Sepals oblong-elliptic to linear-lanceolate, acute or acuminate,

spreading and recurved, 8-11 cm. long, 1.7-2.3 cm. wide. Petals similar to the

sepals but somewhat shorter. Lip large, 8-11 cm. long, the lower half forming a

cylindrical tube around the column, rotundate and notched at the apex, expanding

above with broad recurved, crisply waved crenate margins, the tubular throat

golden streaked with dark yellow. Column slender-clavate, about 3.5 cm. long.

The large yellow flowers, which are about the size of those of

S. macrantha, and the maculate leaf-sheaths easily distinguish this

species from its allies.

Alta Verapaz: San Cristobal, Turckheim 131. Coban, Turckheim

2477. — Huehuetenango: Epiphyte, dense rich wet woods between

Yulhuitz and Maxbal, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 48677.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 71

The following specimen, in poor condition, probably represents

this species: Huehuetenango: On rocky limestone jagged forested

slopes northeast of Maxbal, about 17 miles north of Barillas, Sierra

de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 48896.

9. CRYBELindl.

Terrestrial herbs with suborbicular, green corms on which the leafy stems

and inflorescences are borne separately at the apex. Raceme 3-6-flowered.

Flowers purplish red, nodding, with arcuate-decurved pedicellate ovaries, clavate-

obovoid in appearance; perianth scarcely or not expanding. Sepals unequal, free.

Petals similar to the lateral sepals, free. Lip adnate to the base of the column,

obovate-cuneate, cucullate, retuse with an apicule in the sinus. Column long,

erect, clavate; anther 2-celled; pollinia 4, mealy, 2 in each anther-cell. Capsule

ellipsoidal.

This monotypic genus is confined to Middle America.

Crybe rosea Lindl. Nat. Syst. Bot. ed. 2: 446. 1836. Arethusa

rosea (Lindl.) Benth. ex Hemsl. in Godm. & Salvin, Biol. Centr.-

Am. 3: 304. 1884. Figure 20.

Uncommon in sandy soil and loam in pine-oak forests, also on

lava rock and on the edge of deep ravines, up to 2,000 meters alt.

Apparently confined to Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.

Plant glabrous; stem short, 7-15 cm. tall, terminated by two leaves and

another leaf sheathing below. Leaves oblong-elliptic to linear-lanceolate, acute or

acuminate, prominently veined, the terminal leaf reduced at the base to a slender

petiole, 8-42 cm. long, 1.5-6 cm. wide. Inflorescence a 3-6 flowered raceme

terminating a slender peduncle, up to 15 cm. long; peduncle 1.1-4 dm. tall, provided

with several distant scarious bracts. Bracts short, triangular or slender-acuminate,

5-15 mm. long. Flowers with pedicellate ovaries that are 1-3 cm. long. Sepals

oblanceolate, acute or acuminate, recurved at the apex, tuberculate-maculate with

purple on the dorsal surface above the middle, the central veins carinate at the

apex on the ventral surface, 2.7-3.5 cm. long, 6-7 mm. wide; the lateral sepals

obliquely falcate. Petals oblanceolate, obtuse to subacute, falcate, white tinged

with purple, 2.9-3.3 cm. long, 6.5-7 mm. wide. Lip strongly involute enclosing

the column, the lower half strongly cucullate, the dilated apical portion with the

margins folded, undulate-crenate, 3.5-5 cm. long, 2-3 cm. wide above the middle;

disk with the three central veins slightly carinate. Column somewhat recurved,

with two lateral auricles on the anterior surface near the middle. Capsule ellipsoid-

oblong, 2-4.5 cm. long, about 1 cm. in diameter.

Chimaltenango : J. R. Johnston 1983. — Huehuetenango: Oak-

pine woods on steep rocky slopes above La Libertad, on Cerro Pueblo

Viejo, Steyermark 50979; 51005. Cerro Pixpix, above San Ildefonso

Ixtahuacan, Steyermark 50620. — Jalapa: Rocky scrub-oak forest on

FIG. 20. Crybe rosea. Flowering plant (X

completed by D. E. Tibbitts.

Sketched by G. W. Dillon;

72

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 73

hills northeast of Jalapa, Standley 76846. Under rocks in quebrada,

brushy oak slopes of Cerro Alcoba, east of Jalapa, Standley 77221.—

Quezaltenango: San Martin, J. R. Johnston 1315. — Santa Rosa:

Heyde & Lux 3862 (in part). — Solola: Trail between village of San

Pedro, via San Juan, San Cristobal Buena Vista, and northwestern

slopes of Volcan Santa Clara, Steyermark 47304. — On banks along

Antigua to Guatemala City road, John Porter 35. — Near Incienso

Aserradero de San Vicente, Margaret W. Lewis 205. — Au Felswanden

au den "Siidgehangen" des Vulcans Sta. Maria, haufig, Lehmann

1616.

[ 10. WULLSCHLAEGELIA Reichb. f.

Terrestrial, leafless herbs. Stem erect, simple, slender, provided with several

short scarious cuspidate scales. Roots fasciculate, fibrous, caudate, somewhat

thickened. Flowers small, short-pedicelled, in a loose or dense raceme. Sepals

thin, erect; lateral sepals connivent and produced at the base into a short mentum.

Petals small, similar to the dorsal sepal. Lip on the upper side of the flower, sessile

at the base of the column, erect, broadly cymbiform, entire, saccate at the base

within the mentum formed by the sepals. Column short, thick; anther erect,

sessile; pollinia powdery-granular. Capsule obovoid.

A small genus containing only three species, which are natives

of the West Indies, Central and South America.

Wullschlaegelia aphylla (Sw.) Reichb. f. Bot. Zeit. 131. 1863.

Cranichis aphylla Sw. Prodr. 120. 1788. Figure 21.

Saprophytic, in humus and rotten leaves of dense, dark, wet

forests, up to 600 meters alt. Rather rare in the West Indies,

Guatemala, Honduras and northern South America.

Plant 1.5-3.5 dm. tall, whitish, aphyllous; stem more or less covered with

bifurcate, articulated glandular-pubescence with a number of minute scales.

Scales triangular-lanceolate, acuminate, 3.5-5 mm. long. Raceme slender, many-

flowered, 3-13 cm. long. Bracts similar to the scales, scarious, 2-3 mm. long.

Flowers small, pale white, erect-ascending. Pedicellate ovary short, pubescent,

2-3 mm. long. Sepals pubescent with bifurcate brownish hairs; dorsal sepal

triangular-lanceolate to elliptic-oblong, obtuse, concave, 1.7-2 mm. long, 0.75-1

mm. wide; lateral sepals transversely and obliquely oblong, subobtuse to acute,

connivent at the base to form a short mentum, about 3.5 mm. long to the base of

the mentum, 1-1.5 mm. wide. Petals short, elliptic-obovate to oblong-quadrate,

broadly rounded to obtuse, with bifurcate hairs along central vein on dorsal

surface, 1.75-2 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide. Lip incumbent, oblong-quadrate,

conduplicate-concave, truncate and erose at the apex, with bifurcate hairs along

the central vein on the lower surface, 3-3.2 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide. Column

short with a rather long foot. Capsule ellipsoid-pyriform, about 1 cm. long.

FIG. 21. Wullschlaegelia aphylla. 1, flowering and fruiting plant (from

Swartz's type; X M); 2, flower, side view, with lateral sepal pulled down and a

petal removed (about X 6) ; 3 and 4, bifurcate hairs on the plant (greatly enlarged).

Drawn by D. E. Tibbitts. Adapted from Fawcett and Rendle, Flora of Jamaica 1 :

pi. 3. 1910.

74

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 75

This species is distinctive in its saprophytism and its bifurcate

hairs, which are composed of 3 to 5 cells, one of which is the stalk,

the other 2 or 4 forming the two branches.

Izabal: Near Entre Rios, Standley 72744. Punta Palma, across

bay from Puerto Barrios, Steyermark 39861.

11. PRESCOTTIA Lindl.

Terrestrial herbs with clustered fibrous or fleshy roots from a short rhizome.

Leaves basal or essentially so, sessile or with long petioles, membranous. In-

florescence a slender or thick spike of numerous small flowers. Sepals mem-

branous, connate at the base to form a short cup or tube, spreading or revolute

at the apex. Petals narrow, adnate to the sepaline cup. Lip on the upper side

of the flower, with the claw adnate to the sepaline cup, entire, auriculate at the

base, arched, deeply concave or galeate, often enclosing the column. Column very

short, adnate to the sepaline cup. Pollinia 4, granular or powdery. Capsule small,

suberect, ovoid or ellipsoid.

This genus consists of about thirty-five species, which are natives

of tropical and subtropical America from Florida, Mexico and the

West Indies to Brazil and Ecuador.

1. Floral segments less than 2.5 mm. long P. oligantha.

1. Floral segments usually more than 3 mm. long.

2. Leaves with a distinct slender petiole about as long as the lamina; lip con-

spicuously galeate P. stachyodes.

2. Leaves tapering into a short inconspicuous petiole; lip merely involute-

concave below the middle P. tubulosa.

Prescottia oligantha (Sw.) Lindl. Gen. & Sp. Orch. PI. 454.

1840. Cranichis oligantha Sw. Prodr. 120. 1788. Figure 22.

On mossy logs and limestone rocks on the edge of dense rain

forests, on brushy rocky banks and in clayey soil, up to 1,500 meters

alt. Widespread from southern Florida and Mexico, through Central

America to Panama, the West Indies, Colombia and Venezuela.

Plant scapose, glabrous, 1.3-3.4 dm. tall. Roots short, thick, fleshy, fascicu-

late, partly covered by a thick tomentum, 4-6 mm. in diameter. Stem slender,

purplish. Leaves radical, petioled, 1.5-7 cm. long including the petiole, reduced

above to sheathing lanceolate bracts; blade ovate-oblong to obovate, suborbicular

or elliptic, obtuse to acute, rarely apiculate, 3-4 cm. long, 1-3 cm. wide. Spike

densely flowered, slender, 2.5-8 cm. long, 5-7 mm. in diameter. Floral bracts nar-

rowly lanceolate, translucent, 3-5 mm. long. Flowers minute, white, green or

pink, less than 2.5 mm. long; perianth parts adhering at the base. Dorsal sepal

ovate, obtuse to rarely acute, 1-2 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide. Lateral sepals

arising from a broad connate base, triangular or deltoid, somewhat concave near

the apex, obtuse or subacute, 1-2.2 mm. long, a little more than 1 mm. wide at

the base. Petals linear to narrowly obovate-spatulate, retuse, truncate to obtuse

76 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME. 26

at the apex, 1-1.5 mm. long, about 0.5 mm. wide. Lip erect, suborbicular, concave-

saccate, apiculate, with lateral auricles at the base, 1-1.5 mm. long, about 2 mm.

wide when spread out. Column laterally winged near the apex. Capsule ellipsoid,

shallowly six-keeled, less than 5 mm. long.

This species has the smallest flowers of any Prescottia found in.

Guatemala.

Alta Verapaz: Between Coban and Finca Chimote, near Rubel-

tein, Steyermark 44157.

Prescottia stachyodes (Sw.) Lindl. Bot. Reg. 22: sub t. 1916.

1836. Cranichis stachyodes Sw. Fl. Ind. Occ. 3: 1427. 1799. Pres-

cottia colorans Lindl. Bot. Reg. 22: t. 1916. 1836.

Terrestrial. Occasional on rocky banks and in dense shade of

forests, up to 3,000 meters alt. Widespread in the West Indies,

Mexico and Guatemala south to Brazil.

Plant slender or stout, glabrous, 4-9.5 dm. tall; stem purplish-brownish green,

invested by numerous loose, membranous, tubular sheaths. Leaves basal, large,

with long petioles; lamina orbicular-ovate to elliptic-oblong, abruptly acute or

acuminate at the apex, slightly asymmetrical and broadly rounded to subcordate

at the base, often with cartilaginous-serrate margins, 7-22 cm. long, 3.5-16 cm.

wide; petiole slender, narrowly winged, 3-25 cm. long. Spike long, cylindrical,

with numerous flowers, 9-31.5 cm. long, 1-2 cm. in diameter. Bracts ovate-

lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, 7-20 mm. long. Flowers green,

sepals and petals often marked with reddish brown, with short stout pedicellate

ovaries. Sepals and petals strongly revolute. Dorsal sepal linear-oblong, tapering

to the obtuse or subacute apex, 3-3.5 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide. Lateral sepals

united at the base; free part oblong, tapering to the obtuse apex, 3-3.2 mm. long,

about 1 mm. wide. Petals narrowly linear, obtuse, 3-3.5 mm. long, about 0.5 mm.

wide. Lip suberect, with strongly involute margins forming a subglobose galea,

laterally compressed, with an auricle on each side at the base, 4-5 mm. long, 3-4

mm. wide when spread out. Column short, subglobose, about 2 mm. long. Capsule

ellipsoid, about 1 cm. long.

Alta Verapaz: Cubilgiiitz, Turckheim 8589. — El Progreso: Sierra

de las Minas, in cloud forest, hills north of Finca Piamonte, between

Finca Piamonte and summit of Volcan Santa Luisa, Steyermark

43603.— Izabal: Along Rio Frio, Cerro San Gil, Steyermark 41604.

Damp forested slopes and barrancos, Cerro San Gil, Steyermark

41872. — Jutiapa: Volcan Suchitan, northwest of Asuncion Mita,

FIG. 22. Cranichis muscosa. 1, plant (X /^); 2, flower, side view (X 5); 3,

flower, front view, partly spread open (X 5); 4, lip (X 10). Prescottia oligantha.

5, plant (X %)', 6, flower, side view, with lateral sepal and petal turned back

(X 10); 7, flower, front view (X 10); 8, flower, spread open (X 10). Drawn by

G. W. Dillon.

77

78 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Steyermark 31939. — Quezaltenango : Slopes of Volcan Santa Maria,

between Finca Pirineos and Los Positos, between Santa Maria de

Jesus and Calahuache", Steyermark 33790. — Quiche": Nebaj, Skutch

1684. — Solola: Volcan Atitlan, south-facing slopes, Steyermark 47396.

— Suchitepequez : Finca Moca, Skutch 1540. — Zacapa: Slopes of

Monte Virgen, around summit of mountain, Steyermark 42643.—

Volcan Zunil, Skutch 932.

The following specimens are sterile but probably represent this

species: San Marcos: Slopes of barrancos tributary to and bordering

Rio Vega, between San Rafael at northeast portion of Volcan Tacana

and Guatemala-Mexico line, Steyermark 36364. — Zacapa: Cloud

forest in ravine bordering Quebrada Alejandria, summit of Sierra

de las Minas, vicinity of Finca Alejandria, Steyermark 29848.

Prescottia tubulosa (Lindl.) L. 0. Wms. Bot. Mus. Leafl.

Harv. Univ. 7: 137. 1939. Cranichis tubulosa Lindl. Gen. & Sp.

Orch. PI. 451. 1840.

Rare (in our range) in damp loam and leaf mold in shade of

heavy woods, in oak-pine forests, up to 2,800 meters alt. Mexico

and Guatemala.

Plant slender or stout, 1.3-5.5 dm. tall, invested by short, membranous,

tubular sheaths. Leaves subsessile or tapering into a short, broadly winged petiole,

linear-elliptic to broadly oblanceolate, abruptly acute, 7-25 cm. long, 2.5-6.5 cm.

wide. Spike dense, cylindrical, with numerous flowers, 3-19 cm. long, 1-2.5 cm.

in diameter. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, about 1 cm. long. Flowers pale yellow,

sepals and petals usually grayish white, with short stout pedicellate ovaries. Sepals

and petals strongly recurved. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, subobtuse to acute, 6-7.5

mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide. Lateral sepals united at the base; free part lanceolate,

obtuse or subacute, 4-6 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide. Petals linear-oblanceolate,

subacute, 6-7 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide. Lip in natural position strongly in-

volute and with an auricle on each side at the base, recurved at the broadly obtuse,

apiculate apex, when spread out cuneate-obovate, 6.5-8 mm. long (including the

short claw), about 4 mm. wide at widest point. Column cuneate, sinuately tri-

dentate at the apex, 3-5 mm. long. Capsule ovoid, 6-8 mm. long.

Huehuetenango: Wet brushy bank near Chiantla, along the

river south and east of the town, Standley 82469. — Quezaltenango:

Cerro Quemado, Kellerman 5577; 6070.

12. CRANICHIS Sw.

Terrestrial (rarely epiphytic), scapose herbs with fasciculate, fleshy roots.

Leaves basal or radical, rarely with reduced cauline leaves. Scape slender, simple,

provided with tubular clasping sheaths. Flowers small, in a spicate raceme.

Sepals free, subequal or with the lateral pair somewhat broader and more or less

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 79

connivent. Petals free or somewhat adnate to the base of the column, spreading,

smaller than the sepals. Lip on the upper side of the flower, adnate to the middle

or base of the column, sessile or with a short claw, concave or saccate, usually

embracing the column. Column short; anther one, two-celled; pollinia four;

pollen granular-powdery. Capsule suberect, ovoid or ellipsoid.

This genus consists of about thirty species that are natives of

tropical and subtropical America. The vein-design of the lip in many

of the species is a reliable diagnostic character.

1. Bracts of the scape broad and foliaceous, gradually reduced in size above.

C. muscosa.

1. Bracts of the scape narrow, abruptly reduced in size above.

2. Claw of the lip attached near the middle of the column, cordate-triangular.

C. Schaffneri.

2. Claw of the lip attached to the base of the column.

3. Claw of the lip S- or C-shaped C. mexicana.

3. Claw of the lip straight.

4. Lip with a conspicuous apicule at the apex C. apiculata.

4. Lip not apiculate.

5. Lip deeply cucullate-saccate at the base; lateral sepals prominently

oblique C. cucullata.

5. Lip shallowly concave or cymbiform; lateral sepals only slightly

oblique.

6. Petals ciliate.

7. Lip orbiculate; mid-stripe of disk extending beyond the lateral

stripes and branching at the apex of the lip C. ciliata.

7. Lip narrowly ovate; mid-stripe of disk not as above.

8. Petals obtuse; lip obtuse, less than 2.7 mm. long.

C. hieroglyphica.

8. Petals acuminate; lip acute or acuminate, more than 2.7 mm.

long C. Wageneri.

6. Petals not ciliate (or obscurely so in C. diphylla).

9. Lip cymbiform, subquadrate when spread out, the margins

strongly revolute above the middle C. sylvatica.

9. Lip orbiculate, the margins not revolute C. diphylla.

Cranichis apiculata Lindl. in Benth. PL Hartw. 92. 1842

(type: Guatemala, in summo jugo inter Duenas et Acatenango, ad

pedem montis ignivomi, T. Hartweg 624). C. cylindrica Ames in

J. D. Smith, Enum. PL Guatem. 7: 49. 1905, nomen.

Shady soil in oak forests, up to 2,700 meters alt. Uncommon in

Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant glabrous throughout, with several scarious sheaths enclosing the leaves

and scape at the base, 3.5-4.7 dm. tall. Leaves basal, with a slender, narrowly

winged petiole; lamina oval-elliptic to suborbicular, abruptly acute or apiculate,

broadly rounded or abruptly reduced into the petiole at the base, 8.5-13 cm.

long, 4.5-6.5 cm. wide; petiole 8-11 cm. long. Raceme cylindrical, flowers close

together, 7.5-15 cm. long, about 2.5 cm. in diameter. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate,

5-9 mm. long. Flowers white and green, marked with brown, with slender pedicel-

80 FIELDI ANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

late ovaries that are 8-10 mm. long. Dorsal sepal elliptic, obtuse, 4-4.5 mm. long,

1.5-2 mm. wide. Lateral sepals broadly elliptic, obtuse to subapiculate, concave,

3.5-4 mm. long, 2-2.2 mm. wide. Petals narrowly oblanceolate-spatulate, sub-

truncate to obtuse, with the margins minutely undulate-crenulate, 3.5-4 mm.

long, about 1 mm. wide near the apex. Lip in natural position cymbiform, con-

stricted at the apex to form a broad apicule, the margins conspicuously revolute,

when spread out 3.5-4 mm. long, 2.5-3 mm. wide; disk adorned with brown,

branching cross lines. Column small, about 2 mm. long. Capsule ovoid, about

8 mm. long.

Cranichis apiculata is easily identified by the conspicuous apicule

at the apex of the lip.

Chiquimula: Montana Nonoja, 3-5 miles east of Camotan,

Steyermark 31701. — Jalapa: Laguna de Ayarza, Heyde &Lux 3859.—

Santa Rosa: La Vinas, Heyde & Lux 6246. Malpais, Heyde & Lux

6246.— Calderas, J. R. Johnston 1403; 1117; 1118; 1577 (in part).—

Volcan Zunil, Skutch 923.

Cranichis ciliata (HBK.) Kunth, Syn. PL Aeq. 1: 324. 1822.

Ophrys ciliata HBK. Nov. Gen. & Sp. PL 1: 334, t. 74. 1815.

In leaf mold and deep humus of heavily shaded woods, on moist

open banks and in thickets, up to 2,400 meters alt. Uncommon in

Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica, south to Venezuela.

Plant glabrous below, glandular-pubescent above, slender; scape purplish.

Leaves basal, with narrowly winged petioles; lamina somewhat variegated, ovate,

ovate-lanceolate or elliptic, abruptly acute or acuminate, broadly rounded to

subcordate at the base, oblique, 5-12 cm. long, 2.3-7 cm. wide; petiole 7.5-14 cm.

long, purplish. Raceme narrow, cylindrical, with few or many flowers, 4-15 cm.

long, about 2 cm. in diameter. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 5-8 mm. long.

Flowers white, marked with green or purple-brown, with pedicellate ovaries that

are about 9 mm. long. Dorsal sepal elliptic to elliptic-oblong, obtuse, the margins

involute, 3.8-4.2 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide. Lateral sepals somewhat obliquely

ovate-elliptic or elliptic, obtuse and minutely cucullate at the apex, 3-4.2 mm.

long, 2-2.2 mm. wide. Petals linear-oblanceolate, obtuse, the margins ciliate,

slightly falcate, 3-4 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide above the middle. Lip sessile,

in natural position concave, the margins turned upward, when spread out sub-

orbicular-obovate or orbicular, broadly rounded at the apex, 2.5-4 mm. long,

2-3.5 mm. wide; disk with three parallel green or brownish stripes, the mid-stripe

extending beyond the apex of the lateral stripes and breaking up into branching

stripes near the apex of the lip. Column 1.5-2 mm. long. Capsule ovoid, 8-9 mm.

long.

Cranichis ciliata is distinguished from closely allied species,

particularly C. sylvatica, by its orbiculate lip and the mid-stripe of

the disk, which extends beyond the lateral stripes and branches

near the apex.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 81

Alta Verapaz: Vicinity of Secanquim, Maxon & Hay 3208a.—

Chimaltenango: Above Las Calderas, Standley 60076. Region of

Los Positos, above Las Calderas, Standley 80233. Chimaltenango,

J. R. Johnston. — Guatemala: Volcan de Pacaya, above Las Calderas,

Standley 58493. Slopes of Volcan de Pacaya, between San Francisco

Sales and the base of the active cone, Standley 80740; 80753. Pacaya,

J. R. Johnston. Las Nubes, Wendland (fide Hemsley).

Cranichis cucullata Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 14: 115. 1915.

Moist, mossy banks in dry oak-pine forests, wooded valleys, up

to 2,200 meters alt. Very rare in Mexico, Guatemala and Ecuador.

Plant slender, glabrous below, sparingly puberulent above, 2.1-3.2 dm. tall.

Leaves basal, with slender, winged petioles; lamina ovate to narrowly elliptic,

acute, slightly oblique, subtruncate or tapering into the petiole at the base, varie-

gated, 3-6 cm. long, 1.4-3 cm. wide; petiole 0.7-3 cm. long. Raceme very lax,

composed of 4-15 scattered flowers, 3.5-7.5 cm. long. Bracts elliptic-lanceolate,

acuminate, 6-8 mm. long. Flowers white, marked with red-brown, with slender

pedicellate ovaries that are about 10 mm. long. Dorsal sepal elliptic-oblong,

obtuse to subacute, 4.2-5 mm. long, about 2.2 mm. wide. Lateral sepals conspic-

uously oblique, ovate-deltoid, broadly obtuse to subacute, concave, the posterior

margin broadly subauriculate at the base, 4.5-5 mm. long, about 3.5 mm. wide

at the base. Petals linear-elliptic to linear-oblanceolate, obtuse or broadly rounded

at the apex, slightly falcate, 4-4.5 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide. Lip sessile,

in natural position deeply cucullate at the base, slightly recurved and narrowed

above the middle to the broadly obtuse or subacute apex, 4-5 mm. long; when

spread out broadly ovate; disk with three prominent brownish-red veins in the

center, the lateral veins giving rise to short spreading veins, the center vein dis-

appearing near the center of the lip. Column 2-2.5 mm. long. Capsule obliquely

cylindrical, about 1.3 cm. long.

Cranichis cucullata is distinguished by its deeply cucullate lip and

conspicuously oblique lateral sepals.

Huehuetenango: Moss-covered bank of crumbling serpentine

rock in dry oak-pine woods, Skutch 1642.

Cranichis diphylla Sw. Prodr. 120. 1788. C. guatemalensis

Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 2: 129. 1906 (type: Guatemala, auf Felsen

bei Chiacam, H. von Turckheim 1379).

On rocks, mossy stumps and logs in densely shaded forests, up

to 3,000 meters alt. Uncommon but widespread in the West Indies,

Mexico and Central America.

Plant slender, glabrous below, glandular-pubescent above, 1-3.8 dm. tall.

Leaves basal, with slender petioles; lamina ovate, oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate,

acute or acuminate at the apex, truncate or subcordate at the base, 2.5-9 cm.

82 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

long, 1.5-4.2 cm. wide; petiole 2-8.5 cm. long. Raceme slender, dense or lax

with few or many flowers, 2-10 cm. long, 1.3-2 cm. in diameter. Bracts lanceo-

late, acuminate, 3-8 mm. long. Flowers small, white or greenish white, with

slender pedicellate ovaries that are about 5 mm. long. Dorsal sepal elliptic,

obtuse, concave, 2.5-3.8 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide. Lateral sepals slightly

oblique, ovate, obtuse, 3-3.5 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide. Petals elliptic-oblong to

narrowly oblanceolate, obtuse, 3-3.2 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide. Lip sessile,

in natural position concave; when spread out orbicular-ovate or suborbicular,

broadly obtuse to subacute, 2.5-3 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. wide; disk with several

irregular green-dotted lines. Column short, 1-1.5 mm. long.

Cranichis diphylla is different from nearly allied species in that

its petals are eciliate and the small lip is of an orbicular-ovate type.

This species is represented from Guatemala only by the type

collection of C. guatemalensis.

Cranichis hieroglyphica Ames & Correll in Bot. Mus. Leafl.

Harv. Univ. 10, no. 4: 61. pi. 2. 1942 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Gua-

temala, terrestrial, near San Rafael, road to Antigua, about 6,000

feet alt., September 8, 1935, Margaret Ward Lewis 154). Figure 23.

Terrestrial in mountain forests, usually at high elevations, up to

2,400 meters alt. Apparently confined to Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant solitary, erect or geniculate at the base, 2.5-4.5 dm. tall. Stem slender,

pubescent with whitish articulated hairs, provided with several short tubular

acuminate bracts, 2-3 mm. in diameter. Leaves two, basal and subopposite,

spreading on the ground, enclosed at the base by two or more scarious clasping

sheaths; petiole winged, 2-4.5 cm. long; lamina oblique, elliptic to ovate-elliptic,

acute to abruptly acuminate, 4.5-11.5 cm. long, 2.7-5.5 cm. wide, succulent,

glabrous, silvery green and glossy beneath, dark-veined above with a reticulate

pattern over a dull silvery green background. Raceme compact, composed of

twenty to thirty small white flowers that blossom in close succession, cylindrical,

2.5-3.5 cm. long, about 2 cm. in diameter. Floral bracts white, lanceolate, acumi-

nate, 5-6 mm. long. Flowers with stout puberulent pedicellate ovaries. Sepals

ovate-elliptic, narrowly obtuse to subacuminate, 1- to 2-nerved, concave, 2.5-3.1

mm. long, 1.3-1.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals slightly oblique. Petals somewhat

oblique, linear-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, obtuse, 1-nerved, ciliate along the

margins with long whitish hairs, finely hirsute through the center near the base,

2-2.5 mm. long, about 0.7 mm. wide. Lip sessile, subquadrate-ovate, narrowly

obtuse, angled on each side at the base, concave, 2-2.5 mm. long, 1.3-1.5 mm.

wide; disk adorned with somewhat thickened green stripes, with a short central

stripe and two subhorizontal stripes, one on each side, which converge toward the

middle, with a deeply U-shaped stripe on each side at the base. Column short,

terete, about 1.5 mm. long.

Cranichis hieroglyphica is most closely related to C. Wageneri

Reichb. f. However, besides having smaller flowers, the floral seg-

ments of C. hieroglyphica are comparatively blunt as compared with

CR.ANICHI.S

fu/ofa i

er-oou/o c o.

FIG. 23. Cranichis hieroglyphica. 1, plant (X 1A); 2, flower, spread open

(X 10); 3, flower, side view (X 6); 4, lip and column, side view (X 10); 5, lip,

spread out (X 10). Drawn by G. W. Dillon.

83

84 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

the narrowly acuminate floral segments of C. Wageneri. Although

the petals of both species are ciliate, those of C. hieroglyphica are

obtuse while those of C. Wageneri are long-acuminate. The shape

of the lip and the pattern of the venation are different in the species.

The lip of C. Wageneri is narrowly ovate to subcordate and acuminate.

The stripe design is composed of three parallel green or brownish

stripes with the lateral stripes producing retrorse secondary stripes.

The lip of C. hieroglyphica is subquadrate-ovate and obtuse. The

stripe design, from which the name is derived, is a peculiar pattern.

The design of green stripes is composed of a short central stripe with

additional subhorizontal stripes, one on each side, which converge

toward the middle, and has a deeply U-shaped stripe on each side

near the base. The stripes are somewhat thickened.

Chiquimula: Upper slopes of Montana Tajuran, in vicinity of

El Barriol, Steyermark 30816. — Guatemala: Volcan de Pacaya, above

Las Calderas, Standley 58432.

Cranichis mexicana (A. Rich. & Gal.) Schltr. Beih. Bot. Cen-

tralbl. 36, Abt. 2: 430. 1918. Ocampoa mexicana A. Rich. & Gal.

Ann. Sci. Nat. se>. 3, 3: 31. 1845.

In loamy sands and calcareous soils on slopes of oak-pine forests,

up to 2,150 meters alt. Uncommon in Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant rather stout, glabrous below, densely glandular-pubescent above, 2.9-

7 dm. tall. Leaves basal, with one or more reduced leaves above the base, with

broadly winged petioles; lamina oblong-elliptic to broadly oblanceolate, acute,

tapering into the petiole at the base, 9-21 cm. long (including petiole), 2.5-5 cm.

wide. Raceme densely flowered, compact, cylindrical, 7-19 cm. long, 2-2.5 cm.

in diameter. Bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, about 10 mm. long. Flowers

white or pale green. Sepals glandular-pubescent on the outer surface. Dorsal

sepal ovate-lanceolate, subobtuse, slightly concave, 5-6 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide.

Lateral sepals obliquely triangular-lanceolate, obtuse or subacute, extended at

the base on the posterior margin into a semiorbicular auricle, 6-7.5 mm. long,

3-4 mm. wide at the base. Petals linear, broadly rounded or obtuse at the apex,

about 5 mm. long and 1 mm. wide. Lip with an S- or C-shaped claw, in natural

position deeply concave, constricted about the middle and arcuate-recurved above

the middle, the margins upturned, when spread out ovate-oval or oval, broadly

rounded and minutely cucullate at the apex, 5-6 mm. long, about 4 mm. wide;

disk with several green lines. Column short, with 2 broad wings on the anterior

margin, 3-4 mm. long.

Cranichis mexicana is easily distinguished from the other species

of Cranichis found in Guatemala by the S- or C-shaped claw of the

lip.

Chimaltenango: Tecpam, Johnston 1402. Barranco de La Sierra,

southeast of Patzum, Standley 61590.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 85

Cranichis muscosa Sw. Prodr. 120. 1788. Figure 22.

Moist rocks in streams and on banks in wet mountain forests,

up to 1,300 meters alt. Widespread in southern Florida, Mexico,

Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Bahama Islands, the West Indies,

Trinidad and Venezuela.

Plant scapose, 9-44 cm. tall. Roots fleshy, coarsely fibrous, fasciculate.

Scape slender, tinged with madder-purple. Leaves four to six, radical, petioled,

reduced above to sheathing ovate to lanceolate leaf-like bracts; blade subcordate,

broadly ovate, elliptic or oblong, obtuse to acute, 2.5-9.5 cm. long, 1.5-4 cm.

wide; petiole winged, 1-4 cm. long. Raceme few- to many-flowered, 1.5-13 cm.

long, 1.5-2.3 cm. in diameter. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, acute to acuminate,

3-5 mm. long. Flowers white. Sepals ovate to oblong-elliptic, abruptly acute to

obtuse, 2-3 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide. Petals linear-oblong to oblong-spatulate,

obtuse, 2-3 mm. long, 0.5-1 mm. wide. Lip white, spotted with green, erect,

sessile, suborbicular or oblong-quadrate, concave, rarely mucronate, with entire

undulate margins, tuberculose or slightly crested along the three median veins

of the disk, 2-3 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide. Column slightly winged, about 1 mm.

long. Capsule essentially sessile, 7-10 mm. long, ovoid.

The foliaceous bracts of the scape easily distinguish this species

from all other species of Cranichis found in Guatemala.

Suchitepequez : Southwestern slopes of Volcan Zunil, in vicinity

of Finca Montecristo, southeast of Santa Maria de Jesus, Steyermark

35224.

Cranichis Schaffneri Reichb. f. Bonpl. 3: 238. 1855.

In oak-pine woods, in leaf mold and on trees in oak forests, on

damp banks and in pockets of rocks in the open, up to 2,700 meters

alt. Rare in Guatemala, widespread in Mexico.

Plant glabrous below, glandular-pubescent above, erect or suberect, 0.9-4 dm.

tall. Leaves basal, sessile or on a very short petiole; lamina ovate to narrowly

elliptic, broadly rounded to acute, 3-9.5 cm. long, 1.5-4 cm. wide; petiole up to

3 cm. long. Raceme lax, few-flowered, 3-14 cm. long, 1.5-2 cm. in diameter.

Bracts ovate to lanceolate, acuminate, 3-5 mm. long. Flowers ascending, greenish

white, with slender pedicellate ovaries that are about 8 mm. long. Sepals glandular-

pubescent on the outer surface. Dorsal sepal elliptic to lanceolate, obtuse or acute,

3.5-6 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-elliptic, concave,

obtuse to subacute, occasionally somewhat united at the base, 3.2-5.5 mm. long,

2-3 mm. wide. Petals linear to linear-oblanceolate, obtuse or broadly rounded

at the apex, somewhat falcate, 3-6 mm. long, 0.5-1.2 mm. wide. Lip attached to

about the middle of the column, cordate-triangular or obscurely 3-lobed, shallowly

concave, obtuse or acute, with a stout, short claw, 2.3-4 mm. long, 1.5-3.5 mm.

wide. Column short, 1.5-2 mm. long. Capsule ovoid, about 8 mm. long.

In Guatemala this species is the only Cranichis whose lip is at-

tached near the middle of the column.

86 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Huehuetenango: San Juan Atitlan, Skutch 1173. — Jalapa: Moun-

tains about Chahuite, northwest of Jalapa, Standley 77483 (in part).

Cranichis sylvatica A. Rich. & Gal. Ann. Sci. Nat. se"r. 3, 3:

30. 1845. C. pseudociliata Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 12: 202. 1913

(type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, auf Felsen im Walde bei

Secanquim, January, 1905, W. R. Maxon & R. Hay 3208; December,

1904, G. P. Goll 205).

In wet soil and on rocks in shady or open forests, up to 2,500

meters alt. Rare in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.

Plant slender, glabrous below, slightly pubescent above, 0.8-5 dm. tall. Leaves

basal, with slender, winged petioles; lamina orbicular-ovate to oval-elliptic,

abruptly acute or subapiculate, subtruncate or tapering at the base, somewhat

oblique and variegated, 2-12 cm. long, 1.2-4.8 cm. wide; petiole 0.5-7 cm. long.

Raceme of few or many flowers close together, 1.5-11 cm. long, 1.5-2.5 cm. in

diameter. Bracts ovate-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, 5-8 mm.

long. Flowers white marked with green, with slender pedicellate ovaries that are

6-10 mm. long. Dorsal sepal elliptic, subobtuse to acute, 3.4-5 mm. long, about

1.5 mm. wide. Lateral sepals somewhat obliquely ovate, obtuse or subacute,

3-5 mm. long, 2-3.2 mm. wide. Petals elliptic-oblong to narrowly oblanceolate,

broadly rounded to subacute at the apex, slightly falcate, occasionally obscurely

ciliate on the margins, 3-4.5 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide. Lip in natural position

cymbiform or deeply concave, arched, spreading, with the margins revolute above

the middle; when spread out subquadrate, broadest above the middle, subtruncate

to subacute at the apex, 3-5 mm. long, about 3 mm. wide; disk with three parallel

dotted green lines, with the center line disappearing near the center of the lip.

Column white, thickened above and occasionally obscurely 3-lobed, 2-2.5 mm.

long.

Cranichis sylvatica differs from nearly allied species by its cymbi-

form lip, which is subquadrate when spread out.

Alta Verapaz: Vicinity of Secanquim, W. R. Maxon & R. Hay

3208; 3119. Trail to Secanquim, G. P. Goll 205.— Chiquimula:

Montana Castilla, vicinity of Montana Cebollas, along Rio Lucia,

3 miles southeast of Quezaltepeque, Steyermark 31271. At base of

trees, summit of cloud forest, Montana Nonoja, 3-5 miles east of

Camotan, Steyermark 31701. — Zacapa: Bordering Quebrada Ale-

jandria, summit of Sierra de las Minas, vicinity of Finca Alejandria,

Steyermark 29849.

Cranichis Wageneri Reichb. f. Linnaea 41: 19. 1876. C. sub-

cordata Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 2: 130. 1906 (type: Guatemala,

auf einem alten Baumstamme bei Pansamala, January, 1887,

H. von Turckheim 1113).

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 87

In wet woods in leaf mold or on rotten stumps, rarely upon trees,

in moist thickets and on rocky banks, up to 1,650 meters alt. Un-

common in the West Indies, Mexico, through Central America to

Colombia and Venezuela.

Plant glabrous below, sparingly pubescent above, 1.2-3 dm. tall. Leaves

basal, subsessile or with a short petiole; lamina ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute

or acuminate, broadly rounded to subcordate at the base, somewhat oblique,

2.5-11.5 cm. long, 2-6.2 cm. wide; petiole 0.8-5.5 cm. long. Bracts lanceolate,

acuminate, 5-6 mm. long. Flowers greenish white or reddish brown, with pedicel-

late ovaries that are 6-8 mm. long. Sepals ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate,

acuminate, 4-4.2 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide. Petals linear-lanceolate, acuminate,

ciliate along the margins, somewhat falcate, 3-4 mm. long, about 0.5 mm. wide.

Lip in natural position arched, deeply concave-channeled, incurved at the apex,

subsessile or with a short, broad claw, when spread out subcordate to narrowly

ovate, acute or acuminate, rarely narrowly obtuse, 3-4 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm.

wide near the base; disk with three parallel green or brownish stripes, the mid-

stripe disappearing near the center of the lip, the lateral stripes producing several

retrorse secondary stripes. Column about 1.5 mm. long.

Cranichis Wageneri is distinctive in that its floral segments are

narrowly acuminate and the narrowly lanceolate petals are copiously

ciliate. The stripe design on the disk of the lip is also helpful in

determining the species.

Chiquimula: Volcan Ipala, near Amatillo, Steyermark 30497.

. 13. PONTHIEVA R. Br.

Terrestrial, scapose herbs with fleshy or somewhat fibrous roots and basal

leaves that are subsessile or long-petioled, glabrous to pilose. Inflorescence a

lax or subdense raceme of small flowers. Dorsal sepal and petals often adherent

at the apex. Sepals free or the lateral ones slightly united at the base, spreading.

Petals attached above the middle of the column, very oblique, spreading. Lip

on the upper side of the flower, adnate to the column by its unguiculate base,

abruptly dilated and ascending. Column short; anther one, two-celled; pollinia

four, powdery-granular. Capsule suberect, ovoid or ellipsoid.

In this genus there are about twenty-five species that are found

in the warmer regions of the Western Hemisphere from southeastern

Virginia to Chile, including Mexico, Central America and the West

Indies.

1. Entire plant (including leaves) densely glandular- villose P. maculala.

1. Entire plant not as above; leaves glabrous or nearly so.

2. Lip auriculate or auriculate-cordate at the base.

3. Petals attached to the apex of the column, transversely falciform.

P. Tuerckheimii.

3. Petals attached below the middle of the column, obliquely ovate-triangular.

P. parvula.

88 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

2. Lip not auriculate or cordate at the base.

4. Lip triangular or suborbicular, terminated by an obtuse or acute apicule.

5. Lip more than 4 mm. long, ecallose at the base of the disk; petals

mostly ciliate along the margins P. racemosa.

5. Lip less than 3.8 mm. long, with a pair of small calli at the base of the

disk; petals not ciliate along the margins P. Ephippium.

4. Lip elliptic or conspicuously 3-lobed above the middle.

6. Lip about 6 mm. long P. pulchella.

6. Lip 4 mm. or less long P. triloba.

Ponthieva Ephippium Reichb. f. Linnaea 28: 382. 1856.

In very damp and shaded soil and in grass under pine trees, up

to 2,500 meters alt. Uncommon in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras

and Panama.

Plant slender, glabrous below, glandular-pubescent above, 1-3.7 dm. tall.

Leaves basal, with short, winged petioles, ovate to oblong-obovate, acute, 3-12

cm. long (including petiole), 2-3.8 cm. wide. Raceme of few or many scattered

flowers, 4-15 cm. long. Bracts elliptic, acute or apiculate, about 1 cm. long.

Flowers white, with slender pedicellate ovaries that are 1-2 cm. long. Dorsal

sepal elliptic-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 6.5-7 mm. long,

about 2 mm. wide. Lateral sepals broadly ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse,

somewhat oblique, glandular-pubescent on the outer surface, 6.2-7 mm. long,

3.5-4 mm. wide. Petals semihastate-triangular, obtuse, with a short claw, sinuate

along the outer margin, 4-6 mm. long (including the claw), about 2.5 mm. wide

at the base. Lip with a short, laterally winged claw, triangular to suborbicular-

quadrate, truncate or subtruncate and obtusely apiculate at the apex, maculate,

entire lip 3-3.5 mm. long, 2.5-3 mm. wide; apicule about 1 mm. long; disk with

2 small calli at the base. Column short, about 2.5 mm. long. Capsule obliquely

fusiform, about 12 mm. long.

Ponthieva Ephippium is closely allied to P. triloba, from which

it is distinguished by its more orbiculate lip and by the prominently

hastate base of the petals.

Santa Rosa: Cenaguilla, Heyde & Lux 3865.

Ponthieva maculata Lindl. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 15: 385.

1845.

Epiphytic on trees or occasionally terrestrial in damp forests,

up to 2,500 meters alt. Widespread but not common in Mexico,

Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador.

Plant glandular- villose throughout, up to 3 dm. tall; roots thick, fleshy,

fasciculate. Leaves basal, sessile or petiolate, ovate-lanceolate to oblanceolate

or elliptic-lanceolate, acute to shortly acuminate, 7-28 cm. long, 1.5-5 cm. wide.

Raceme laxly flowered, up to 12 cm. long. Floral bracts elliptic-lanceolate, acumi-

nate, concave, 1-2 cm. long. Flowers large for the genus, variously colored.

Sepals and petals bronze-colored. Sepals glandular on the inner surface; dorsal

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 89

sepal elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, acute, 9-13 mm. long, about 5 mm. wide;

lateral sepals broadly elliptic to suborbicular, obtuse to broadly rounded at the

apex, somewhat oblique, 9-12 mm. long, 5-8 mm. wide. Petals with a short

claw, obliquely ovate-elliptic, obtuse, 7-9 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide at base of

lamina. Lip small, fleshy, subsessile, scoop-shaped, dark red or greenish red

marked with white or cream-color, 2-4 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide when spread

open, when spread out subquadrate to obovate and apiculate, with a sulcate

thickening at the base. Column clavate, about 4 mm. long. Capsule ellipsoid,

1.5-2 cm. long.

This species may be distinguished from other species of Ponthieva

found in Guatemala by its densely glandular-pubescent leaves, stem

and inflorescence. No specimen has been seen from Guatemala.

However, since its area of distribution includes Guatemala, it is

included here. There is no doubt that with further exploration it

will be found to occur in our region.

Ponthieva parvula Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 394. 1912

(type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, in rupium fissuris prope

Coban, December, 1879, H. von Turckheim 484).

In rock crevices, up to 1,600 meters alt. Guatemala.

Plant small, erect, glabrous below, sparsely glandular-puberulent above,

7.5-9 cm. tall. Leaves several, basal, with a short petiole; lamina elliptic, obtuse

to subacute, rounded at the base, 1.6-1.9 cm. long, 0.5-0.7 cm. wide; petiole about

7 mm. long. Raceme few-flowered. Bracts ovate, acuminate. Flowers small,

erect-spreading or suberect. Sepals glabrous, about 2.75 mm. long; dorsal sepal

oblong-elliptic, obtuse; lateral sepals obliquely ovate-triangular, obtuse. Petals

with a short subduplicate claw, very oblique at the base, ovate-triangular, obtuse

or broadly rounded at the apex, conspicuously dilated at the base on the outer

margin, about 2.7 mm. long (including the claw). Lip with a short linear claw,

suborbicular, with a small obtuse, recurved lobe at the apex, auriculate-cordate

at the base, concave at the base of the disk, lateral margins upturned or involute,

about as long as the petals, about 2.25 mm. wide at the middle. Column short.

Capsule small, clavate, glandular-puberulent, about 4 mm. long.

This species is recognizable by its small flowers and the conspic-

uous auriculate-cordate base of the lip.

Ponthieva parvula is represented only by the type collection from

Guatemala.

Ponthieva pulchella Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 196. 1918

(type: Guatemala, ad rupes, Sta. Eulalia, Sierra Madre, September,

1876, Bernoulli & Cario 667).

Terrestrial at high elevations, up to 3,700 meters alt. Apparently

endemic to Guatemala.

FIG. 24. Ponthieva racemosa. Plant (X 1). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

90

FIG. 25. Ponthieva racemosa. Plant (X M)J 1» dorsal sepal (X 2); 2, flower,

partly spread out (X 2); 3, lateral sepal (X 2); 4, lip, spread open (X 2); 5, column

(a, anther; s, stigma), side view (X 8). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

91

92 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Plant erect, glabrous below, sparsely glandular-pilose above, 1.2-2.7 dm. tall.

Leaves basal, spreading, ovate to elliptic, obtuse to shortly acuminate, tapering

or rounded at the base, up to 10 cm. long and 2.5 cm. wide. Raceme lax, 6-10-

flowered, up to 7 cm. long. Floral bracts elliptic, acute to acuminate, about 1 cm.

long. Flowers white or yellowish green. Sepals 6-9 mm. long, up to 4.5 mm. wide,

the outer surface glandular-pilose; dorsal sepal lanceolate-ligulate to elliptic,

obtuse to subacute; lateral sepals obliquely rhomboid-ovate, obtuse. Petals with

a narrow linear claw, obliquely triangular-ovate, obtuse, with the outer margin

slightly undulate and conspicuously dilated at the base, 6-7 mm. long, 3 mm. wide

at the widest point. Lip with a narrow linear claw, suberect, broadly elliptic, more

or less 3-lobed at the apex, the lateral margins upcurved, concave at the base of

the disk, 6 mm. long (including the claw), 2.75-4 mm. wide; mid-lobe about

1.5 mm. long and wide, obtuse, thick. Capsule glandular-pilose, about 1 cm. long.

Ponthieva pulchella is very closely allied to P. Mandonii Reichb. f.,

a South American species. It is probable that when additional

material of this species is available for study this concept will be

reduced to P. Mandonii.

Huehuetenango: Between Tojquia and Caxin bluff, summit of

Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 50191. Cerro Canana,

between Nucapuxlac and Canana, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes,

Steyermark 49069.

Ponthieva racemosa (Walt.) Mohr, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb.

6: 460. 1901. Arethusa racemosa Walt. Fl. Carol. 222. 1788. Pon-

thieva guatemalensis Reichb. f. Beitr. Orch. Centr.-Am. 63. 1866

(type: Guatemala, in einer Barranca bei Guatemala, January 16,

1857, Wendland 243). Figures 24, 25.

In shady wet barrancas, loamy slopes in forests, on damp cliffs

and along stream banks in woods, up to 2,000 meters alt. A wide-

spread and common species from Virginia to Florida, west to

Louisiana and Texas throughout the West Indies, Mexico and Central

America to northern South America.

Plant erect, scapose, 1.3-6 dm. tall; scape and inflorescence glandular-pubes-

cent, reddish brown, purplish or purplish-green. Leaves mostly in a basal rosette,

oblong-elliptic, obovate or oblanceolate, obtuse or subacute, subsessile or long-

petioled, glaucous on the lower surface, 2-17 cm. long (including the wide petiole),

1-5.5 cm. wide. Raceme lax, 5-24 cm. long, 1.5-5 cm. in diameter. Floral bracts

ovate-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, 5-9 mm. long. Flowers white-

green, marked with green, with rather stout ascending pedicellate ovaries that are

1-2.2 cm. long. Dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse to sub-

acute, 3.8-7.5 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide. Lateral sepals broadly ovate to ovate-

oblong, oblique, obtuse to acute, 4.3-8 mm. long, 2.5-4 mm. wide. Petals with

a slender claw, obliquely triangular to semicordate, incurved, dilated on the outer

margin at the base, constricted near the apex, obtuse to subacute, mostly ciliate,

4-8 mm. long, 1.5-5 mm. wide at the base. Lip with a short claw, suborbicular,

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 93

concave-saccate with the lateral margins upturned, terminated by a linear obtuse

to acute apical lobe, with an obscure linear median crest on the disk, 4-7.5 mm.

long, 2.5-6 mm. wide (when spread out); claw 1-2 mm. long. Column 2-4.5 cm.

long, curved. Capsule ellipsoid, 8-13 mm. long, about 5 mm. in diameter.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Turckheim 1786, 14. On limestone rocks,

between Coban and Finca Chimote, near Rubeltein, Steyermark

44163. — Amatitlan: Frajanes, Heyde & Lux 6249. Pacaya, J. R.

Johnston 1398; 1574. — Chimaltenango : Along road from Chimalte-

nango to San Martin Jilotepeque, Standley 57920. — Chiquimula:

Rio Grande (Rio Concepcion), on Socorro Mountain, above Finca

San Jose", southeast of Concepcion de las Minas, Steyermark 31131.—

Guatemala: Along road between Guatemala and San Raimundo,

Standley 63009. Barranca de las Vacas, near Guatemala, Standley

59546. — Jalapa: Mountains about Chahuite, northwest of Jalapa,

Standley 77483 (in part). — Santa Rosa: Heyde & Lux 6255.

Ponthieva triloba Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 9: 25. 1910 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, in rupium fissuris prope Xucanel,

December, 1877, H. von Turckheim 14).

On wooded slopes and mossy rocks on brushy hillsides, up to

2,500 meters alt. This species has been found only in Guatemala,

where it is rare.

Plant glabrous below, glandular-pubescent above, slender, ascending, 1.2-

3.7 dm. tall. Leaves basal, sessile or essentially so, elliptic or elliptic-oblanceolate,

subobtuse or acute, 3-12 cm. long, 1.5-3.2 cm. wide. Raceme asymmetrical,

few-flowered, 3.5-8 cm. long. Bracts tubular, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate,

5-8 cm. long. Flowers white, with slender pedicellate ovaries that are 1-1.5 cm.

long. Sepals sparingly pilose on the outer surface and margins; dorsal sepal

elliptic, narrowly obtuse or subacute, 4.5-6 mm. long, 2.2-2.5 mm. wide; lateral

sepals obliquely ovate or broadly ovate-lanceolate, subobtuse or acute, 4.5-6.5

mm. long, 2.8-3.5 mm. wide. Petals with a short claw, semideltoid or obliquely

triangular-lanceolate, asymmetrically obtuse or acute, 5-6.5 mm. long (including

the claw), about 2.2 mm. wide across the base. Lip conspicuously 3-lobed above

the middle, the entire lip 2.5-4 mm. long, 3.2-4 mm. wide across the lateral lobes;

mid-lobe linear, obtuse or acute, 1-1.5 mm. long; lateral lobes spreading, sub-

quadrate, with a truncate apex. Column about 3 mm. long. Capsule ovoid,

prominently ribbed, about 12 mm. long.

Alta Verapaz: Felsspalten, bei Coban, Turckheim 2070. — Hue-

huetenango: Between Canquintic and Subajasun, Sierra de los

Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 51784. On bank, trail between Demo-

cracia and Santa Ana Huista, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyer-

mark 51290.— Quich^ : Nebaj, A. F. Skutch 1898. Near Chichi-

castenango, F. W. Hunnewell 14668. Jose Ignacio Aguilar 1512.

94 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Ponthieva Tuerckheimii Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 3: 47. 1906

(type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, near Pansamala, July, 1886,

H. von Turckheim 966). Figure 26.

In forests in leaf mold, up to 2,500 meters alt. Rather rare in

Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Plant slender or stout, 2.1-6 dm. tall; scape glandular-pilose. Leaves basal,

glabrous, with slender scarious- winged petioles; lamina ovate to elliptic-lanceolate,

acute or acuminate, oblique, subtruncate or rounded at the base, margins undulate,

3-11.3 cm. long, 1.3-4 cm. wide; petioles 1-10 cm. long. Raceme lax, elongate,

many-flowered, 5-25 cm. long. Bracts tubular, elliptic-lanceolate, acute or

acuminate, 7-10 mm. long. Flowers rather large, white and brown, with slender

pedicellate ovaries that are 1.5-2 cm. long. Sepals sparingly glandular-pilose on

the outer surface and margins; dorsal sepal elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, 6-8.2

mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals often united as much as 3 mm. at the

base, very oblique, cymbiform or semiorbicular in outline, beak-like at the con-

stricted apex, involute along the dorsal margins, 6-10 mm. long, about 6 mm. wide.

Petals attached near the apex of the column, transversely falciform, obtuse at

the two ends, about 3.5 mm. long (including the claw), 4-5.5 mm. wide. Lip

small, with a short thick claw, S-shaped, liguliform, obtuse to subacute, with two

lateral falcate-ensiform auricles at the base, concave at the base, conspicuously

constricted and deflexed above the middle, 3.5-4 mm. long (including the deflexed

apex). Column slender, arcuate, about 4 mm. long. Capsule slender, densely

glandular-pilose, about 1.5 cm. long.

According to Harry Johnson, the Indians have the idea that the

seeds of this species are carried up into trees where they become

different plants with yellow flowers.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Turckheim 2338B. Road Chama to Coban,

Harry Johnson 492. — Huehuetenango: Cerro Huitz, between Miman-

huitz and Yulhuitz, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 48600.

14. SPIRANTHES L. C. Rich.

Small or occasionally large terrestrial or epiphytic herbs with fleshy or tuberous

roots that are usually fasciculate. Stem usually concealed by leaf-sheaths or

bracts. Leaves basal, cauline or both, often absent at time of flowering. Sepals

free; dorsal sepal usually erect and forming a galea with the petals; lateral sepals

erect or spreading, affixed to the summit of the ovary, more or less decurrent on

the ovary to form a free or usually adnate mentum. Petals narrow and usually

adherent to the dorsal sepal. Lip sessile or clawed, plain, concave or gibbous,

simple or lobed, adherent to the column in most of the species, ecallose or callose,

FIG. 26. Ponthieva Tuerckheimii. Plant (X 1); 1, flower, front-side view

( X 4) ; 2, dorsal sepal (X 4) ; 3, lip, front-side view (about X 10) ; 4, lip, column,

and petals (showing their attachment to the column; about X 7). Drawn by

Blanche Ames.

A.

3 vr

\

P0NTHIEVA

95

96 FIELDI ANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

in some species bicaudate at the base. Column terete; clinandrium often mem-

branaceous and conspicuous, often continued into the rostellum; rostellum various,

inconspicuous to very pronounced, truncate to lobed or aristate; anther dorsal,

erect, sessile or stipitate; pollinia two, powdery or granular, usually attenuated

at one end.

Spiranthes is a highly technical genus comprising a complex and

variable assemblage of plants. A large number of specific segregates

have been proposed as well as a goodly number of generic segregates.

Formerly, the Spiranthinae have been divided into four major

genera — Spiranthes, Pelexia, Sarcoglottis and Stenorrhynchus. In this

work, all have been brought together under the first genus. The

primary reason for doing this was to avoid the arbitrary relegation

of a number of the species to one genus or another. Also, in the

making of the key to the species no attempt has been made to

group the species under the above names (with a subgeneric status)

since it was necessary to trace several species through more than

one branch of the key. This was compulsory to avoid confusion and

to facilitate the identification of the species.

Although Spiranthes is not the largest genus in Guatemala it is

by far one of the most difficult to interpret. In its distribution it

is world-wide, being circumboreal and represented from the Arctic

to near the Antarctic regions. As considered here, there are approxi-

mately 150 species in the genus.

1. Lateral sepals free or essentially so, obliquely inserted or shortly decurrent

on the ovary, at most forming a very shallow sac; column-foot short or indis-

tinct; flowers usually small.

2. Lip marked in the middle on the lower half with cinnabar-red.

3. Flowers more than 1.5 cm. long.

4. Sepals and petals obtuse to acute; plant aphyllous, from a solitary

tuber, developing tuber-bearing stolons S. stolonifera.

4. Sepals and petals long-acuminate; plant leafy below, from a cluster of

fusiform-thickened roots, not developing tuber-bearing stolons.

S. hyemalis.

3. Flowers less than 1 cm. long.

5. Lip deeply constricted just above the middle to form a suborbicular

lobule, 6 mm. or more long S. parasitica.

5. Lip entire or obscurely constricted near the apex, less than 6 mm. long.

6. Lip ovate to ovate-elliptic, with an inconspicuous auricle on each

side at the base, 4-5 mm. long S. rubrocalosa.

6. Lip oblong or oblong-elliptic, rounded at the base, 3.3-4 mm. long.

S. minutiflora.

2. Lip not marked in the middle on the lower half with cinnabar-red.

7. Lamina of lip not conspicuously lobed or constricted above, sometimes

from a rather broad linear-sagittate base.

8. Lip elliptic-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, mostly acuminate; sepals

commonly very thin and tenuous S. polyantha.

8. Lip not as above, at most subacute; sepals not noticeably thin and

tenuous.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 97

9. Lip from a broad base, ovate to triangular-ovate or ovate-lanceolate.

10. Stem concealed by whitish scarious tubular sheaths; spike densely

flowered, pyramidal; floral bracts reddish brown. .S. pyramidalis.

10. Stem provided with greenish tubular sheaths ; spike laxly or densely

flowered, not pyramidal; floral bracts not reddish brown.

11. Basal callosities of lip slender, acuminate; leaves (when present)

basal, with a slender petiole, elliptic S. costaricensis.

11. Basal callosities of lip stout, fleshy; leaves (when present) basal

or scattered on the stem, filiform to narrowly lanceolate.

12. Rachis and ovary densely pubescent with reddish hairs;

leaves usually present at time of flowering, narrowly lanceo-

late S. vernalis.

12. Rachis and ovary nearly glabrous; leaves rarely present at

time of flowering, filiform S. tortilis.

9. Lip oblong to oblanceolate or slightly constricted above or from a

narrow base and dilated above into an ovate lamina.

13. Lip oblong to oblanceolate; leaves absent at time of flowering.

S. Llaveana.

13. Lip ovate above; leaves present at time of flowering . . S. seminuda.

7. Lamina of lip conspicuously constricted or dilated above, more or less

panduriform.

14. Lip from a narrow base or broadest above the middle.

15. Lip linear-oblong below, abruptly dilated at the apex to form a

suborbicular plate; petals filiform-spatulate S. amabilis.

15. Lip constricted above or about the middle, oblanceolate in outline;

petals linear-oblanceolate S. Llaveana var. violacea.

14. Lip from a broad base, usually but not always broader at the base than

above the middle.

16. Lamina of lip orbicular, constricted above to form a small lobule at

the apex; flowers less than 3.5 mm. long S. guyanensis.

16. Lamina of lip not orbicular; flowers more than 3.5 mm. long.

17. Basal callosities of lip rather prominent, directed backwards.

18. Petals linear; callosities of lip slender, acuminate; plants

; terrestrial S. costaricensis.

, 18. Petals linear-oblanceolate; callosities of lip stout, more or less

incurved; plants usually epiphytic.

19. Flowers not cleistogamous; inflorescence about as long as the

leaves, not secund S. prasophylla.

19. Flowers cleistogamous; inflorescence much exceeding the

leaves, secund S. prasophylla var. cleistogama.

17. Basal callosities of lip inconspicuous, mammillate, more or less

submarginal and erect.

20. Lip with a conspicuously dilated lobule at the apex. . . .S. elata.

20. Lip without a conspicuously dilated lobule at the apex.

S. cranichoides.

1. Lateral sepals long-decurrent on the ovary; column-foot apparently elongate

and subequal to the length of the column or longer; flowers usually but not

always large.

21. Lateral sepals connate at the base to form a short distinct spur with a

free acute mentum at the base, noticeably spreading and divergent from

the other floral segments.

22. Lip less than 1.3 cm. long S. adnata.

22. Lip more than 1.3 cm. long.

23. Sepals and petals obtuse to subacute; lateral sepals 2.5 mm. or more

wide, conspicuously arcuate-recurved; lip with an oblong flat apicu-

late auricle on each side at the base . . . . S. Funckiana.

98 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

23. Sepals and petals acuminate; lateral sepals less than 2.5 mm. wide,

projecting downward and outward; lip with a thickened mammillate

semiterete callus on each side at the base . . S. Funckiana var. olivacea.

21. Lateral sepals not connate into a distinct free spur, though sometimes

with a blunt saccate base adnate to the ovary, not noticeably spreading and

divergent from the other floral segments.

24. Lateral sepals free almost to the base, forming a distinct short mentum;

rostellum a long awl-shaped rigid bristle-like point.

25. Flowers orange-colored to orange-red or orange-red and yellow; leaves

more or less scattered on the stem, usually present at time of flowering.

26. Floral bracts broad, foliaceous, densely pubescent, more than 2.7 cm.

long; sepals and lip obtuse to subacute; flowers orange-colored to

orange-red S. aurantiaca.

26. Floral bracts narrow, not foliaceous, sparingly pubescent, less than

2.7 cm. long; sepals and lip acute to acuminate; flowers orange-red

and yellow S. cinnabarina.

25. Flowers white to purple-red; leaves in a basal rosette, sometimes

absent at time of flowering.

27. Flowers less than 8 mm. long S. Tonduzii.

27. Flowers more than 8 mm. long.

28. Floral bracts scarious, conspicuously striate; inflorescence slender,

less than 4 cm. in diameter.

29. Floral bracts brown-striate; petals more than 1 cm. long.

S. eriophora.

29. Floral bracts purplish-striate; petals less than 1 cm. long.

S. obtecta.

28. Floral bracts red or spotted with red; inflorescence stout, 4 cm. or

more in diameter.

30. Lip acute to obtuse-apiculate; floral bracts exceeding the flowers.

S. speciosa.

30. Lip acuminate; floral bracts much shorter than the flowers.

S. orchioides.

24. Lateral sepals not forming a distinct mentum, at most produced at the

base into a slight swelling; rostellum either bifid or extended into a blunt

point.

31. Lip marked in the middle on the lower half with cinnabar-red; flowers

small.

32. Lip deeply constricted just above the middle to form a suborbicular

lobule, 6 mm. or more long S. parasitica.

32. Lip entire or obscurely constricted near the apex, less than 6 mm.

long.

33. Lip ovate to ovate-elliptic, with an inconspicuous auricle on each

side at the base, 4-5 mm. long S. rubrocalosa.

33. Lip oblong or oblong-elliptic, rounded at the base, 3.3-4 mm.

long S. minutiflora.

31. Lip not marked in the middle on the lower half with cinnabar-red;

flowers usually large.

34. Sepals 1.5 cm. or more long; lip 2 cm. or more long.

35. Flowers fewer than ten or if more with orbiculate subsessile leaves

at the base of the stem; apical lobe of lip triangular-ovate.

36. Lip mostly much exceeding 2.5 cm. in length; leaves absent at

time of flowering, when present elliptic and petiolate from the

base of the plant S. pauciflora.

36. Lip mostly less than 2.5 cm. long; leaves usually present at

time of flowering, orbiculate, subsessile, forming a rosette at

base of stem . . . . S. rosulata.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 99

35. Flowers more than ten; leaves always elliptic and petiolate from

base of stem; apical lobe of lip orbicular to broadly ovate or cordate.

37. Apical lobe of lip orbicular, more than 1.2 cm. wide. .S. cerina.

37. Apical lobe of lip broadly ovate to cordate, less than 1.2 cm.

wide.

38. Lip below the constriction oblanceolate S, acaulis.

38. Lip below the constriction lanceolate . S. acaulis var. assurgens.

34. Sepals less than 1.5 cm. long; lip less than 2 cm. long.

39. Leaves scattered on the stem, linear-lanceolate, present at time

of flowering; lip suborbicular to broadly flabellate. .S. sarcoglossa.

39. Leaves in a basal rosette, elliptic, often absent at time of flowering;

lip not suborbicular or flabellate.

40. Plant small, rarely up to 15 cm. tall; flowers usually fewer

than ten; petals narrowly linear, acute to subacuminate.

41. Lip scarcely if at all constricted near the apex.S. trilineata.

41. Lip conspicuously constricted near the apex to form a sub-

orbicular lobule at the apex S. trilineata var. thelymitra.

40. Plant large, rarely below 25 cm. tall when mature; flowers

usually many more than ten; petals oblanceolate, obtuse to

subacute.

42. Inflorescence densely flowered; stem concealed by imbricating

scarious-brown spathaceous sheaths; floral bracts large, con-

spicuous S. hemichrea.

42. Inflorescence laxly flowered; stem provided with reddish-

tinged sheaths; floral bracts usually small and inconspicuous.

S. Schaffneri.

Spiranthes acaulis (J. E. Sm.) Cogn. in Mart. Fl. Bras. 3, pt.

4: 221. 1895. Neottia acaulis J. E. Sm. Exot. Bot. 2: 91, t. 105.

1806. Sarcoglottis picta (Anders.) Klotz. Allgem. Gartenz. 10: 106.

1842.

In dense jungles, open pine forests or open places in moist soil,

up to 950 meters alt. Widespread and rather common in the West

Indies, Mexico and Central America; also Colombia and Trinidad.

Plant rather stout, glabrous below, pubescent above with articulated hairs,

1.8-5.7 dm. tall; stem reddish or yellowish brown. Leaves basal, rosulate, with

short winged petioles, 5.5-37 cm. long (including the petiole); lamina elliptic-

oblong to oblanceolate, obtuse or acute, tapering at the base into the petiole, usually

silver-striped, 2.5-8 cm. wide. Spike loosely few- or many-flowered, 6-36 cm.

long, 3-9 cm. in diameter. Bracts ovate-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, acuminate,

concave, 1.7-4 cm. long. Flowers arcuate-recurved, white striped with green.

Sepals coarsely and sparingly pubescent on the outer surface; dorsal sepal oblong-

lanceolate, obtuse or subacute and recurved at the apex, concave below, 1.8-2.8

cm. long, 4-5 mm. wide; lateral sepals (free portion) linear, obtuse or acute, strongly

falcate and reflexed, 2-2.5 cm. long, 4-7 mm. wide. Petals linear-oblanceolate,

obtuse to subacute, sigmoid, gradually narrowed below the middle, 2-2.7 cm. long,

3-4 mm. wide. Lip longitudinally channeled below, constricted near the apex

and then expanded into an apical lobule and recurved at the apex, when spread

out oblanceolate to oblanceolate-spatulate, 2.3-4 cm. long, 8-11 mm. wide at the

widest point; lower portion below the constriction oblanceolate, sagittate, pubes-

100 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

cent below and with two slender-cuspidate incurved lateral callosities that are

2-4 mm. long; apical lobule cordate or broadly ovate, obtuse, broadly rounded or

emarginate at the apex, with the margins undulate and deflexed. Column 1-1.3

cm. long; rostellum shallowly emarginate.

Spiranthes acaulis is variable in the size of the flowers and in

the shape of the lip. This has resulted in numerous interpretations

of the various collections. As a result the synonymy of this species

comprises a formidable list.

Chiquimula: Upper slopes of Montana Tajuran, in vicinity of

El Barriol, Steyermark 30764. — El Progreso: Sierra de las Minas,

between Tulumajillo and Finca Montanita in foothills, Steyermark

43361.— Pete"n: San Clemente, Bartlett 12119.— Retalhuleu: Rio

Coyote, along road 4 km. west of Retalhuleu, Standley 87453. —

Santa Rosa: Hills east of Cuilapa, along the stream supplying the

city water, Standley 78160. — Verapaz, Klaboch.

Spiranthes acaulis (J. E. Sm.) Cogn. var. assurgens (Reichb.

f.) Correll, Lloydia 10: 209. 1947. Spiranthes assurgens Reichb. f.

Beitr. Orch. Centr.-Am. 66. 1866 (type: Guatemala, Oratorio, Jan. 5,

1857, Wendland). Spiranthes picta (Anders.) Lindl. var. assurgens

(Reichb. f.) Ames & Correll, Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harv. Univ. 10: 67.

1942.

Variety assurgens is represented only by the type collection. The only dis-

tinctive difference separating it from the typical form is the shape of the lip, which

is broad at the base and gradually narrowed above to the apical lobule. The

portion below the constriction is thus lanceolate instead of being oblanceolate

as in the typical form of the species. The apical lobule of the lip of variety as-

surgens is also sagittiform, while that of S. acaulis is cordate or broadly ovate.

Spiranthes adnata (Spreng.) Benth. ex Fawc. Flor. PI. Jam.

40. 1893. Satyrium adnatum Sw. Prodr. 118. 1788.

Terrestrial in damp forests, up to 1,000 meters alt. Mexico,

British Honduras and the West Indies; also Venezuela.

Plant slender, up to 6.5 dm. tall; roots large, fleshy, fasciculate. Scape glabrous

below, pubescent above, provided with several somewhat inflated tubular acumi-

nate sheaths. Leaves several, basal, with a long slender petiole, broadly elliptic

to elliptic-lanceolate, acute; lamina up to 12 cm. long and 5 cm. wide, slightly

oblique; petiole sulcate, about as long as the lamina. Spike pubescent, laxly

many-flowered, up to 20 cm. long. Floral bracts linear-lanceolate, long-acuminate,

about as long as or longer than the pubescent pedicellate ovary. Flowers erect-

spreading, about 1.5 cm. long from the apex of the dorsal sepal to the tip of the

spur. Sepals greenish, the free part 6-8.5 mm. long; dorsal sepal broadly elliptic,

obtuse, deeply concave, about 4 mm. wide; lateral sepals linear-oblanceolate,

acute, spreading, oblique, united at the base and produced into a spur, about

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 101

2 mm. wide above the middle. Petals white, narrowly oblanceolate, acute,

adherent to the dorsal sepal, 8-8.5 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide above the middle.

Lip white, linear-spatulate in outline, sagittate at the base, constricted near the

apex, up to 11.5 mm. long; below the constriction linear-spatulate, concave,

pubescent on the inner surface on the linear portion; above the constriction

semiorbicular to reniform, pleated on the margins, fleshy and strongly decurved

in natural position, 2-3 mm. long, 3-4.5 mm. wide; basal callosities fleshy, flattened,

about 2 mm. long. Spur adnate to the ovary almost to its apex, free for about

1 mm. Column clavate, about 6 mm. long. Capsule obliquely ellipsoid, 6-keeled,

about 1.5 cm. long.

No specimen has been seen from Guatemala. However, on the

basis of its occurrence in British Honduras and hence its probable

occurrence in Guatemala it is included here.

Spiranthes amabilis Ames, Sched. Orch. 2: 8. 1923 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Coban, May, 1907, H . von Turck-

heim II 1787).

In moist soil of mountain forests, up to 1,350 meters alt. A

very rare species that has been found only in Guatemala, Cuba,

Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

Plant small, slender; scape with four or five sheath-like bracts, glabrous

below, glandular-puberulent above, 6.5-21 cm. tall. Leaves basal, with slender

petioles; lamina ovate, acute, subtruncate at the base, 1.5-3 cm. long, up to

1.7 cm. wide; petiole 1-2.5 cm. long. Raceme few-flowered (2-5). Bracts linear-

lanceolate, acute or acuminate, scarious, erect, about 12 mm. long. Flowers

yellowish white or greenish white. Dorsal sepal linear-oblong, obtuse or broadly

rounded at the apex, concave at the base, adherent to the petals, 7-8 mm. long,

1-2 mm. wide. Lateral sepals narrowly linear from a slightly dilated base, obtuse

to acute, translucent, spreading, 8-8.5 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide. Petals fili-

form-spatulate, acute, rather coarsely crenate-dentate on the upper margin, 6.5-

8.5 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide near the apex. Lip linear-oblong, 7-9 mm.

long, 2-3 mm. wide at the middle, rounded at the base and abruptly contracted

into the short claw, apical fourth expanded into a broadly reniform-suborbicular

plate that is about 2 mm. long and 3-4 mm. wide; disk 5-nerved on the linear

portion, the 3 central nerves extending into the apical plate, with an inconspicuous

papilliform callus on each side at the base, the apical plate provided with minute

papillae and a tuft of hair on the lower portion. Column slender below, abruptly

dilated above the middle into an ovate-lanceolate acute plate, hispid on the

anterior surface, 5-6 mm. long.

Spiranthes amabilis is closely allied to S. elata, but differs from

it in the much smaller and fewer-flowered raceme and differently

formed lip with obsolete calli.

Guatemala: Woods near San Rafael, Margaret Ward Lewis

164.

102 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Spiranthes aurantiaca (Llave & Lex.) Hemsl. in Godm. &

Salvin, Biol. Centr.-Am. 3: 300. 1885. Neottia aurantiaca Llave &

Lex. Nov. Veg. Descr. 2: 2. 1825.

On grassy slopes, in wet ground among rocks, meadows and

shady soil in barrancas and wooded slopes, up to 2,500 meters alt.

Common in Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant stout, glabrous below, copiously pubescent above the uppermost leaf

with brown articulated hairs, 3-10 cm. tall; stem leafy, bright green. Leaves

strongly clasping and sheathing the stem, orbicular-ovate, elliptic-oblong or

oblong-lanceolate, subobtuse to acute, the margins undulate, bright green, succu-

lent, 7-25 cm. long, 4.5-8.5 mm. wide. Spike loosely flowered, 8-25 cm. long,

5-7 cm. in diameter; rachis and flowers densely pubescent. Bracts large, foliaceous-

membranous, orange-yellow, elliptic-oblong, linear-oblong or oblong-lanceolate,

acute, 3-6 cm. long, 1-1.5 cm. wide. Flowers large, tubular, spreading at the apex,

orange or orange-red. Sepals broadly or narrowly oblong-lanceolate, obtuse to

subacute, 2-2.5 cm. long, 5.5-7 mm. wide; lateral sepals involute above the

middle. Petals obliquely linear-ligulate, obtuse, recurved at the apex, 2-2.5 cm.

long, 3-4 mm. wide. Lip sessile, ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, saccate at the base,

1.9-2.5 cm. long, 6-9 mm. wide below the middle; disk puberulent below, adorned

with two flat thickened submarginal calli on each side at the base. Column clavate,

about 1 cm. long; rostellum bristle-like, terete below, becoming flat above, 7-8 mm.

long.

This plant is used for adornment and is commonly known as

"ajan-wetch," and "tzcho-kan."

Chimaltenango: Between Chimaltenango and San Martin, Porter

13.— Huehuetenango: Cerro Pixpix, above San Ildefonso Ixtahuacan,

Steyermark 50628. Along Rio Azul, below Jacaltenango, Sierra de

los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 51866. Between Chacula and Can-

quitic, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 51774. — Santa Rosa:

Santa Rosa, Heyde &Lux 6241. — Sacatepe"quez : San Juan, Margaret

Ward Lewis 146. — Guatemala, plains, Hayes.

Spiranthes cerina (W. Baxt.) Lindl. Bot. Reg. 28: Misc. p. 20.

1842 (type: Guatemala, Mount of Salania, Hartweg). Sarcoglottis

cerina W. Baxt. in Loud. Hort. Brit. Suppl. 3: 634. 1839.

On cliffs by waterfalls, up to 1,100 meters alt. Very rare in

Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant rather stout, pubescent with white articulated hairs, the whole plant,

including the flowers, flecked with silver spots, about 4.5 dm. tall; stem yellowish

or olive brown. Leaves basal, appearing about 2 months after flowering, sessile,

elliptic-oblong to broadly oblanceolate, abruptly acute, 15-30 cm. long, 4-7 cm.

wide. Spike loosely few-flowered, about 15 cm. long and 6 cm. in diameter. Bracts

lanceolate, acuminate, concave-incurved, 2-2.5 cm. long. Flowers arcuate-

recurved, dull olive-brown on the outside, bright greenish yellow within, with the

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 103

lower part of the flowers and ovary glandular-pubescent. Dorsal sepal oblong-

lanceolate, obtuse to subtruncate-retuse at the apex, longitudinally concave,

1.5-1.9 cm. long, 5.5-7 mm. wide. Lateral sepals (free part) elliptic-oblong,

obtuse, strongly falcate and reflexed, 1.5-1.8 cm. long, 5.5-7 mm. wide. Petals

elliptic-oblong, obtuse, tapering above and below, about 1.8 cm. long and 5 mm.

wide. Lip broadly obovate to orbicular-spatulate, sagittate, obscurely 3-lobed

above and retuse or broadly rounded at the apex, 2-2.5 cm. long, 1.3-1.5 cm. wide

across the orbicular portion; basal portion linear, conduplicate, on each side at

the base two linear-beaked callosities that are about 3 mm. long, abruptly expanded

above into an orbicular obscurely 3-lobed plate; lateral lobules broadly rounded

and erect, the apical lobule retuse with undulate-crenulate reflexed margins.

Column about 1 cm. long; rostellum emarginate.

This species is very closely allied to S. valida Ames, a Costa Rican

species, from which it may be distinguished by the apical portion of

the lip, which is obscurely 3-lobed and orbicular, and broadly rounded

at the base into the linear portion. The lip of S. valida is narrowly

cuneate-oblanceolate with three rather prominent subequal lobes at

the apex. The sepals and petals of S. cerina are also much wider

than those of S. valida.

Amatitlan: Near Amatitlan, Margaret Ward Lewis 108.

Spiranthes cinnabarina (Llave & Lex.) Hemsl. in Godm. &

Salvin, Biol. Centr.-Am. 3: 300. 1885. Neottia cinnabarina Llave

& Lex. Nov. Veg. Descr. 2: 3. 1825. Stenorrhynchus montanus Lindl.

in Benth. PL Hartw. 95. 1842 (type: Guatemala, mountains of

Duenas, Hartweg}. Figure 27.

On grassy hills, barren rocky mountain sides and in meadows,

up to 2,400 meters alt. Rather common in western Texas, through-

out Mexico and in northwestern Guatemala.

Plant stout, glabrous below, pubescent above with brown or whitish articu-

lated hairs, 2-9.5 dm. tall. Leaves on the lower part of the stem conduplicate,

oblanceolate to linear-lanceolate, subobtuse to shortly acuminate, 11-23 cm. long,

1.5-3.2 cm. wide. Spike usually short, congested, many-flowered, 4-17 cm. long,

3-6 cm. in diameter. Bracts narrowly ovate to lanceolate, acuminate, 1.2-2.5 cm.

long, about 7 mm. wide. Flowers tubular, floral segments conspicuously recurved-

flared at the apex, yellowish orange to yellow-scarlet. Sepals and petals minutely

papillose, the sepals sparingly pubescent on the outer surface. Dorsal sepal

lanceolate, acuminate, 1.2-2.2 cm. long, about 3 mm. wide. Lateral sepals some-

what obliquely lanceolate, acute or shortly acuminate, 1.2-2.5 cm. long, 2.2-3.2

mm. wide. Petals linear-lanceolate, acute, falcate, 1.2-2.2 cm. long, about 2.5 mm.

wide. Lip sessile, obovate-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, narrowly long-acumi-

nate above the middle, 1.2-2.5 cm. long, 3-6 mm. wide at widest point, expanded

and shallowly concave below the middle, thickened at the apex; disk puberulent

on the lower part, with a marginal longitudinal flat callus on each side at the

base. Column thick, papillose on the anterior surface, 6-10 mm. long; rostellum

flat, slender, 2 mm. or more long.

FIG. 27. Spiranthes cinnabarina. 1, plant (X M)»' 2, flower, spread open

(X 2H); 3, flower, side view (X 21A). Drawn by G. W. Dillon.

104

SPIRANTHILS

costancensis

FIG. 28. Spiranthes costaricensis. Flowering plant (X %"); 1, lip, side view

(X 5); 2, lip, spread out (X 5); 3, flower, side view (X 5); 4, column (X 5); 5,

dorsal sepal, one lateral sepal, petals, spread out (X 5). Drawn by Eleonar

B. Phillips.

105

106 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Huehuetenango: Naraccanal, Seler 2396; 2399. Chiantla, Skutch

1144. Aguacatan, Johnston 1383. Between Nenton and Las Palmas,

via Yalisjao, Rincon Chiquito, Chiaquial, Guaxacana, in Sierra de

los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 51574. Along Aguacatan road east

of Huehuetenango, at about km. 15, Standley 81949.

Spiranthes costaricensis Reichb. f. Bonpl. 3: 214. 1855.

S. bicaudata Ames, Orch., Fasc. VII: 126. 1922. Figure 28.

On tree trunks and in moist shady soil of mixed forests, on mossy

stumps, bushy slopes and along roadsides, usually on the lower

mountain slopes up to 1,160 meters alt. Widespread in the West

Indies, Mexico and Central America.

Plant slender, 1.2-4.9 dm. tall; scape glabrous below, glandular-pubescent

above, almost concealed by tubular-sheathing acuminate bracts. Leaves basal,

with slender narrowly winged petioles; lamina obliquely elliptic-oblong or oblanceo-

late, acute or acuminate, tapering at the base, 4-19 cm. long, 1.8-6 cm. wide;

petiole 2-6 cm. long. Spicate raceme lax or compact, 4-23 cm. long, 2-2.5 cm.

in diameter. Bracts linear-lanceolate, acuminate-attenuate, 9-17 mm. long.

Flowers green and white, tubular, flaring at the apex, strongly fragrant of violets.

Sepals sparingly glandular-pubescent on the outer surface. Dorsal sepal linear-

oblong, subobtuse or acute, concave at the base, 4.5-6.5 mm. long, about 1.5 mm.

wide. Lateral sepals united for a short distance at the base to form a sac, often

slightly constricted at the middle, free part linear-lanceolate, obtuse or subacute,

6-7 mm. long, about 1.2 mm. wide at the middle. Petals linear, obtuse, recurved

at the apex, with a conspicuous green central vein, 4-6 mm. long, about 1 mm.

wide. Lip with a short broad claw, triangular-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, obtuse

to subacute and strongly decurved at the apex, abruptly narrowed above the

middle, the apex with ciliate margins, with a slender acuminate callus (about

1 mm. long) on each side at the base, 4-6 mm. long (including the claw), 1-2 mm.

wide below the middle, which is twice as wide as the upper half. Column short,

about 3 mm. long, hispidulous on the anterior surface. Capsule ovoid, about 9 mm.

long.

Alta Verapaz: Pela-pec, Finca Los Alpes, Wilson 330. — Pete"n:

Uaxactun, jungle, Bartlett 12202. — Suchitepequez : Finca Moca,

Skutch 1571.

Spiranthes cranichoides (Griseb.) Cogn. in Urban, Symb.

Antill. 6: 338. 1909. Pelexia cranichoides Griseb. Cat. PI. Cub.

269. 1866. Figure 29.

FIG. 29. Spiranthes cranichoides. 1, plant (X 1); 2, flower and floral bract,

side view (X 4); 3, flower and floral bract, front view (X 4); 4, dorsal sepal (X 7);

5, petal (X 7) ; 6, lateral sepal (X 7) ; 7, lip, from above, spread open ( X 7) ;

8, column, side view (X 10); 9, column, front-ventral view (X 10). Original

drawing by Blanche Ames; redrawn by G. W. Dillon.

107

108 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

In leaf mold, humus and on rotten logs in dense forests at low

altitude. Rather common in southern Florida. Uncommon in the

West Indies, Guatemala and British Honduras.

Plant slender, glabrous below, pubescent above, 1.4-4.8 dm. tall; stem green-

ish, yellowish or purplish, provided with loose inflated white-spotted sheaths.

Leaves in a basal rosette, with short petioles; lamina obliquely ovate to ovate-

oblong, acute or acuminate, often variegated or purplish beneath, 2.5-7 cm. long,

1.5-4 cm. wide; petiole 1-4.5 cm. long. Spike loosely-flowered, 2-11 cm. long,

1.5-2.3 cm. in diameter. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, maculate, semi-

translucent, 8-13 mm. long. Flowers rather small. Sepals greenish, tinged with

madder-purple, often flecked with white; dorsal sepal narrowly ovate-lanceolate

to oblong-elliptic, obtuse or acute, 4-5 mm. long; lateral sepals lanceolate, acute,

5-5.5 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide. Petals linear-spatulate, subobtuse to acute,

greenish at the base and along the margins, otherwise white, 4-5 mm. long. Lip

white, 3-lobed above the middle, 5-6 .mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide near the middle;

the broad lateral lobes erect, clasping the column, rounded at the apex, forming

with the disk a cuneate-oblong lamina; apical lobe orbicular-quadrate, subtruncate,

occasionally apiculate, narrower than the lower two-thirds of the lip, 1-2 mm.

long; basal lateral callosities erect, glabrous, somewhat thickened. Column 3-4

mm. long. Capsule obliquely obovoid-ellipsoid, 6-9 mm. long.

Spiranthes cranichoides may be distinguished from nearly allied

species, particularly S. elata, by the narrow subquadrate apical lobe

of the lip, which is not expanded at the apex as in S. elata.

Pete"n: Tikal, H. H. Bartlett 12614. Yaloch-El Cayo road,

Bartlett 12861.

Spiranthes elata (Sw.) L. C. Rich. Orch. Europ. Ann. 37. 1817

(in Me"m. Mus. Hist. Nat. Par. 4: 59. 1818). Satyrium datum Sw.

Prodr. 119. 1788. Figure 30.

In leaf mold and loamy soil in forests and dense thickets, rarely

epiphytic, up to 3,000 meters alt. Widespread in Florida, Mexico

and Central and South America.

Plant erect, stout or slender, glabrous below, pubescent above, 8.5-60 cm.

tall; stem yellowish purple, purplish or greenish. Leaves basal, with rather long

petioles; lamina oblong-elliptic, ovate-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acute to

acuminate, 3-15 cm. long, 1-6 cm. wide; petiole sulcate, 1-10 cm. long. Spike

loosely flowered, often unilateral, 3-22 cm. long, 1-2.5 cm. in diameter. Floral

bracts oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, maculate, 7-20 mm. long. Flowers nodding,

green or brownish green. Dorsal sepal oblong to ovate-lanceolate, obtuse or

subacute, 4-6.5 mm. long, 1.3-1.7 mm. wide. Lateral sepals linear-oblong to

linear-lanceolate, obtuse or acute, somewhat falcate, 5-7.5 mm. long, 1.3-2 mm.

wide near the base. Petals linear-spatulate to oblanceolate, obtuse or rounded

at the apex, 4-6 mm. long, about 0.5 mm. wide. Lip 4-8 mm. long, the lower

half oblong-quadrate with rounded corners, abruptly contracted above into a

narrow isthmus and then expanding into a suborbicular, flabellate or transversely

FIG. 30. Spiranthes elata. 1, plant (X K); 2, flower, side view (X 5); 3, lip,

front view, spread out ( X 5) ; 4, column, side view ( X 5). Drawn by G. W. Dillon.

109

110 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

elliptic apical lobe; the basal portion of the lip concave-saccate, with the margins

involute, the pair of submarginal mammillate calli white; apical lobe 2-5.3 mm.

wide, as wide as or wider than the lower part of the lip, somewhat sinuately tri-

dentate at the apex or curled and crenulate on the margins. Column 1.5-3 mm.

long. Capsule 7-12 mm. long.

Spiranthes elata and S. prasophylla are very closely allied and may,

with further study, be considered only varietally distinct. However,

they are at present treated as separate entities because of several

points of difference. Spiranthes elata is characteristically a terrestrial

species, whereas S. prasophylla is an epiphyte, or essentially so. The

lips of the flowers of both species are similar except for the sub-

marginal basal calli of the lip of S. elata, which are small and mammil-

late, while those of S. prasophylla are rather long and incurved,

resulting in the lip becoming hastate. The scape of S. prasophylla

is very short, scarcely exceeding the basal leaves, while the scape

of S. elata is usually quite long, being several times the length of

the basal leaves.

Alta Verapaz: Region of Cocola, northeast of Carcha, Standley

70318. Near San Juan Chamelco, Standley 92241. — Chimaltenango:

Calderas, Johnston 1577 (in part). — Escuintla: Below Las Lajas,

Standley 64781. — Quezaltenango : Finca Pirineos, slopes of Volcan

Santa Maria, between Santa Maria de Jesus and Calahuache",

Steyermark 33227; 33771. Along old road between Finca Pirineos

and Patzulin, Standley 86882; 87130.— San Marcos: Above Finca

El Porvenir, between "Todos Santos Chiquitos" and "Loma de la

Paloma," south-facing slopes of Volcan Tajumulco, Steyermark

37284. Slopes of barrancas tributary to and bordering Rio Vega,

between San Rafael at northeast portion of Volcan Tacana and

Guatemala-Mexico line, Steyermark 36363 (in part).

Spiranthes eriophora Robins. & Greenm. Amer. Journ. Sci.

ser. 3, 1: 165. 1895.

Terrestrial on dry forested slopes, usually at high elevations,

up to 3,300 meters alt. Rather common in Mexico, rare in Guate-

mala.

Plant erect, up to 6 dm. tall; roots fleshy, fasciculate. Scape slender, pale

green, glabrous below, densely woolly-pubescent above with articulated hairs,

concealed by long somewhat inflated sheaths; sheaths greenish white, scarious,

conspicuously brown-striate, long-acuminate. Leaves usually withering before

time of flowering, when present basal, fleshy-membranaceous, usually with a

petiole; lamina narrowly linear-elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, acute, up to 30 cm.

long including the petiole, up to 3 cm. wide. Spike few- to many-flowered, up to

16 cm. long, spirally arranged. Floral bracts similar to the sheaths of the scape,

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 111

much exceeding the flowers. Flowers rather large, fragrant, white or pale green

with the throat of the lip orange-yellow and with a green stripe in the center,

more or less ringent and nodding. Sepals pubescent on the outer surface. Dorsal

sepal elliptic-lanceolate, tapering to an acute to shortly acuminate apex, 1.4-1.9

cm. long, about 5 mm. wide. Lateral sepals obliquely linear-lanceolate, acuminate,

3-nerved, 1.4-1.8 cm. long, 2.8-3.5 mm. wide. Petals adherent to the dorsal

sepal, with a long slender claw, obliquely and shortly ovate-lanceolate above,

obtuse to acute, 1.4-1.7 cm. long including the claw, 3.5-4.5 mm. wide above.

Lip from an arcuate base, adherent to the column to near its apex, broadly pandu-

rate to oblanceolate-pandurate in outline, 1.4-1.9 cm. long, constricted near the

apex, with the lower portion obovate to broadly oblanceolate and longitudinally

sulcate, with the apical portion suborbicular-ovate and broadly obtuse; lower

portion below the constriction 7-9 mm. wide at the widest point, apical portion

above the constriction 6-10 mm. wide, with the margins minutely erose; disk

glandular-puberulent above; basal callosities obsolescent. Column large, dilated

above, about 11 mm. long.

El Progreso: Between Calera and summit of Volcan Siglo, Steyer-

mark 43034. — Solola: Volcan Santa Clara, south-facing slopes to

summit, Steyermark 47010. — Zacapa: Sierra de las Minas, upper

slopes, along Rio Repollal to summit of mountain, Steyermark 42514.

Spiranthes Funckiana A. Rich. & Gal. Ann. Sci. Nat. se"r. 3,

3: 32. 1845. Pelexia Funckiana (A. Rich. & Gal.) Schltr. Repert.

Sp. Nov. 15: 197. 1918, as Funkiana. P. guatemalensis Schltr.

Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 197. 1918 (type: Guatemala, between Escamillas

and Palahueco, Costa Cura, Bernoulli & Cario 627).

In moist soil of very humid forests, wooded hillsides or moist

savannahs, rarely epiphytic, up to 1,500 meters alt. Uncommon in

Mexico, Guatemala and Panama.

Plant slender, glabrous below, glandular-pubescent above with white or

brownish articulated hairs, 2.7-4.5 dm. tall; stem green or brownish green. Leaves

basal, with slender petioles; lamina elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, shortly acuminate,

10-13 cm. long, 4-5.5 cm. wide; petiole 8-9.5 cm. long. Spike loosely few-flowered,

8-13 cm. long, 4-4.5 cm. in diameter. Bracts narrowly lanceolate, acuminate,

concave, incurved, 2-3 cm. long. Flowers rather large, suberect, spreading, green-

ish white and yellowish green. Sepals sparingly pubescent on the outer surface;

dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic to broadly oblanceolate, obtuse to subacute, shallowly

concave, 1.6-1.9 cm. long, 4.2-5 mm. wide; lateral sepals (free part) spreading,

conspicuously arcuate-recurved with the apex directed back toward the rachis,

obliquely linear-ligulate to linear-oblanceolate, obtuse to subacute, 1.6-2 cm. long,

about 3 mm. wide. Petals linear-oblanceolate, obtuse, ciliate along the outer

margin, 1.5-1.9 cm. long, 2.5-3 mm. wide above the middle. Lip sagittate, forming

a tube, oblanceolate in outline, 1.9-2.3 cm. long, about 5 mm. wide at widest point,

constricted near the apex to form a suborbicular-subcordate obtuse conspicuously

reflexed apical lobule with minutely undulate-crenulate margins; basal lateral

auricles flat, oblong, apiculate-fleshy at the tip; disk densely pilose just above

112 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

the base; spur very short. Column 1.2-1.4 cm. long; rostellum linear, slightly

denticulate at the apex.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Turckheim 1156; II 1838. Near the

Finca Sepacuite, Cook & Griggs 66. Finca Volcan, Wilson 307.

Finca Los Alpes, Wilson 340. Tactic, Johnston 1853. — Quezal-

tenango: Slopes of Volcan Santa Maria, between Santa Maria de

Jesus and Calahuache*, between Finca Pirineos and San Juan Patzulin,

Steyermark 33609.

Spiranthes Funckiana var. olivacea (Rolfe) Ames & Correll,

Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harv. Univ. 10: 66. 1942. Pelexia olivacea Rolfe,

Kew Bull. 200. 1891. P. subaequalis Ames, Sched. Orch. 2: 5.

1923 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Cubilgiiitz, H. von

Turckheim 7994).

Terrestrial in dense wet forests, up to 1,500 meters alt. Rare in

Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

Plant slender, glabrous below, pubescent above with brown articulated hairs,

3-6.5 dm. tall. Leaves basal, with very long slender petioles; lamina obliquely

ovate-elliptic, abruptly acute or subacuminate, broadly rounded at the base,

reddish brown, yellow-green or maculate, 14-17 cm. long, 6-8.5 cm. wide; petiole

14-29 cm. long. Spike cylindrical, loosely many-flowered, 9-25 cm. long, about

4 cm. in diameter. Bracts linear-filiform to linear-lanceolate, acuminate-attenuate,

incurved, 1.5-3.5 cm. long. Flowers slender, suberect, spreading, greenish white

and yellow. Sepals densely pubescent on the outer surface with articulated

hairs; dorsal sepal elliptic-oblong to linear-lanceolate, acuminate, concave, 1.6-1.8

cm. long, 4-5 cm. wide; lateral sepals (free part) spreading, gradually curved to

project downward, obliquely linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 1.5-1.8 cm. long, 2-2.2

mm. wide. Petals obliquely linear-oblanceolate, acute to shortly acuminate, ciliate

along the outer margin, 1.5-1.6 cm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. wide above the middle.

Lip sagittate, forming a tube, oblanceolate in outline, slightly puberulent on the

outer surface, 1.7-2 cm. long, 4.2-6 mm. wide at the widest point, constricted

near the apex to form an orbicular-ovate broadly rounded mucronate reflexed

apical lobule with the lateral margins upturned; callosities thickened-mammillate

or semiterete and incurved near the apex, 1.5-3 mm. long; disk densely glandular-

pubescent in front of the callosities. Column 1-1.2 cm. long; rostellum linear,

denticulate at the apex, 1-1.5 mm. long.

Variety olivacea may be distinguished from the typical form of

the species by its narrower sepals and petals, which are acute or

acuminate instead of being obtuse. The base of the lip of var.

olivacea has thickened mammillate semiterete calli, whereas the lip

of S, Funckiana has oblong flat apiculate auricles. The general

aspect of the two is very similar. However, the petiole is usually

longer and the leaf-lamina is usually larger in var. olivacea than

in typical S. Funckiana. The position and appearance of the lateral

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 113

sepals is also helpful in separating these two entities in the field.

The lateral sepals of var. olivacea are not conspicuously arcuate-

recurved and directed back toward the rachis as in S. Funckiana

but are gently curved and directed downward and outward.

Pete"n: Forest between Finca Yalpemech along Rio San Diego

and San Diego on Rio Cancuen, Steyermark 45331. Low forest

between Finca Yalpemech and Chinaja, Steyermark 45440. — San

Marcos: Above Finca El Porvenir on "Todos Santos Chiquitos,"

slopes of Volcan Tajumulco, Steyermark 37114. Pacaya, Johnston.

Spiranthes guyanensis (Lindl.) Cogn. in Mart. Fl. Bras. 3, pt.

4: 209. t. 47, fig. 2. 1895. Goodyera guyanensis Lindl. Gen. & Sp.

Orch. PI. 494. 1840.

Among grasses in fields and open pine forests, up to 1,200 meters

alt. Uncommon but widespread in the West Indies, Mexico, Cen-

tral America and northern South America.

Plant slender, flexuose, glabrous or sparsely puberulent above, 7-22 cm. tall,

with one or two fleshy, fusiform tubers; stem provided with tubular, acuminate

bracts. Leaves fugacious, basal when present. Spike short, with few or many

flowers, cylindrical, congested, 1.5-6 cm. long, 5-13 mm. in diameter. Bracts

lanceolate, acuminate-attenuate, concave, 4-7 mm. long. Flowers minute, white.

Dorsal sepal ovate-elliptic, acute or acuminate, deeply concave below the middle,

about 3 mm. long, 1-1.3 mm. wide. Lateral sepals obliquely triangular-lanceolate,

acute or acuminate, 2.5-3 mm. long, 1-1.2 mm. wide. Petal oblanceolate or

linear-spatulate, rounded at the apex, 2-2.5 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide. Lip

arcuate-decurved, with the lower two-thirds subrotund and concave, conspicu-

ously constricted above the middle, somewhat dilated above the constriction,

with slender lateral auricles on each side at the base, subtruncate at the apex,

2-2.5 mm. long, 2-2.3 mm. wide across the lower two-thirds. Column short,

erect, about 1 mm. long.

Izabal: Cristina, S. F. Blake 7609.— Pete*n: Chiche", C. L. Lundell

3704.

Spiranthes hemichrea Lindl. Gen. & Sp. Orch. PI. 473. 1840

(type: Guatemala, Skinner}. Spiranthes pulchra Schltr. Repert. Sp.

Nov. 15: 198. 1918 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Solola, on moist rocks,

San Miguelito, Bernoulli & Cario 644). Dieregyne hemichrea (Lindl.)

Schltr. Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 37, Abt. 2: 427. 1920. D. pulchra Schltr.

Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 37, Abt. 2: 428. 1920. Sarcoglottis hemichrea

(Lindl.) Ames, Sched. Orch. 2: 9. 1923.

On moist rocks and stones and in rich humus of forests, rarely

epiphytic, up to 1,600 meters alt. Uncommon in Mexico, Guatemala

and Salvador.

114 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Plant erect, rather stout, glabrous, 3.3-7 dm. tall; stem concealed by imbricat-

ing scarious-brown deciduous sheaths. Leaves (when present) basal, elliptic,

acute. Spike rather large, densely flowered, pyramidal, 9-17 cm. long, about

3 cm. in diameter. Bracts elliptic-oblong, acuminate, scarious, loosely imbricate,

2-2.5 cm. long. Flowers white, recurved-nodding. Dorsal sepal elliptic-oblong,

often narrowed above and below the middle, obtuse to broadly acute and recurved

at the apex, concave below the middle, 10-12 mm. long, 3.5-5 mm. wide across

the middle. Lateral sepals linear-oblanceolate, obtuse, falcate, 11-12 mm. long,

2.5-3 mm. wide. Petals obliquely oblanceolate, obtuse, prominently recurved

and narrowed below the middle, 8.5-9.5 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. wide. Lip linear-

spatulate, constricted and conspicuously recurved at the middle, 1.3-1.5 cm. long;

the lower portion below the constriction linear, slightly dilated and pubescent

below the two lateral auriculate callosities arising about 3 mm. above the base

of the lip; apical portion above the constriction expanded into a Ungulate cuneate-

ovate lamina with a slightly dilated broadly rounded apex, about 4 mm. wide.

Column about 8 mm. long.

Amatitlan: Lake Amatitlan, Kellerman 6564. — El Progreso:

Sierra de las Minas, between Tulumajillo and Finca Montanita in

foothills, Steyermark 43359. — Guatemala: 25 miles from Guatemala

City, Cerro de Nubes, Margaret W. Lewis 100 (in part). — Zacapa:

Lava cap near Rincon, Margaret W. Lewis 157 (in part). Sierra

de las Minas, dry southwest-facing rocky slopes and bluffs of meta-

morphosed dolomitic rock, Loma El Picacho, above San Rosalia,

Steyermark 42711. Sierra de las Minas, Valley of Vegona, between

Vegas and Calera, Steyermark 42966. Barranca Hondo, Johnston

1568. Alotepeque, Rafael Tejada 226.

Spiranthes hyemalis A. Rich. & Gal. Ann. Sci. Nat. se>. 3, 3 :

32. 1845.

Under pines and in Cupressus forests in high grass, cool mossy

bluffs and on rocky slopes above timber line, rarely on trees, up to

3,260 meters alt. This species is found in the higher altitudes of

Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant slender, flexuose, glabrous below, pubescent above the uppermost cauline

bract, 0.8-4 dm. tall. Leaves basal, with slender, short petioles, linear-lanceolate,

acute or acuminate, 4-23 cm. long (including petiole), 4-18 mm. wide. Inflores-

cence composed of 1-3 rather large flowers that are subtended by large bracts.

Bracts membranous, scarious, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, concave, clasping

the ovaries, with conspicuous hyaline margins, 1.7-3.5 cm. long. Flowers pro-

jecting at right angles to the stem or nodding, ringent; the segments spreading,

white within, pinkish on the outer surface, disk of the thickened basal portion of

the lip cinnabar-red. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, long-acuminate, recurved at the

apex, concave below the middle, with 5-7 prominent veins, 1.7-2 cm. long, 5-6 mm.

wide. Lateral sepals linear to linear-lanceolate, acuminate-filiform, 1.9-2.4 cm.

long, 2.5-3 mm. wide near the base. Petals linear, acuminate, falcate, with 3

prominent veins, 1.5-2 cm. long, 3-3.5 mm. wide. Lip pandurate, oblong-lanceo-

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 115

late to oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse to acute, conspicuously constricted near the

middle, 2.1-2.8 cm. long, 5.5-10.5 mm. wide at widest point; lower half thick,

deeply cinnabar-red, obovate, much thickened on the margins at the base and

densely puberulent, with 7-9 prominent veins; upper half triangular-deltoid to

ovate-oblong, with the margins erose, covered with minute papillae, with 5-7

veins extending from the lower half. Column about 1 cm. long.

This species is easily distinguished by its few and comparatively

large flowers.

Chimaltenango: Tecpam, J. R. Johnston 1326. Cerro de Tecpam,

region of Santa Elena, Standley 58737; 61041. Tecpam, Margaret W.

Lewis 214. — Quezaltenango : Uppermost ridge to summit of Volcan

Zunil, Steyermark 34852.

Spiranthes Llaveana Lindl. in Benth. PI. Hartw. 72. 1842.

S. Tuerckheimii Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 2: 131. 1906 (type: Guate-

mala, Dept. Santa Rosa, grasslands, April, 1887, H. von Tilrckheim

1169).

On loamy slopes of pine and mixed forests, rocky fields, pastures

and savannahs, and in leaf mold along streams in barrancas, up to

3,000 meters alt. Widespread in Mexico, uncommon in Guatemala

and Honduras.

Plant slender, erect or flexuose, 1.2-5.5 dm. tall; stem purplish brown. Leaves

fugacious, when present basal, with a long slender petiole; lamina slightly obliquely

elliptic, acute, 5-10 cm. long, 1.5-4 cm. wide; petiole 5-17 cm. long. Spike slender,

loosely few-flowered, 4-19 cm. long. Bracts oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, scarious,

7-15 mm. long. Flowers small, ascending or nodding; sepals and petals dusky

pink or red; lip white, variously marked with olive-brown, green or red. Sepals

lanceolate, acute or shortly acuminate, 8-10 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. wide; lateral

sepals slightly oblique. Petals linear-oblanceolate, obtuse, 7.5-9 mm. long, about

1 mm. wide above the middle. Lip oblong to oblanceolate, slightly constricted

above the middle, fleshy, recurved and crisped at the apex, 8.5-12 mm. long, 4-5

mm. wide; lower portion oblong-quadrate to broadly cuneate, with the lateral

margins terminated by more or less obtuse angles just below the constriction, the

disk thin and veiny; apical portion when spread out oblong-orbicular to ovate, with

undulate-crenulate margins, covered with minute papillae; lateral basal callosities

short, thick, slightly incurved and pubescent. Capsule ellipsoid, strongly ribbed,

about 1 cm. long.

All of the plants examined, referable to S. Llaveana, were found

to be essentially alike in appearance. However, when their flowers

were examined the lip was found to be very variable. The general

outline of the lip is oblong or oblanceolate and the constriction, in

most cases, is quite shallow and often nearly lacking.

Baja Verapaz: Santa Rosa, Tilrckheim 1169. Moist ravine slopes

of Sierra de Chuacus, south of San Geronimo, Steyermark 43872. —

116 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

El Progreso: Sierra de las Minas, between Calera and summit of

Volcan Siglo, Steyermark 43035. — Guatemala: Road to Antigua,

near San Rafael, Margaret W. Lewis 76. — Quiche": Sacabaja, Heyde

& Lux 3514.

Spiranthes Llaveana var. violacea (A. Rich. & Gal.) Ames &

Correll in Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harv. Univ. 10, no. 4: 67. 1942.

Spiranthes violacea A. Rich. & Gal. in Ann. Sci. Nat. seY. 3, 3: 32.

1845.

In dry grassy fields and in loamy soil of pinelands, up to 2,000

meters alt. Uncommon in Mexico and Guatemala.

Variety violacea differs from the typical form mainly in that the flowers are

usually smaller and the lip is pandurate instead of being oblong with obscure

lateral constrictions. The lip of variety violacea is 6-7 mm. long and 3-4 mm.

wide. The apical lobule of the lip is orbicular with undulate-crenate margins and

is usually wider than the basal portion. The basal half below the conspicuous

constriction is obovate to oblong-obovate with the lateral margins rounded toward

the constriction. The lip of typical S. Llaveana is mostly widest below the slight

constriction and the basal half is oblong-quadrate to broadly cuneate with the

lateral margins terminated by more or less obtuse angles just below the constric-

tion. The lip of var. violacea is white tinged with pink or lavender with the lateral

lobules often greenish yellow. The sepals and petals are pink.

Chimaltenango: Chichavac, Skutch 325. — San Marcos: Vicinity

of Sibinal, Steyermark 35961. Six miles south and west of town of

Tajumulco, slopes of Volcan Tajumulco, Steyermark 36691.

Spiranthes minutiflora A. Rich. & Gal. Ann. Sci. Nat. se>.

3, 3: 32. 1845. S. nutantiflora Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 2: 131.

1906 (type: Guatemala, in bushes near Chissoy, November, 1886,

H. von Tiirckheim 1102).

In rocky grassy soil under conifers, dry ridges and on open slopes,

up to 3,900 meters alt. Uncommon from southern Mexico to Costa

Rica.

Plant very slender, glabrous or sparingly puberulent above, 6-25 cm. tall.

Leaves fugacious, when present basal, linear-oblong to elliptic-oblong, acute, with

slender petioles, 3-12 cm. long (including petiole), 0.7-2.3 cm. wide. Spike

slender, loosely few-flowered, 2-10 cm. long. Bracts broadly ovate to oblong-

lanceolate, abruptly acute or acuminate, concave and clasping the ovary, 6-10

mm. long. Flowers nodding, greenish white, turning reddish brown with age, lip

callus adorned with cinnabar-red stripes. Sepals and petals recurved at the

apex, with a central vein. Sepals linear-lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, acuminate

or abruptly acute, 3-4.3 mm. long, 0.8-1.3 mm. wide. Petals linear-lanceolate,

subobtuse to subacuminate, somewhat falcate, 2.5-3.5 mm. long, less than 1 mm.

wide. Lip oblong or oblong-elliptic, obtuse or acute, concave, 3-5 veins, scarcely

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 117

constricted near the apex to form a minute apical suborbicular lobule whose margins

are slightly undulate, often prominently arcuate-decurved, 3.3-4 mm. long,

1-1.8 mm. wide, with an inconspicuous cinnabar-red striped callus on each side

at the base. Column about 2 mm. long. Capsule ovoid, 5-7 mm. long.

Huehuetenango: Sierra Cuchumatanes, Skutch 1202. Between

Tojquia and Caxin bluff, summit of Sierra de los Cuchumatanes,

Steyermark 50182. Juniper ravine, alpine areas in vicinity of Tunima,

Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 48387. — Quezaltenango :

Volcan Santo Tomas, Steyermark 34867. — San Marcos: Slopes of

Volcan Tajumulco, between Las Canojas and top of ridge, 7 miles

from San Sebastian, Steyermark 35890. Vicinity of Sibinal, Steyer-

mark 35962. — Solola: Volcan Atitlan, south-facing slopes, Steyer-

mark 47499.

Spiranthes obtecta C. Schweinf. Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harv. Univ.

4: 106. 1936-37 (type: Guatemala, road to Mataquescuintla, about

twenty miles from Guatemala City, about 8,000 ft., April 21, 1934,

Margaret Ward Lewis 101).

In shallow layer of topsoil (chiefly semi-decayed pine needles).

Apparently endemic to Guatemala.

Plant rather stout, 2.5-3.5 dm. tall; stem flexuose or erect, entirely concealed

by long tubular white-scarious imbricating sheaths that are 5-6 cm. long and

are marked with brownish purple longitudinal nerves. Leaves fugacious, when

present apparently narrowly elliptic with long petioles. Spike dense, 7-8.6 cm.

long, about 2 cm. in diameter. Bracts scarious, surpassing and mostly concealing

the flowers, ovate-lanceolate, long-acuminate, concave at the base and marked with

about 9 prominent longitudinal purplish nerves. Flowers small; sepals pale green;

petals white; lip white with a fine green mid-nerve. Sepals recurved at the apex,

3-nerved; dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, concave, 9.5-12 mm. long,

3-3.2 mm. wide; lateral sepals linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 9-11 mm. long,

1.8-2 mm. wide. Petals strongly adnate to the dorsal sepal forming a galea, elliptic-

linear, subacute to obtuse, slightly sigmoid, 3-nerved, 8-9 mm. long, about 2.3 mm.

wide across the middle. Lip strongly recurved at the apex and upcurved at the

base in natural position, conspicuously constricted just above the middle, the lower

portion concave, the apical portion flat with inrolled crenulate margins, when

spread out pandurate, 9.5-12 mm. long, 5-6 mm. wide just below the middle;

the lower portion flabellate-rhombic with rounded outer angles, cuneate toward

the base with thickened margins; apical portion ovate to ovate-quadrate, subacute

to truncate at the apex when spread out; disk minutely papillose. Column small,

about 5.5 mm. long, with a triangular rostellum that is abruptly contracted above

to a linear-ligulate point.

Mrs. Lewis records in her notes that S. obtecta is common in Guate-

mala. However, the type collection cited above is the only one known

for the species.

118 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Spiranthes orchioides (Sw.) A. Rich, in La Sagra, Fl. Cub.

Fan. 11: 252. 1853. Satyrium orchioides Sw. Prodr. 118. 1788.

Stenorrhynchus guatemalensis Schltr. Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 36, Abt.

2: 376. 1918 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Coban, F. C.

Lehmanri). Figure 31.

In dry or damp open grassy fields, xerophytic forests and damp

soil in pinelands, up to 1,500 meters alt. Widespread in Florida,

the West Indies, Mexico and Central and South America.

Plant slender or stout, erect, somewhat scurvy with white papillose scales,

whitish glandular-pubescent except for .the leaves and rarely the lower part of

the scape, 3.5-6.5 (rarely 9) dm. tall. Leaves basal, appearing after anthesis,

rarely present at time of flowering, oblong-elliptic, narrowly oblong or oblong-

oblanceolate, obtuse to acute, 1-4 dm. long, 2.5-5 cm. wide. Spike loosely or

densely flowered, conspicuous, 6-17 cm. long, 4-6 cm. in diameter. Bracts narrowly

lanceolate, acuminate-attenuate, usually punctate with bright red resinous-

appearing dots, 1.5-2.5 cm. long. Flowers showy, suberect, grading in color from

greenish white to brick-red or deep crimson. Sepals glandular-papillose on the

outer surface; dorsal sepal broadly to narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, 1.4-2.2 cm.

long, about 7 mm. wide near the base; lateral sepals produced at the base into a

short mentum, narrowly lanceolate above, acuminate, 1.5-3 cm. long from the

base of the mentum, free portion 3.5-5 mm. wide. Petals lanceolate, acute or

acuminate, falcate, 1.3-2 cm. long, about 6 mm. wide at the widest point. Lip

sessile, entire or rarely subsagittate, narrowly or broadly obovate-lanceolate,

acuminate, 1.5-2.5 cm. long, 5-10 mm. wide at the middle, dilated and saccate

near the middle, with slightly revolute margins near the apex; convolute and linear

below the dilated middle with a pair of linear flat submarginal calli, pubescent on

the disk and along the margins. Column about 1 cm. long; rostellum cuspidate-

elongate, bristle-like, rigid, about 5 mm. long. Capsule ellipsoid, 1-1.5 cm. long.

Spiranthes orchioides is a variable species, particularly in the size

and color of the flowers. The plants of this species appear quite

suddenly after the first rains and then quickly fade, leaving little

evidence of their presence.

Alta Verapaz: Savanna north of Conception, 3-5 miles south-

east of Finca Yalpemech, near Alta Verapaz-Pete"n boundary line,

Steyermark 45275. Along Rio Icvolay, north and northwest of

Finca Cubilgiiitz to Quebrada Diablo, Steyermark 44788. Between

Yakapur and Sibicte", Steyermark 44942. Between Coban and Finca

Chimote", near Rubeltein, Steyermark 44204. — Guatemala: Guate-

mala City, Lewis 161. — Pete"n: Sabana Zizha, La Libertad, Lundell

2748; 3677. La Libertad, Lundell 3484; 3625. Sabana Tzimintum,

FIG. 31. Spiranthes orchioides. 1, inflorescence (X %); 2, basal part of plant

showing leaves and roots (X M); 3, flower, longitudinally dissected to show the

column ( X 2). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

119

120 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Lundell 3134. La Libertad-Flores road (peloric form), Lundell

3896. Tayasal, Lundell 3897. — Quiche": Jose Ignacio Aguilar 1167. —

Santa Rosa: Santa Rosa, Heyde & Lux 3489.

Spiranthes parasitica A. Rich. & Gal. Ann. Sci. Nat. se>. 3,

3: 32. 1845. Figure 32.

On dry slopes, under conifers and in mixed pine-hardwood forests

and cloud-forests, also in meadows and moist shaded soil, rarely

epiphytic, up to 3,200 meters alt. Rare in Arizona and Texas,

uncommon in Mexico and Central America.

Plant slender, erect, glabrous below, glandular-puberulent above, 1-3.4 dm.

tall; stem and sheaths brownish red or light brown. Leaves fugacious, when

present basal, with a slender petiole; blade apparently elliptic. Spike very slender,

few-flowered, the flowers scattered, 3.5-7 cm. long. Bracts broadly ovate to

elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, very concave, usually concealing the ovary, scarious,

white or pinkish, margins conspicuously hyaline, 3-nerved, 0.9-1.5 cm. long.

Flowers small, ascending; sepals and petals pink; lip white with three green stripes

extending almost to the apex, with a spongy cinnabar-red tissue on the basal

portion. Dorsal sepal elliptic-oblong to lanceolate, obtuse to acute, 5-7 mm. long,

1.5-2.5 mm. wide. Lateral sepals somewhat obliquely lanceolate, obtuse to acute,

6-8 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide. Petals obliquely oblanceolate, broadly rounded

to subacute at the apex, irregularly crenate above the middle, 5-6.5 mm. long,

about 1.5 mm. wide. Lip in natural position concave below, strongly recurved

at the apex, constricted just above the middle to form a suborbicular lobule

whose margins are undulate-lacerate, when spread out oblong in outline, 6-9 mm.

long, 3-5 mm. wide; basal portion oblong-quadrate; disk pubescent below on the

cinnabar-red blotch, pubescent on the apical lobule. Column about 4 mm. long.

Capsule ovoid, strongly ribbed, about 7 mm. long.

The persistent cinnabar-red blotch on the lower portion of the

disk of the lip is characteristic of this species. The plants have the

appearance of lacking chlorophyll, very probably the reason for the

name.

Chimaltenango: Chichoy Pass, Cerro Tecpam, Hunnewell 14667.

Santa Elena, Skutch 283. Chichavac, Skutch 305. Volcan Acate-

nango, Hunnewell 14675. — Quezaltenango : Uppermost ridge of

Volcan Santo Tomas, Steyermark 34800.

Spiranthes pauciflora A. Rich. & Gal. Ann. Sci. Nat. se"r. 3,

3: 32. 1845.

Terrestrial on dry open pine slopes and in grassy open places in

oak-pine forest, up to 2,100 meters alt. Uncommon in Mexico,

Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Plant usually small, erect, up to 4 dm. tall; roots fleshy-clavellate, fasciculate.

Scape slender or stout, greenish white, provided with loose-fitting acuminate

FIG. 32. Spiranthes parasitica. 1, plant (X 14); 2, flower, side view (X 3);

3, lip, spread out (X 5); 4, column, side view (X 5). Malaxis Ehrenbergii. 5,

plant (X M); 6, flower, side view (X 5); 7, flower, front view (X 5). Drawn by

G. W. Dillon.

121

122 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

sheaths, glandular-pubescent throughout with articulated hairs. Leaves usually

withering away before time of flowering, when present basal, with a slender

petiole; lamina elliptic to elliptic-obovate, abruptly acute, about 16 cm. long

(including the petiole), about 5 cm. wide. Spike short, composed of one to six

suberect flowers, rarely more. Floral bracts triangular-lanceolate, acuminate,

longitudinally concave, up to 3 cm. long. Flowers fleshy, pale greenish, veined

with darker green, with stout pubescent pedicellate ovaries. Dorsal sepal fleshy

and concave below, rather thin and flat above, narrowly lanceolate, tapering to

the obtuse to acute apex, 2.2-2.5 cm. long, about 4 mm. wide below the middle.

Lateral sepals fleshy, obliquely linear, slightly dilated at the obtuse apex, pubescent

on the outer surface, longitudinally sulcate, strongly keeled on the back, 2.5-3.2

cm. long, 4.5-6.5 mm. wide at the widest point. Petals somewhat fleshy, adherent

to the dorsal sepal, obliquely linear, obtuse, ciliate on the margins especially at

the apex, 1.7-2 cm. long, 3-4 mm. wide. Lip fleshy, 2.4-3.5 cm. long, constricted

above the middle with the lower portion oblanceolate and the apical portion tri-

angular-ovate and obtuse or acute when spread out; below the constriction longi-

tudinally concave, 5-7 mm. wide at the widest point; above the constriction the

margins strongly involute, 5-9 mm. wide, conspicuously veined; disk puberulent

with a pair of short keels below the constriction and a small tuft of hair at the

apex of each keel; basal callosities fleshy, smooth, tapering to an acute apex, up

to 5 mm. long.

Zacapa: Sierra de las Minas, along Rillito del Volcan de Monos,

Volcan de Monos, Steyermark 42358.

Spiranthes polyantha Reichb. f. Linnaea 18: 408. 1844.

Figure 33.

On and among rocks on hills and in lava fields, on springy bluffs

and ledges and in leaf-mold in coniferous and hardwood forests,

up to 2,500 meters alt. Widespread in southern Florida, Mexico

and Guatemala, the Bahama Islands, Puerto Rico and Santo

Domingo.

Plant scapose, very slender, erect, flexuose or sinuate-ascending, glabrous

below, sparsely pubescent above, 1.5-5.8 dm. tall. Roots tuberous, fleshy, fascicu-

late. Stem purplish. Leaves clustered at the base, spreading, with slender

petioles, elliptic or oblanceolate to linear-lanceolate, obtuse to acuminate, con-

spicuously reticulate-veined (when dry), 5-28 cm. long, 1.5-5 cm. wide across

the blade, reduced above to somewhat inflated sheathing acuminate-attenuate

bracts. Spike loosely or densely many-flowered, slender, flexuose, 5-35 cm. long,

1-1.5 cm. in diameter. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, acuminate,

4-11 mm. long. Flowers greenish, grayish green or greenish purple, strongly

ringent and spreading. Sepals linear to linear-lanceolate, subacute to acute, 3.2-7

mm. long, about 1 mm. wide near the base; dorsal sepal strongly recurved upward

FIG. 33. Spiranthes polyantha. 1, plant (X H); 2, flower, side view (X 4);

3, flower, front view, spread open (X 3) ; 4, column, side view ( X 5) ; 5, column,

front-ventral view (X 5). Drawn by G. W. Dillon.

123

124 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

above the middle; lateral sepals falcate, upcurved. Petals adherent to the dorsal

sepal, linear, somewhat falcate, strongly recurved upward above the middle,

3-5.5 mm. long, less than 1 mm. wide. Lip elliptic-lanceolate to narrowly lanceo-

late, subacute to acuminate, usually narrowed and strongly arcuate-recurved

below the middle, 3.5-6.5 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. wide at the widest point; basal

callosities minute. Column about 2.5 mm. long. Capsule sessile, ellipsoid, blunt,

4.5-6 mm. long.

Zacapa: Lava cap near Rincon, alt. 2,500 feet (760 meters), Mar-

garet Ward Lewis 157 (in part).

Spiranthes prasophylla Reichb. f. Beitr. Orch. Centr.-Am. 65.

1866 (type: Guatemala, on tree between Hacienda de Pantaleon

and Sapote, January 20, 1857, Wendland). S. epiphytica Schltr.

Repert. Sp. Nov. 2: 130. 1906 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz,

epiphytic near Cubilgiiitz, Turckheim 687; near Coban, Turckheim

1406). Figure 34.

Epiphytic, on rotten logs and rarely terrestrial in moist dense

forests, usually at low altitudes, up to 1,300 meters alt. Uncommon

in Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama.

Plant low, glabrous below, sparsely pubescent above, 7-25 cm. tall; scape

scarcely exceeding the basal leaves. Leaves basal, subsessile or with short slender

petioles; lamina elliptic-oblong, acute, rather fleshy, glossy, pale green or purplish

green, mostly oblique and tapering into the petiole, 5.5-14 cm. long, 1.5-3 cm.

wide; petiole up to 6 cm. long. Spike loosely flowered, often unilateral, 3.5-12 cm.

long, 2-2.5 cm. in diameter. Bracts oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, concave, 1-1.5

cm. long. Flowers ascending, green or greenish white, often marked with dark

red or lavender. Dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, concave below the

middle, 5-6 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide. Lateral sepals obliquely lanceolate,

acuminate, 6-8 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide. Petals linear-oblanceolate, obtuse

to subacute, with the anterior margin slightly dilated, oblique, 4.5-5.2 mm.

long, about 1 mm. wide. Lip sagittate, constricted above the middle and then

dilated to form an obovate or flabellate apical lobule, 5.5-6.7 mm. long; basal

portion quadrate or broadly deltoid, with the basal auriculate incurved callosities

very prominent, 3-3.5 mm. wide, the central vein usually carinate or crested along

the upper half; apical lobule with crenulate margins, broadly rounded or sinuately

tridentate at the apex, 2.2-3.2 mm. wide. Column about 4 mm. long.

A discussion of the near relationship of S. prasophylla to S. elata

has been included under that species.

Alta Verapaz: Along Rio Icvolay, north and northwest of Finca

Cubilgiiitz to Quebrada Diablo, Steyermark 44737. — Izabal: York

trail about two miles from Virginia, Margaret Lewis 22. — Pete"n:

Low forest between Finca Yalpemech and Chinaja, Steyermark

45438.

FIG. 34. Spiranthes prasophylla. Plant (X l);lip (lower right; X 5). Drawn

by Blanche Ames.

125

126 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Spiranthes prasophylla Reichb. f. var. cleistogama Ames &

Correll, Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harv. Univ. 10: 65. 1942 (type: Guatemala,

Dept. Alta Verapaz, near Coban, Turckheim II 1673).

Epiphytic on trees in forests, up to 1,400 meters alt. Rare in

Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Plant slender, weakly erect, glabrous below, pubescent above, 1-3 dm. tall.

Scape slender, two to three times longer than the leaves, provided with several

acuminate bracts. Leaves basal, several, clustered, mostly subsessile, occasionally

shortly petiolate; lamina elliptic-lanceolate, acute, up to 8 cm. long and 2.5 cm.

wide. Spike usually conspicuously secund, up to 31 cm. long. Flowers green,

cleistogamous, smaller than those of the typical form. Lip pandurate, strongly

triangular-deltoid as in the typical form, constricted near the apex to form a

triangular-quadrate tridentate lobule at the apex; callosities thin, triangular, inside

the basal margin.

Variety cleistogama differs from the typical form of the species

mainly in its much longer scape, which greatly exceeds the leaves,

its conspicuously secund spike, and its cleistogamous flowers.

Represented from Guatemala only by the type collection.

Spiranthes pyramidalis Lindl. Gen. & Sp. Orch. PL 473. 1840.

(type: Guatemala, common, Skinner). S. cobanensis Schltr. Beih.

Bot. Centralb. 36, Abt. 2: 377. 1918 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta

Verapaz, near Coban, F. C. Lehmanri).

In dry thickets, pine and oak forests, in leaf mold among lava

rocks and on loamy exposed slopes, up to 2,300 meters alt. Wide-

spread and rather common in Mexico and Guatemala, uncommon

in El Salvador.

Plant slender, glabrous except for the pilose ovaries and flowers, 2-7.5 dm.

tall; stem concealed by whitish scarious-membranous loosely imbricating tubular

sheaths. Leaves fugacious, when present basal, with rather long petioles; lamina

oval to elliptic-lanceolate, acute to subacuminate, tapering into the petiole, 6-13

cm. long, 2.3-5.5 cm. wide; petiole 6-15 cm. long. Spike densely flowered, cylin-

drical, pyramidal, 5-19 cm. long, 1.5-3 cm. in diameter. Bracts reddish brown,

scarious, deeply concave and enclosing the ovary, ovate-ringent, elliptic, acuminate,

1-2 cm. long, 6-10 mm. wide. Flowers ringent, dull white, yellow or greenish with

a pink tinge, the perianth segments often reticulate-veined. Dorsal sepal elliptic-

lanceolate, acuminate, abruptly upcurved at the middle and concave below,

7-9 mm. long, 2-4 mm. wide. Lateral sepals obliquely lanceolate, subobtuse to

acute and recurved at the apex, somewhat united at the base to form a short

mentum, 6-8 mm. long, 1.2-2.1 mm. wide below the middle. Petals linear-elliptic,

obtuse and recurved at the apex, sigmoid, 5-6 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide. Lip

with a short broad claw, ovate to ovate-oblong, obtuse to subacute, concave,

abruptly arcuate-recurved near the middle, 4.2-6 mm. long, 2.5-4 mm. wide

below the middle; disk marked with fine brownish striations; lateral basal callosi-

ties submarginal, mammillate. Column short, about 2.5 mm. long.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 127

Amatitlan: Pacaya, Johnston 1468. — Baja Verapaz: Rocky hills

near and above Santa Rosa, in pine-oak forest, Standley 91072.

Along margin of the big swamp below Pantin, Standley 91163.

Below Patal, Standley 91119. Near Santa Rosa, Turckheim II 2220.

North of Santa Rosa, Standley 69881. — Chimaltenango: Finca Ala-

meda, Johnston 1821. — Sacatepe"quez : Volcan de Fuego, Smith 2634.

Near Santa Maria, Hunnewell 14672. — Santa Rosa: Santa Rosa,

Heyde & Lux 3492. San Rafael, Margaret Lewis 159.

Spiranthes rosulata (W. Baxt.) Lindl. Bot. Reg. 29: Misc.

p. 60. 1843. Sarcoglottis rosulata W. Baxt. in Loud. Hort. Brit.

Suppl. 3: 634. 1839 (type: Guatemala). Sarcoglottis orbiculata Ames,

Sched. Orch. 2: 10. 1923 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Quiche", San

Miguel Uspantan, Heyde & Lux).

Terrestrial, on forest slopes and along streams, up to 2,100

meters alt. Very rare in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and

Honduras.

Plant low, slender or stout, glabrous below, pubescent above with articulated

hairs, 1.8-3 dm. tall. Leaves basal, rosulate, oblong to orbicular, obtuse to

abruptly acute, rather thin to subcoriaceous, 5-10 cm. long (including the short

petiole), 1.3-6.7 cm. wide. Spike short, few-flowered, rather close, about 5 cm.

long. Floral bracts linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 1.5-3 cm. long. Flowers green,

conspicuously marked with deep green stripes, arcuate-recurved. Sepals coarsely

pubescent with articulated hairs on the outer surface; dorsal sepal lanceolate,

acute to acuminate, strongly recurved at the apex, 1.7-2.2 cm. long and about

3 mm. wide; lateral sepals linear-lanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, subobtuse to

acute, falcate, 1.5-2 cm. long and 2.5-4 mm. wide. Petals obliquely linear to

linear-oblanceolate, obtuse to subacute, ciliate along the outer margin, about as

long as the lateral sepals. Lip 2-2.6 cm. long and about 4 mm. wide, with the

lower part narrowly oblanceolate, constricted near the apex to form a short

isthmus, then expanded into an ovate or oblong obtuse or acute lobule with finely

ciliate margins; disk pubescent at the base, with two parallel patches of fine hairs

just below the constriction; basal lateral callosities linear-terete, incurved, 3-4 mm.

long. Column slender, about 1 cm. long.

This species differs from S. acaulis, to which it is closely allied,

by the orbiculate type of leaves and the shape of the lip of the

flower. The portion of the lip below the slight constriction is essen-

tially linear instead of being obovate as in S. acaulis. The apical

portion of the lip also differs somewhat from that of S. acaulis.

Chiquimula: Montana Nube (Montana Volcanitos), between

Socorro Mountain and Cerro Brujo, southeast of Conception de las

Minas, Steyermark 30898. — Guatemala: Near Guatemala, 1860,

Hayes. Road beyond San Juan Sacatepe"quez, about 35 km. from

128 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Guatemala City, Margaret W. Lewis 191 (this specimen is sterile but

probably represents this species). — Huehuetenango : Pine-wooded

slopes, along Rio Selegua, opposite San Sebastian H., Steyermark

50471. — Sacatepe"quez : Along Rio Guacalate, on road between

Antigua and Chimaltenango, Standley 81003. — Zacapa: Rich forested

slopes in deep ravine along Rio Lima, Sierra de las Minas, between

Rio Hondo and summit of mountain at Finca Alejandria, Steyermark

29601. On hill back of Hotel Manchen, Porter 12.

Spiranthes rubrocalosa Robins. & Greenm. Am. Journ. Sci.

50: 165. 1895.

Terrestrial in forests of cypress, fir and Arbutus and on stumps,

up to 2,700 meters alt. Rare in Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant slender or stout, erect, glabrous or somewhat pubescent, 2-3.5 dm. tall,

with 2-4 fleshy oblong tuberous roots; stem provided with sheathing, sharply

acuminate bracts. Leaves 2, basal when present, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate,

tapering into the slender petiole, 10-12.5 cm. long including the petiole, 1-1.3

cm. wide. Spike cylindrical, dense or laxly few- to many-flowered, 7-18 cm. long,

1-1.5 cm. in diameter. Floral bracts obliquely ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acumi-

nate, 1-1.5 cm. long, 4.5-6.5 mm. wide. Flowers small, greenish white, conspicu-

ously arcuate-decurved. Sepals 4-5 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide; dorsal sepal oblong-

lanceolate, obtuse to acute and recurved at the apex, canaliculate below the middle;

lateral sepals obliquely oblong-lanceolate, subacute to acute. Petals obliquely

linear-lanceolate, obtuse to acute, conspicuously 1-nerved, 4-4.5 mm. long, 1-1.5

mm. wide. Lip with a short claw, ovate to ovate-elliptic, narrowly obtuse to some-

what truncate at the apex, inconspicuously auricled on each side at the base,

ciliate along the somewhat inflexed apical margin, 4-5 mm. long, 1.5-3 mm.

wide; disk with two bright red oblong callosities in the middle portion for two-

thirds its length. Column 3-4 mm. long.

This species is closely allied to Spiranthes parasitica but differs

from that species in the stoutness of the plant, the smaller flowers

and the entire, not lobed, lip.

Chimaltenango: Santa Elena, Skutch 439.

Spiranthes sarcoglossa A. Rich. & Gal. Ann. Sci. Nat. se>. 3,

3: 31. 1845.

In grass under conifers, usually above 3,000 meters alt. Very

rare in Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant erect, stout or slender, glabrous below, glandular-ciliate above, 2.3-5

dm. tall; stem leafy. Leaves mostly on the lower part of the stem, linear-lanceolate,

obtuse to acuminate, 5-17 cm. long, 0.8-2 cm. wide. Spike slender, rather loosely

flowered, 9-20 cm. long, about 1.5 cm. in diameter. Bracts ovate-quadrate to

oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, deeply concave, concealing the ovaries, conspicu-

ously glandular-ciliate along the upper margins, 8-14 mm. long, about 5 mm. wide

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 129

when spread out. Flowers green, inconspicuous. Dorsal sepal orbicular-ovate,

acute and strongly recurved at the apex, deeply concave, 3-3.5 mm. long, about

3 mm. wide. Lateral sepals strongly revolute in natural position, when spread

out broadly oblong-deltoid to oblong-lanceolate, subobtuse to acute and slightly

oblique at the apex, 3.8-4.2 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide. Petals adherent to the

dorsal sepal to form a galea, linear, acute, falcate, sparsely glandular-ciliate along

the margins, 3.8-4.3 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide. Lip thick, fleshy, with a short

stout claw, the margins undulate-crisped, in natural position deeply concave with

the sides suberect, when spread out suborbicular to broadly flabellate, often broader

than long, broadly rounded to subtruncate with a reflexed apicule at the apex,

3.5-4.2 mm. long, 4-4.5 mm. wide. Column about 2 mm. long, with a prominent

foot.

The general appearance of S. sarcoglossa is similar to several

species of Habenaria, for example H. limosa. It is superficially

distinguishable from other Spiranthes in Guatemala by the glandular-

ciliate margins of its floral bracts and by its blunt lip, which out-

wardly appears to be much shorter than the petals and sepals.

Huehuetenango: Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, 11,100 feet, rare,

Skutch 1255.

Spiranthes Schaffneri Reichb. f. Linnaea 28: 382. 1856.

Pelexia saccata Rolfe, Kew Bull. 195. 1895 (type: Guatemala).

Sarcoglottis Schaffneri (Reichb. f.) Ames in J. D. Smith, Enum. PI.

Guat. 7: 50. 1905. S. zamororae Ames, Sched. Orch. 2: 13. 1923

(type: Guatemala, Dept. Santa Rosa, Zamorora, Heyde &Lux 4625).

In deep vegetable mold in open or dense moist woods or in open

grassy patches among rocks, up to 3,000 meters alt. Rather common

in Mexico but apparently uncommon in Guatemala.

Plant slender, glabrous below, glandular-pubescent above with whitish hairs,

2.5-7.3 dm. tall; stem yellowish or reddish brown. Leaves absent at time of

anthesis, when present subsessile or with a short petiole, oblong-elliptic to linear-

oblong or broadly oblanceolate, abruptly acute, often oblique; lamina 8-33 cm.

long, 3-9.5 cm. wide. Spike cylindrical, loosely many-flowered, 11-25 cm. long,

2-3.5 cm. in diameter. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 1-2.5 cm. long. Flowers

small, arcuate-recurved; sepals and petals brownish pink or greenish; lip white.

Dorsal sepal elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, deeply concave, 6-10 mm. long, about

3 mm. wide. Lateral sepals (free part) triangular-oblong to narrowly lanceolate,

subobtuse to acute, falcate, 7.5-10 mm. long, 2.5-3.5 mm. wide. Petals narrowly

oblanceolate, obtuse to subacute, 6-10 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide. Lip oblanceolate

in outline, sagittate, 8-13.5 mm. long, 4-5 mm. wide at the widest point, constricted

near the apex to form a quadrate-suborbicular subobtuse reflexed terminal lobule

that has minutely crenulate margins; basal portion below the apical constriction

obovate or subpanduriform, with the basal thickened and subterete incurved

auricles 2-3 mm. long; disk glandular-hairy near the base. Column 4-6 mm. long;

rostellum usually denticulate at the apex.

130 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Guatemala: 25 miles from Guatemala City, Cerro de Nubes,

2,600 meters, Margaret W. Lewis 100. Guatemala, Johnston 1608.—

Solola: Volcan San Pedro, north-facing slopes towards Lago de

Atitlan, above village of San Pedro, Steyermark 47182.

Spiranthes seminuda Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 3: 18. 1906.

Terrestrial or sometimes epiphytic in forests, usually at high

elevations, up to 2,500 meters alt. Uncommon in Mexico and

Guatemala.

Plant erect, up to 32 cm. tall, glabrous below, pubescent above, provided at

the base with one or more tubular sheaths. Scape slender, terete, provided with

several tubular clasping acuminate sheaths. Leaves usually present at time of

flowering, basal, several, with a slender petiole; lamina elliptic to ovate-elliptic,

acute, up to 17 cm. long including the petiole, 2-5 cm. wide. Spike laxly few-

to many-flowered, somewhat one-sided, up to 15 cm. long. Floral bracts elliptic-

lanceolate, long-acuminate, concave, scarious, smooth, exceeding the flowers.

Flowers small, fleshy, pale yellowish green with a white lip, arcuate-nodding, with

stout pubescent pedicellate ovaries. Sepals oblong-elliptic to elliptic-oblanceolate,

obtuse to subacute, pubescent on the outer surface, somewhat dorsally keeled

near the apex with the keel sometimes exserted as a short mucro, 6-12 mm. long,

2-3.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals oblique. Petals adherent to the dorsal sepal,

obliquely linear-oblanceolate, obtuse, much narrowed at the base, 7-12 mm. long,

2-2.5 mm. wide above the middle. Lip fleshy, shortly clawed, narrowly sagittate

at the base, dilated about the middle and then contracted above; lamina ovate

to ovate-lanceolate in outline, somewhat dilated at the obtuse apex, 7-11 mm.

long, 3-5 mm. wide about the middle; disk puberulent-granulose near the apex;

basal callosities short, terete. Column terete, dilated at the apex, up to 9 mm.

long.

Huehuetenango : Near Todos Santos, Melhus & Goodman 3608.

Spiranthes speciosa (J. F. Gmelin) A. Rich, in La Sagra, Fl.

Cub. Fan. 11: 252. 1853. Serapias speciosa J. F. Gmelin, Syst. 59.

1791.

Usually epiphytic or in tree-holes in humid forests, also terrestrial,

on rocks in thickets and in open plains, up to 3,000 meters alt.

Throughout the West Indies, Mexico and Central and northern

South America.

Plant short, stout, glabrous throughout, 1-5 dm. tall. Leaves basal, sessile

or with short broad petioles; lamina orbicular-ovate, elliptic-oblong, oblong-

lanceolate or oblanceolate, abruptly acute or acuminate, tapering into the petiole,

usually silver-spotted, 4-20 cm. long, 2-6 cm. wide; petiole up to 10 cm. long.

Spike short, crowded, with few or many flowers, 4-10 cm. long, 4-7 cm. in diameter.

Bracts exceeding the flowers, narrowly to broadly lanceolate, acuminate, same

color as the flowers, 2.5-4 cm. long, 6-15 mm. wide. Flowers bright red to purple-

red; sepals and petals usually with involute margins near the apex and recurved.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 131

Dorsal sepal elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, concave below the middle, about 1.3

cm. long and 4 mm. wide. Lateral sepals lanceolate, acuminate, 1.4-1.6 cm.

long, about 4 mm. wide. Petals narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, slightly

falcate, 1.3-1.4 cm. long, about 3 mm. wide. Lip sessile, cuneate-lanceolate in

outline, shallowly 3-lobed, acute or obtuse-apiculate at the apex, the lower half

somewhat panduriform, 1.2-1.5 cm. long, 5-6 mm. wide across the lateral lobes;

lateral lobes near the middle, broadly rounded; apical lobe oblong, the margins

involute near the apex, 2.5-3 mm. wide; disk pubescent on the basal portion, with

two flat, thickened calli on each side at the base. Column thick, densely pilose

on the anterior surface, 5-7 mm. long; rostellum bristle-like, 3.5-4 mm. long.

Chimaltenango: Epiphytic, above Tecpam, Skutch 607. Region

of Los Positos, above Las Calderas, Standley 80166. — El Progreso:

Sierra de las Minas, hills north of Finca Piamonte, between Finca

Piamonte and summit of Volcan Santa Luisa, Steyermark 43582.—

Guatemala: Vicinity of Guatemala City, Lewis 161. In market,

Guatemala City, Standley 58544. In market, Guatemala, Johnston

1565. — Zacapa: Trail between Santa Rosalia de Marmol and Vegas,

Steyermark 42908.

Spiranthes stolonifera Ames & Correll, Bot. Mus. Lean1.

Harv. Univ. 10, no. 4: 63, pi. 3. 1942 (type: Guatemala, Dept.

Huehuetenango, Sierra Cuchumatanes [north slope], terrestrial in

mossy ground, open woods, August 23, 1934, A. F. Skutch 1094).

Figure 35.

Terrestrial in open woods and cloud forests, found only at high

elevations (up to 3,500 meters alt.) in Sierra de los Cuchumatanes,

where it is apparently endemic.

Plant 9-35 cm. tall, aphyllous at time of flowering, slender, rigidly erect, arising

from a solitary tuberoid, stoloniferous, slightly geniculate at the base, glabrous

below, the upper part covered with a hoary puberulence; stolons producing at

intervals solitary small ovoid tuberoids that are as much as 2 cm. long. Stem

provided with appressed green tubular sheaths that are rather abruptly subobtuse

to acute. Inflorescence two-flowered. Flowers white marked with orange or

vermilion-red, subtended by large bracts; pedicellate ovaries covered with a reddish

brown glandular puberulence. Floral bracts green, lanceolate, acuminate, about

3.5 cm. long, with involute margins. Sepals densely tuber culose-puberulent on

the margins and outer surface. Dorsal sepal strongly recurved above the middle,

concave below, elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse to shortly subacuminate, prominently

5-nerved, 1.9-2 cm. long, 4.5-6.5 mm. wide. Lateral sepals free, divergent, directed

downward, lightly carinate along the central nerve, lanceolate, subobtuse to acute,

slightly oblique, prominently 3-nerved, 1.7-2 cm. long, 3.1-3.5 mm. wide. Petals

conspicuously falcate, oblanceolate, obtuse, gradually tapering below the middle,

1.8-2 cm. long, 3-3.2 mm. wide above the middle. Lip arcuate-decurved in natural

position, oblong-oblanceolate, constricted above the middle, 1.8-2.2 cm. long;

lower portion below the constriction thick, sulcate, minutely pubescent and con-

cave-saccate at the base, provided with submarginal obscure fleshy mammillate

FIG. 35. Spiranthes stolonifera. 1, plant (X 1); 2, flower, front-side view

(X 2); 3, flower, front view (X 2); 4, lip, column, and lateral sepals, spread open

(X 2); 5, petals and dorsal sepal, spread out (X 2). Drawn by G. W. Dillon.

132

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 133

callosities on each side at the base, with the margins upturned and slightly undu-

late, puberulent on the margins and outer surface; apical portion above the con-

striction flat and spreading, broadly ovate to elliptic-subquadrate, broadly rounded

to subtruncate or lightly retuse at the apex, with the margin somewhat undulate-

crenulate; disk with a sulcate cinnabar-red or deep orange-colored callus on the

lower portion. Column clavellate, about 1.2 cm. long, toothed at the apex.

This species is closely allied to S. hyemalis, but differs from that

species in several characters. Spiranthes stolonifera is a rigidly erect,

aphyllous plant that develops tuber-bearing stolons. The stem-

sheaths are closely appressed and are always abruptly subobtuse to

acute. The sepals and petals are also obtuse to acute. Plants of

S. hyemalis rise from a cluster of fusiform- thickened roots, and the

stem, which is commonly flexuose, is leafy below and provided above

with rather loose sheaths. The sheaths are acuminate and divergent

at the apex. The sepals and petals are ordinarily long-acuminate.

Huehuetenango : Sierra Cuchumatanes, rocky ridge beneath pines,

Skutch 1254. In juniper woods, Cerro Chemal, summit of Sierra

de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 50297. Wet cloud forest of oaks

and pines, between San Mateo Ixtatan and Santa Eulalia, Sierra de

los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 49903. Juniper ravine, alpine areas

in vicinity of Tunima, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark

48386.

Spiranthes Tonduzii Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 9: 26. 1912.

In dense forests in leaf mold and on rotten logs among rocks, up

to 550 meters. Uncommon in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and

Costa Rica.

Plant very slender, glabrous below, copiously pubescent above with short

brown articulated hairs, 2-3.8 dm. tall. Leaves basal, sessile or with short broad

petioles, pale green, glaucous, flaccid; lamina oval to elliptic-oblong, acute or shortly

acuminate, mostly oblique, 6.5-26 cm. long, 3-6.5 cm. wide; petiole up to 3.5 cm.

long. Spike narrowly cylindrical, loosely flowered, 8-25 cm. long, 1.5-2 cm. in

diameter. Bracts elliptic-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, incurved,

1-2 cm. long, about 4 mm. wide. Flowers small, dull white and light yellow.

Sepals sparingly pubescent on the outer surface, with the margins involute above

the middle; dorsal sepal elliptic-oblong, obtuse to subacute, concave, 5.2-5.5 mm.

long, 2-2.2 mm. wide; lateral sepals oblong-elliptic, obtuse, usually widest above

the middle, 6-7 mm. long to base of short mentum, 2-3 mm. wide. Petals obliquely

oblanceolate, obtuse, with the margins involute above the middle, 5-5.5 mm. long,

1.5-2.2 mm. wide. Lip in natural position conspicuously arcuate-deflexed above

the middle with the apex curved back toward the rachis, with the margins upturned

and undulate-crisped, finely hirsute below on the outer surface, when spread out

linear-oblanceolate to linear-spatulate, obtuse to subacute, somewhat dilated

above and finely ciliate along the apical margin, 5.5-7 mm. long, about 2 mm.

wide at the widest point; disk with a puberulent tuft along the center near the

134 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

middle; basal lateral callosities terete or semiterete, acute, about 1 mm. long.

Column short, thickened, about 3 mm. long; rostellum cuspidate, about 0.5 mm.

long. Capsule ovoid, 1 cm. long.

Izabal: Los Amates, C. C. Deam 96.

Spiranthes tortilis (Sw.) L. C. Rich. Orch. Europ. Ann. 37.

1817 (in Me"m. Mus. Hist. Nat. Par. 4: 59. 1818). Neottia tortilis

Sw. Kongl. Sven. Vet. Acad. Nya Handl. 21: 226. 1800.

Terrestrial in open grassy plains, dry pinelands and shallow soil

of rock crevices, at low altitudes. Widespread from Florida to

Louisiana and in the West Indies and Trinidad; rare in Guatemala,

British Honduras and Nicaragua.

Plant slender, glabrous below, subglabrous to somewhat pubescent above,

up to 7 dm. tall. Leaves basal when present, filiform-terete to narrowly linear,

8-30 cm. long. Inflorescence a slender twisted spike composed of a single row of

flowers, 3-22 cm. long. Floral bracts ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, mostly

with hyaline margins, 3-7 mm. long. Flowers white marked with green. Sepals

3.5-6.5 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide; dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic to oblong-lanceolate,

subacute to acute; lateral sepals lanceolate, acute to acuminate. Petals adhering

to the dorsal sepal, linear to linear-spatulate, obtuse to subacute, 3.5-5.5 mm.

long, about 1 mm. wide. Lip ovate, oblong-quadrate or orbicular-quadrate, often

conspicuously constricted just above the middle, strongly recurved, green on

the central portion of the disk with the apical margin crenulate-wavy and whitish,

3-6 mm. long, 1.5-3 mm. wide; basal callosities slender or stout, mammillate.

This species is closely allied to Spiranthes graminea Lindl., of

Mexico, but is separated from that species mainly by its differently

formed lip and usually almost glabrous rachis and ovaries.

Izabal: Cristina, Blake 7567. Between Milla 49.5 and Cristina,

Steyermark 38660.

Spiranthes trilineata Lindl. in Benth. PI. Hartw. 94. 1842

(type: Guatemala, Valley of Guatemala, January, Hartweg). Dei-

regyne trilineata (Lindl.) Schltr. Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 37, Abt. 2:

428. 1920.

Grasslands and in mixed oak and pine forests, up to 2,500 meters

alt. Very rare in Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant short, erect, somewhat stout, glabrous, 8-15 cm. tall. Leaves fugacious,

basal when present. Spike lax, few-flowered, 2-6 cm. long, about 2.5 cm. in

diameter. Bracts broadly ovate to oblong-lanceolate, scarious, with 3 conspicuous

nerves, acuminate, 8-12 mm. long. Flowers dull white, rather large for the plant,

ascending. Sepals recurved at the apex; dorsal sepal linear-lanceolate, acute or

broadly acuminate, 8-10 mm. long, 2-2.2 mm. wide; lateral sepals linear-lanceolate

or linear-oblong, subobtuse or acute, falcate, 8.5-11 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. wide.

Petals narrowly linear, acute or subacuminate, 8-9.5 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 135

Lip elliptic-oblanceolate, sagittate, broadly rounded or obtuse at the apex, with

the lateral margins turned upward, fleshy and somewhat decurved at the apex;

disk pubescent on the basal portion, 9-12 mm. long, 4-5 mm. wide at the widest

point; basal calli obtuse, auriculate. Column about 1 cm. long.

Guatemala: Skinner.

Spiranthes trilineata var. thelymitra (Reichb. f.) L. 0. Wms.

in Correll, Lloydia 10: 209. 1947. Spiranthes thelymitra Reichb. f.

Beitr. Orch. Centr.-Am. 66. 1866 (type: Guatemala, near Oratoria

and Yalpataqua, July 2, 1857, Wendland 379). Deiregyne thelymitra

(Reichb. f.) Schltr. Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 37, Abt. 2: 428. 1920.

More widespread than typical S. trilineata, being found in Mexico,

Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica.

Variety thelymitra differs from the typical form in that the lip is conspicuously

constricted near the apex to form a suborbicular lobule that is fleshy and covered

with minute papillae, with the margins somewhat undulate.

Chimaltenango: Near Chimaltenango, Bequaert 6. Alameda,

Johnston 575. — Guatemala: Along road between Guatemala and San

Raimundo, Standley 63010. Pamplona (collected by Margaret

Lewis), Standley 64518. Pamplona, Margaret Lewis 155. La Aurora,

Morales 620. — Escuintla: Morales Ruano 980.— Sacatepe"quez : Near

Santa Maria, 6,000 feet, Hunnewell 14678.— Zacapa: Sierra de las

Minas, between Santa Rosalia and Vegona, Steyermark 43135.

Spiranthes vernalis Engelm. & Gray, Boston Jour. Nat. Hist.

5: 236. 1845. Figure 36.

In meadows and open forests, up to 3,100 meters alt. A rather

common and widespread species in the United States, uncommon

in Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant stout or slender, densely and copiously pubescent above, 1.2-11 dm.

tall. Leaves basal or extending partly up the stem, suberect and ascending, linear

to narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, often strongly keeled. Spike rather densely

flowered, 3-15 cm. long, about 1.5 cm. in diameter; the rachis and ovaries mostly

covered by a dense mat of reddish brown, articulated hairs. Floral bracts broadly

ovate to oblong-lanceolate, acuminate-elongate, concave, 7-15 mm. long. Flowers

greenish or yellowish white, in a single rank (rarely in two ranks) ; parts of perianth

somewhat pubescent on the outer surface. Dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate to

lanceolate, obtuse to acute, concave, 5.5-10 mm. long, 2.5-3 mm. wide near the

base. Lateral sepals lanceolate, acute, 5-9.5 mm. long. Petals adherent to the

dorsal sepal, linear to linear-elliptic, obtuse, 5-9 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide. Lip

thickened, broadly ovate to rhombic-ovate, occasionally ovate-oblong, arcuate-

recurved, usually somewhat expanded and undulate-crenulate on the margin at

the apex, 4.5-8 mm. long, 2.5-6 mm. wide near the base; lateral basal callosities

stout, incurved, pubescent.

136 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

This is a very variable species. It is characterized by its more or

less densely pubescent rachis and ovaries. The flowers are usually

very fragrant. The thick ovate lip and typically rigid acuminate

leaves and sheaths of the stem readily separate this species from

S. graminea Lindl. of Mexico. The lip of S. graminea is typically

thin and oblong-quadrate and the leaves and sheaths are rather lax

and obtuse to acute.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Turckheim II 1832. Between Tactic and

Coban, Turckheim II 2334. — Chimaltenango : Chichavac, Skutch

362. — Huehuetenango: Top of Cerro Chemalito, Sierra de los

Cuchumatanes, 3^ miles west of Santa Eulalia, Steyermark 49920.

Cerro Canana, between Nucapuxlac and Canana, Sierra de los

Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 49000. Swamp along creek below Nuca,

between Nuca and Quetzal, Steyermark 49780.

EXCLUDED SPECIES

Spiranthes gutterosa Reichb. f. Beitr. Orch. Centr.-Am. 67. 1866.

This species was reported (as Sarcoglottis gutterosa (Reichb. f.)

Ames) in Bonn. Smith, Enum. PL Guat. 7: 49. 1905, as occurring

in Dept. Alta Verapaz (Turckheim 7993). We have seen no material

referable to this plant. On the basis of an illustration of the scape

and analytical drawings of the flowers, which we have seen from

the Reichenbach Herbarium, it is doubtless a form of S. acaulis

and perhaps should be included in that species.

Spiranthes lupulina (Lindl.) Hemsl. Biol. Centr.-Am. 3: 301. 1885.

This plant was reported from Guatemala by Hemsley. We have

seen neither material nor record of the type of this plant and are

unable to place it correctly. It appears to be closely allied to S.

aurantiaca and perhaps may prove to be referable to that species.

The description is as follows: Scape glabrous at the base, pubescent

above, clothed with cucullate obtuse glabrous imbricating scarious

sheaths. Spike oblong, lupulinous. Bracts oblong-lanceolate, villous

at the base, much longer than the elongate-conical flowers. Ovary

obovate, very villous, twice as short as the villous sepals. Petals

pilose. Lip ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, obtuse, pubescent within,

biconvex and glabrous at the base.

FIG. 36. Spiranthes vernalis. 1, plant (X 1); 2, flower, front view (X 4); 3,

flower, side view (X 4) ; 4, lip, spread out ( X 4) ; 5, column (X 4) ; 6, pollen tetrad

(highly magnified); 7, lateral sepal (X 4); 8, petal (X 4). Drawn by Blanche

Ames.

137

138 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Lindley, in originally describing Stenorhynchus lupulinus (Gen.

& Sp. Orch. PI. 479. 1840), wrote as follows: "Apparently a very

handsome plant. The stem before me is a foot high, and covered

with ventricose leafy imbricated sheaths; the bracts are 3 inches

long and an inch broad, and have been of some bright colour, prob-

ably pink; they are so large as to form a spike like a head of hops,

within which the flowers are concealed."

15. GOODYERA R. Br.

Terrestrial, scapose herbs with creeping rootstocks bearing several thick

fibrous roots and with the alternate leaves basal or on the lower part of the stem.

Leaves ovate to lanceolate, dark or bluish green, often reticulate-veined or varie-

gated with white, rising from somewhat inflated sheaths, reduced above to sheath-

ing bracts. Inflorescence a lax or dense cylindrical terminal spike. Flowers small,

white or pink, often tinged with yellow or green, the oblique petals connivent with

the dorsal sepal forming a hood over the lip. Lip sessile, deeply concave or saccate,

straight or recurved at the apex, entire, the disk often adorned with glands or

fleshy processes. Column short; anther borne on the back; pollinia two, attached to

a narrow gland that is held between the forked or 2-toothed beak that terminates

the column. Capsule erect, ovoid to ellipsoid.

This genus consists of about twenty-five species that are found

in boreal, temperate and tropical regions throughout the world.

The typically variegated leaves of many of the species and the

spurless lip are characteristic of the genus.

Lip more than 5 mm. long G. major.

Lip less than 5 mm. long G. striata.

Goodyera major Ames & Correll, Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harv. Univ.

10, no. 4: 68, pi. 4. 1942 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Zacapa, cloud

forest in ravine bordering Quebrada Alejandria, summit of Sierra

de las Minas, vicinity of Finca Alejandria, alt. 2,500 meters, October

13, 1939, J. A. Steyermark 29886). Figure 37.

Terrestrial in mountain forests, up to 2,600 meters alt. Ap-

parently endemic to Guatemala.

Plant from a prostrate rhizome, erect-ascending, large for the genus, 5-7 dm.

tall. Stem leafy and glabrous on the lower half, bracteate and glandular-pubescent

above; bracts acuminate, 1.5-3.5 cm. long. Leaves five to eight, rather large,

with conspicuous inflated clasping petioles; petioles tubular at the base, up to

4 cm. long; lamina obliquely elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, thick-membranaceous,

7.5-11.5 cm. long, 2-3.5 cm. wide. Raceme spicate, cylindrical, rather densely

flowered, 6.5-7 cm. long, 2.5 cm. in diameter; rachis glandular-pubescent. Floral

ee

orre

FIG. 37. Goodyera major. 1, plant (X 1A}\ 2, flower, side view (X 5); 3,

flower, spread open (X 3); 4, lip, partly spread out (X 6). Drawn by G. W.

Dillon.

139

140 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, glandular-pubescent, 9-12 mm. long, about

3.5 mm. wide near the base. Flowers ringent, with stout glandular-pubescent

pedicellate ovaries that are about 1 cm. long. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, tapering

to an obtuse apex, 1-nerved, canaliculate, 6-6.5 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide.

Lateral sepals somewhat oblique, ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, 1-nerved, concave

below, 6.5 mm. long, 3.2 mm. wide below the middle. Petals with a slender claw,

adherent to the dorsal sepal, semirhombic, obtuse, 1-nerved, erose on the outer

margin, slightly denticulate on the inner margin above the middle, 6 mm. long, 2.5

mm. wide about the middle. Lip sessile, arcuate in natural position, with a globose-

saccate base, the sac about 2.5 mm. deep and provided with papillae on the inner

surface, 3-nerved, erose on the margins above the middle; when spread out broadly

oblong-pandurate with a suborbicular-ovate base, 6 mm. long, 4.5 mm. wide across

the base, 2.5-3 mm. wide across the apical portion, constricted above the middle

and dilated at the broadly rounded to truncate or retuse apex, the apical portion

minutely plicate. Column stout, terete, about 4 mm. long.

Goodyera major is the largest known Central American species

in this genus. The lip is nearest in shape to that of G. modesta

Schltr., a Costa Rican species. However, G. modesta, besides having

much smaller flowers than G. major, has an entire lip and linear petals.

The nearest ally, G. dolabripetala (Ames) Schltr., not only has a

laxly flowered raceme of smaller flowers, but the lip has entire

margins and is described and illustrated as ovate-lanceolate.

The following collection is in fruit but probably represents this

species. Zacapa: Terrestrial, between Loma El Picacho and Cerro

de Monos, Steyermark 42785.

Goodyera striata Reichb. f. Linnaea 18: 409. 1844.

In mixed oak-pine forests, in leaf mold and on decaying stumps

and logs in dense moist forests, up to 3,000 meters alt. Rather

common in Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant slender, 2.4-5.2 dm. tall; stem densely or sparingly pubescent with

whitish or brown articulated hairs, green or tinged with pink. Leaves basal or

on the lower part of the stem, with short- winged petioles; lamina ovate to lanceo-

late, acute to shortly acuminate, glabrous, variegated with white, 3.5-10 cm. long,

1.5-4 cm. wide; petiole 2.5-4 cm. long. Spike narrowly cylindrical-pyramidal,

6-19 cm. long, about 1.5 cm. in diameter. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 7-12 mm.

long. Flowers small, dull white, yellowish or pale pink. Dorsal sepal lanceolate,

acute to acuminate, concave below, recurved at the apex, 3.5-4.2 mm. long, 1.5-2

mm. wide. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, acute or shortly acuminate, 3.5-4.1

mm. long, about 2.2 mm. wide. Petals oblanceolate, acute, dilated on the outer

margin above the middle, 3.3-4.5 mm. long, about 1.8 mm. wide. Lip sessile,

in natural position deeply concave with the margins upturned, when spread out

suborbicular-ovate, obtuse to acute, 3.2-4.2 mm. long, 3.5-4.2 mm. wide; disk

with small sacs at base, the sacs bearing several fleshy hooked processes, with two

hairy fleshy glands on each side near the base. Column 2.5 mm. long. Capsule

obliquely ellipsoid, about 1 cm. long.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 141

Alta Verapaz: Samac, Johnson 779. — Chimaltenango: Chichavac,

Skutch 557. Region of Los Positos, above Las Calderas, Standley

80234; 80301.— Amatitlan: Pacaya, Johnston 1401.— Chiquimula:

Upper slopes of Montana Tajuran, in vicinity of El Barriol, Steyer-

mark 30827. — El Progreso: Sierra de las Minas, between Finca

Piamonte and top of Montana Piamonte, along Joya Pacayal,

Steyermark 43666. — Guatemala: Volcan de Pacaya, above Las

Calderas, Standley 58449. Calderas, Johnston 1116. — Huehuete-

nango: Cerro Canana, between Nucapuxlac and Canana, Sierra de

los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 49106. Moist forest on summit,

Cerro Pixpix, above San Ildefonso Ixtahuacan, Steyermark 50648. —

Jalapa: Volcan Jumay, north of Jalapa, Steyermark 32452. — San

Marcos: Between San Sebastian and Todos Santos, upper slopes

of Volcan Tajumulco, Steyermark 36961. Bordering Rio Vega,

between San Rafael at northeast portion of Volcan Tacana and

Guatemala-Mexico line, Steyermark 36362. — Solola: Volcan Santa

Clara, south-facing slopes to summit, Steyermark 46970. One-third

way up slopes, Volcan San Pedro, north-facing slopes towards Lago

de Atitlan, above village of San Pedro, Steyermark 47262. — Zacapa:

Upper reaches of Rio Sitio Nuevo, Steyermark 43239. Sierra de

las Minas, in cloud forest, between Loma El Picacho and Cerro de

Monos, Steyermark 42784.— Volcan Zunil, Skutch 933; 934.

16. "ERYTHRODES Biume

Terrestrial leafy herbs, with roots at the base of the stem or from the nodes

on the lower part of the stem. Stem erect or prostrate, ascending, often provided

with sheathing bracts. Leaves with short petioles that surround the stem at the

base, ovate to lanceolate, usually reticulate- veined. Inflorescence a dense or loose

spicate raceme of small subsessile flowers. Sepals free, erect or spreading. Petals

coherent with the dorsal sepal to form a galea. Lip lobed or occasionally simple,

produced below into a simple or didymous saccate spur, ascending from the base

of the column, which it lightly embraces. Spur usually provided with four or more

mammillate calli or callus-like structures on the interior near the base. Column

short ; anther erect, the two cells contiguous, distinct ; pollinia two, sectile or granular.

This genus consists of about 100 species, which are found in the

tropics and sub tropics of both hemispheres. These species are at

times most perplexing, particularly since a number of ill-defined

concepts have been segregated. The apical lobule of the lip may be

variously interpreted as being simple, 2-lobed or 3-lobulate. An

effort has been made to clarify this difficulty in critical cases. The

typically variegated leaves of many of the species and the spurred

lip are characteristic of the genus.

142 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

1. Lip ovate, not constricted E. ovatilabia.

1. Lip not ovate, more or less constricted.

2. Lip including the saccate spur less than 7 mm. long; lamina below the

constriction elliptic-oblong to suborbicular, or linear in E. purpurea.

3. Lip abruptly dilated at the apex into two oblong retrorsely recurved

lateral lobes E. purpurea.

3. Lip not 2-lobed at the apex.

4. Apical lobe of the lip ovate-subreniform, mucronate or obtuse.

E. Tuerckheimii.

4. Apical lobe of the lip suborbicular-obcordate or suborbicular and

apiculate.

5. Apical lobe of the lip conspicuously 3-lobulate at the apex; bracts

shorter than the flowers at anthesis; plants terrestrial. .£7. querceticola.

5. Apical lobe of the lip not 3-lobulate, at most apiculate; bracts folia-

ceous, usually exceeding the flowers at anthesis; plants epiphytic.

E. querceticola var. venustula.

2. Lip including the spur more than 7 mm. long; lamina below the constriction

linear, obovate or cuneate.

6. Lip abruptly dilated at the apex into two oblong retrorsely recurved

lateral lobes E. purpurea.

6. Lip not as above.

7. Lip cuneate or narrowly triangular-ovate below the short narrow

isthmus, mostly wider than the apical lobe; apical lobe transversely

linear, mucronate E. vesicifera.

1. Lip obovate-obcordate below the constriction, much narrower than

the apical lobe; apical lobe orbicular-cordate E. stictophylla.

Erythrodes ovatilabia Ames & Correll, Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harv.

Univ. 10, no. 4: 70. pi. 5. 1942 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Chiquimula:

Jalapa, Volcan Jumay, north of Jalapa, alt. 1,300-2,200 meters,

December 1, 1939, J. A. Steyermark 32471). Figure 38.

Terrestrial in oak forest, usually at high elevations, up to 3,000

meters alt. Rare in Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant from a prostrate rhizome, erect-ascending, 3-4 dm. tall. Stem slender,

pubescent with whitish articulated hairs, leafy on the lower fourth, bracteate above;

bracts acuminate, spreading, up to 3.5 cm. long. Leaves five to eight, petiolate;

petiole tubular-inflated below, enveloping the stem, up to 3 cm. long; lamina

oblique, ovate-elliptic to broadly elliptic, acute to subacuminate, rounded or

tapering at the base, dark green above with a whitish mid-nerve, gray-green

beneath, 3-8.5 cm. long, 1.4-3 cm. wide. Raceme densely flowered, spicate,

cylindrical, up to 7 cm. long and 2 cm. in diameter; rachis pubescent. Floral bracts

ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 4-7 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide near the base.

Flowers small, with pubescent pedicellate ovaries that are up to 6 mm. long. Sepals

lanceolate to narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate or tapering to a narrowly

subobtuse apex, 1-nerved, 4.8-5 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide below the middle.

Petals adherent to the dorsal sepal, semirhombic, narrowly cuneate at the base,

obtuse to subacute, 1-nerved, about 4.5 mm. long and 1.5 mm. wide across the

dilated middle portion. Lip produced at the base into a slightly bilobed saccate

spur, about 7 mm. long including the spur; lamina thin, when spread out ovate

(sometimes narrowly so), obtuse to acute, usually with the margins slightly undu-

FIG. 38. Erythrodes ovatilabia. 1, plant (X 1); 2, flower, side view (X 5);

3, dorsal sepal (X 5); 4, lip, partly spread out (X 5); 5, lateral sepal (X 5);

6, petal (X 5). Drawn by G. W. Dillon.

143

144 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

late, 3-nerved, 4 mm. long, 2.5 mm. wide at the base. Column short, thick, about

2.5 mm. long.

Erythrodes ovatilabia is one of the few American species in the

genus having a simple lip. Its nearest ally, E. secunda Ames, from

Mexico, is a much smaller plant with small ovate-subcordate leaves

and a laxly few-flowered secund inflorescence. The essentially oval

lip of E. secunda has a thickened disk and a somewhat constricted

crisped apex. The petals are also spatulate instead of being semi-

rhombic as in E. ovatilabia.

Chiquimula: Upper slopes of Montana Tajuran, in vicinity of

El Barriol, Steyermark 30826. — San Marcos: Slopes of barrancas

tributary to and bordering Rio Vega, between San Rafael at north-

east portion of Volcan Tacana and Guatemala-Mexico line, Steyer-

mark 36363 (in part).

Erythrodes purpurea Ames, Orch., Fasc. V: 28. 1915. Physurus

purpurea Ames, Orch., Fasc. II: 259. 1908 (type: Guatemala, Dept.

Alta Verapaz, Cubilgiiitz, June, 1904, H. von Turckheim 8759).

P. luniferus Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 199. 1918 (type: Guate-

mala, bank of the Sacinia River, between Mazatenango and San

Francisco, January, 1875, Bernoulli & Cario 669). P. argyrostictus

Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 16: 440. 1920 (type: Guatemala, Dept.

Alta Verapaz, Cubilgiiitz, April, 1913, H. von Turckheim 4054).

Erythrodes lunifera Ames, Orch., Fasc. VII: 71. 1922.

In leaf mold or rich soil of wet dense forests, up to 1,300 meters

alt. Rather common in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Costa

Rica.

Plant erect or ascending, slender, 1.2-3 dm. tall; scape leafy, pubescent above

with brown articulated hairs. Leaves with short petioles that are about 2 cm. long,

obliquely ovate, lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, acute or acuminate, usually dark or

pale green flecked with white or reticulate with white or deep green, 3-9 cm. long,

1-3.3 cm. wide. Raceme loosely flowered, cylindrical, 5-20 cm. long, up to 2 cm.

in diameter. Bracts linear-lanceolate, acuminate, incurved, scarious, 5-10 mm.

long. Flowers white or greenish white. Sepals somewhat pubescent with articu-

lated hairs on the outer surface, usually with a tuft of hairs localized near the

apex; dorsal sepal linear-liguliform, obtuse, longitudinally concave, 4-5.2 (rarely 3)

mm. long, about 1.8 mm. wide; lateral sepals obliquely lanceolate, obtuse, 4-5.5

mm. long, 1.2-1.8 mm. wide. Petals linear to linear-oblanceolate, obtuse, slightly

oblique, minutely ciliate along the margin above the middle, 4-5 mm. long, 1-1.5

mm. wide. Lip 6-8.5 mm. long including the saccate spur; lamina linear with the

sides upturned, abruptly dilated or divided and reflexed at the apex into two

oblong retrorsely recurved lateral lobules that are minutely ciliate, with a short

mucro in the shallow sinus at the apex, 3.8-6 mm. wide across the apical lobules

when spread out. Capsule ovoid, about 8 mm. long.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 145

This species is variable in its habit. Most of the plants have

short peduncles while others have peduncles up to 13.5 cm. in length.

The leaves are usually green flecked with silver-white or reticulate-

veined with darker green or white. However, they may be variously

pigmented as in the case of plants of other species in the genus,

such as E. querceticola. Several South American segregates approach

E. purpurea very closely and it is possible that with further study

they may be combined with this species.

Alta Verapaz: Cubilgiiitz, Turckheim 7678; 8463. — Amatitlan:

Pacaya, J. R. Johnston 1573. — Escuintla: Finca Monterrey, south

slope of Volcan de Fuego, Standley 64565. Finca El Zapote, Margaret

W. Lewis 216. — Huehuetenango: Forested slopes in vicinity of Ixcan,

Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 49429. — Pete*n: Low forest

between Finca Yalpemech and Chinaja, Steyermark 45439. — Suchite-

pequez: Finca Moca, F. W. Hunnewell 14670; A. F. Skutch 2112.

Erythrodes querceticola (Lindl.) Ames, Orch., Fasc. V: 29.

1915. Physurus querceticola Lindl. Gen. & Sp. Orch. PL 505. 1840.

P. vaginatus Hook. Ic. PI. t. 449. 1842 (type: Guatemala, G. U.

Skinner). Erythrodes vaginata (Hook.) Ames, Orch., Fasc. V: 29.

1915. Physurus humidicola Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 198. 1918

(type: Guatemala, Chilion near Mazatenango, August, 1867, Ber-

noulli & Cario 477). P. trilobulatus Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15:

199. 1918 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Huehuetenango, between Sta.

Cruz Almor and Ixcan, September, 1876, Bernoulli & Cario 852).

Figure 39.

In deep humus and leaf mold of shady barrancas and ravines,

and in dense thickets among rocks. Widespread and rather common

along the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas, the West Indies, Mexico

and Central America to northern South America(?).

Plant slender or rarely stout, glabrous throughout, 6-43 cm. tall; stem leafy,

erect or ascending, light green or brownish green. Leaves with short petioles;

lamina ovate, ovate-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, acute to acuminate, broadly

rounded to subcordate at the base, thin, light or dark green, usually with whitish

reticulate veins, drying dull gray-green, straw-color or purplish brown, 1.5-8 cm.

long, 1-3 cm. wide below the middle; petiole thin, translucent, surrounding the

stem at the base, about 2 cm. long. Raceme few- to many-flowered, loose or dense,

1.5-10 cm. long, 1-2 cm. in diameter. Bracts broadly ovate to lanceolate, acute

or acuminate, usually scarious, 4.5-7 mm. long. Flowers subsessile, yellowish

green or white. Dorsal sepal narrowly ovate-oblong to lanceolate, subacute to

obtuse, concave, 3-4 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide. Lateral sepals somewhat obliquely

ovate, oblong-lanceolate or linear-oblong, obtuse or subacute, 3-4.5 mm. long,

146 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

1-2 mm. wide. Petals obliquely linear to linear-lanceolate, obtuse to acute, 3-4.5

mm. long, 1-1.3 mm. wide. Lip 5-7 mm. long including the saccate spur; lamina

panduriform, with a conspicuous sinus on each side above the middle, the basal

half suborbicular, concave, thickened and partly embracing the column, the upper

half suborbicular-obcordate and shallowly or conspicuously 3-lobulate at the apex,

2-2.5 mm. wide across the divergent and broadly rounded lateral lobes, apical

lobe triangular-apiculate and strongly reflexed. Spur saccate, descending, provided

with three conspicuous nerves. Capsule ellipsoid, 7-9 mm. long.

This species is extremely variable, being represented by several

types of habit and numerous variations in the form of the apical

portion of the lip of the flowers.

Alta Verapaz: Pansamala, Turckheim 1015. Cubilgiiitz, Turck-

heim 8003; Turckheim II 204. — Chimaltenango : Lower and middle

southwestern slopes of Volcan Fuego, above Finca Montevideo,

along Barranca Espinazo and tributary of Rio Pantaleon, Steyermark

52116. — Izabal: Along Rio Bonita, Steyermark 41735. — Quezal-

tenango: Colomba, Skutch 1350. — Volcan Zunil, Skutch 980.

Erythrodes querceticola var. venustula (Ames) Correll,

Lloydia 10: 210. 1947. Physurus venustulus Ames, Orch., Fasc. II:

261. 1908 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Cubilgiiitz,

December, 1903, H. von Turckheim 8591).

Epiphytic. Rare in Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Variety venustula is best distinguished from the typical form of the species by

its long floral bracts, which are foliaceous, 6-20 mm. long and mostly exceeding

the flowers at anthesis. The variety is usually epiphytic in habitat, whereas

typical E. querceticola is apparently entirely terrestrial. This distinction, however,

is arbitrary because terrestrial and epiphytic plants are often found in the same

species. The plants of variety venustula are weak and drooping, perhaps because

of their epiphytic habitat. The apical lobule of the lip of the variety is scarcely

or not at all 3-lobed and prominently apiculate as in the species. The flowers

may be tinged with red.

Izabal: Epiphyte on branch along Rio Tameja, Cerro San Gil,

alt. 50 meters, Steyermark 41814. — Guatemala: Epiphytic, Turckheim

II 881.

Erythrodes stictophylla (Schltr.) Ames, Orch., Fasc. VII: 76.

1922. Physurus stictophylla Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 249. 1911

FIG. 39. Erythrodes querceticola. 1, plant (X 1); 2, flower, side view (X 5);

3, dorsal sepal (X 5) ; 4, petal (X 5) ; 5, lateral sepal (X 5) ; 6, lip and spur, front

view (X 5); 7, fruits (X 1). Drawn by G. W. Dillon.

147

148 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

(type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, in rotten leaves in high

woods near Coban, November, 1907, H. von Turckheim II 1894).

In dense forest, up to 1,400 meters alt. Guatemala.

Plant erect or ascending, 1.4-2.5 dm. tall; scape slender, densely silky pubes-

cent. Leaves on the lower half of the stem, with short petioles that are about 1.5

cm. long, obliquely ovate or lanceolate, acute or shortly acuminate, dark green

mottled with white, glabrous, 2.5-5.5 cm. long, 1.3-2.6 cm. wide. Raceme loosely

few-flowered, 4-7 cm. long, about 2 cm. in diameter. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate,

incurved, glabrous, scarious, 6-9 mm. long. Flowers greenish white, marked with

reddish brown. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, obtuse, longitudinally concave, 5.2-6 mm.

long, about 2 mm. wide. Lateral sepals obliquely linear-lanceolate or linear-

elliptic, obtuse, 5.5-6.5 mm. long, 2-2.3 mm. wide. Petals obliquely narrowly

linear-oblanceolate, obtuse, conspicuously dilated on the outer margin, 5-5.2 mm.

long, about 1.5 mm. wide. Lip 7.5-9 mm. long including the short saccate spur;

lamina pandurate, obtuse, conspicuously constricted at the middle, the lower half

obovate-obcordate and about 2.5 mm. wide, the apical half orbicular-ovate to

orbicular-cordate, strongly reflexed in natural position and 3.5-4.2 mm. wide.

Column short, about 3 mm. long. Capsule cylindrical, about 6 mm. long.

This species is distinctive in that the apical lobule of the lip is

much larger than the basal half and the petals are conspicuously

dilated on the outer margin. The scape of this species is also densely

silky-pubescent, approaching a tomentum.

Alta Verapaz: Finca Volcan, Wilson 318.

Erythrodes Tuerckheimii (Schltr.) Ames, Orch., Fasc. VII:

77. 1922. Physurus Tuerckheimii Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 2: 132.

1906 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, in high woods near

Cubilgiiitz, July, 1903, H. von Turckheim 733). P. polygonatus

Ames, Orch., Fasc. II: 259. 1908 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta

Verapaz, Cubilgiiitz, April, 1900, H. von Turckheim 7678).

Terrestrial in mountain forests, up to 1,800 meters alt. Rare in

Guatemala and Honduras.

Plant erect or ascending, slender, 2.5-4 dm. tall; stem pubescent with brown

articulated hairs. Leaves on the lower part of the stem, with short petioles,

obliquely ovate, oblong-elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, acute or shortly acuminate,

glabrous, 3-7 cm. long, 1.5-3.2 cm. wide. Raceme loosely or densely flowered,

cylindrical, 6-10 cm. long, about 1 cm. in diameter. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate,

scarious, 7-11 mm. long. Flowers small, pink or brownish marked with white.

Sepals sparingly pubescent on the outer surface; dorsal sepal linear-lanceolate or

narrowly oblong, obtuse, 2.5-3.2 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals

elliptic-oblong, obtuse, slightly oblique, 3-4 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide. Petals

obliquely oblanceolate or linear-spatulate, obtuse, 3.2-4 mm. long. Lip about

5 mm. long including the saccate spur; lamina oblong or broadly elliptic with the

margins upturned, somewhat constricted above and then expanded into a deflexed

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 149

terminal lobule; terminal lobule ovate-subreniform, obtuse or mucronate, with the

margins minutely papillose, about 2 mm. long and 3 mm. wide.

This species differs from E. vesicifera, to which it is closely allied,

mainly by its smaller flowers and differently formed lip. The lip

of E. Tuerckheimii is an oblong-elliptic type with an ovate-subreni-

form apical lobule; whereas the lip of E. vesicifera is of a cuneate

type with the apical lobule more or less 3-lobulate or transversely

linear with a rather prominent mucro and separated from the rest

of the lip by a short isthmus.

Alta Verapaz: Cubilgiiitz, Turckheim 8463.

Erythrodes vesicifera (Reichb. f.) Ames, Orch., Fasc. VII: 78.

1922. Physurus vesicifer Reichb. f . Beitr. Orch. Centr.-Am. 63. 1866.

Figure 40.

In leaf mold and rich soil of dense wet forest and on mossy

banks, up to 2,400 meters alt. Rather widespread in Mexico and

Central America.

Plant erect or ascending, slender, 1.4-3.6 dm. tall; stem pubescent with brown

or whitish articulated hairs. Leaves on the lower part of the stem, with short

petioles, obliquely ovate to lanceolate, acute or shortly acuminate, variously

pigmented and mottled, usually green or bronze-green, mostly undulate-crenulate

along the margins, 3.5-7 cm. long, 1.5-3 cm. wide. Raceme loosely or densely

flowered, 4-15 cm. long, 1.5-2 cm. in diameter. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate,

incurved, scarious, 6-10 mm. long. Flowers white. Sepals and petals usually

conspicuously ciliate along the margins. Sepals elliptic to linear-oblong, obtuse

or acute, 5-6 mm. long, 2-2.2 mm. wide. Petals obliquely oblong or oblong-

oblanceolate, obtuse, 5-6 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide. Lip 7-9 mm. long including

the saccate spur; lamina 2-3.5 mm. wide below the middle, cuneate to narrowly

triangular-ovate, constricted above to form a short narrow isthmus and then

expanded into an apical lobule that is more or less 3-lobulate or with a transversely

linear lobule having a rather prominent mucro; lobule up to 3 mm. wide.

Santa Rosa: Santa Rosa and Dept. Quiche", San Miguel Uspantan,

Heyde & Lux 3498. Jumaytepeque, Heyde & Lux 3854.

QUESTIONABLE AND EXCLUDED SPECIES

Erythrodes loxoglottis (Reichb. f.) Ames. Physurus loxoglottis

Reichb. f. Beitr. Orch. Centr.-Am. 64. 1866 (type: Guatemala, in

a barranca near Guatemala, Wendland). It has not been possible

to place this nondescript species satisfactorily. It is very closely

allied to E. vesicifera and may well be placed with it for the present.

Erythrodes maculata (Hook.) Ames was reported from Guatemala

by J. D. Smith, Enum. PI. Guat. 7: 50. 1905 (as Physurus maculatus

FIG. 40. Erythrodes vesicifera. Plant (X %). Right (top to bottom) : column

(enlarged) ; lip, spread out ( X 5) ; flower, side view, partly spread open ( X 4) ; petal

(X 5); dorsal sepal (X 5); lateral sepal (X 5). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

150

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 151

Hook.). However, an examination of the specimen (Turckheim

8003) upon which this report was based revealed that it is E. querceti-

cola, to which E. maculata may eventually be referred.

17. TROPIDIA Blume

Terrestrial, coarse, slender, leafy and often branching herbs with thick fibrous

roots on a short rhizome. Leaves oblong-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, mem-

branaceous, strongly veined and plicate. Inflorescence a compound raceme of

numerous small flowers. Lateral sepals connate at the base to form an inconspicu-

ous sac or mentum. Petals and dorsal sepal similar. Lip entire, sessile, with a

broadly saccate base, canaliculate, parallel to and partly embracing the column.

Column short, straight; anther and rostellum about equal in length; anther erect,

lying against the rostellum; pollinia 2, granulose, sectile. Capsule spreading.

This is a small genus of about thirty-five species, which are natives

mainly of the East Indies, Malaya, China and Japan. It is repre-

sented in this hemisphere by one species.

Tropidia polystachya (Sw.) Ames, Orch., Fasc. II: 262. 1908.

Serapias polystachya Sw. Fl. Ind. Occ. 1415. 1799. Figure 41.

In well-drained stony soil of open woods, shaded hills and in

humus and peaty soil in brushwood, up to 500 meters alt. Wide-

spread but not common in southern Florida, the West Indies, Mexico,

Guatemala, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands.

Plant leafy, glabrous throughout, 2.5-5.3 dm. tall. Leaves distichous, on the

upper part of the stem, oblong-elliptic to lanceolate, acute to long-acuminate,

thin, drying grayish, 6-28 cm. long, 1.5-5.5 cm. wide. Raceme compound,

terminal, on a slender naked peduncle, 3-9 cm. long (flowers rarely occurring also

in the axils of leaves along the stem). Bracts subulate to ovate-lanceolate, acute

or acuminate with a prominent midrib and hyaline margins, 2-4 mm. long (bracts

subtending each branch of the inflorescence much longer, narrowly lanceolate,

otherwise similar to the floral bracts). Flowers greenish white or reddish. Dorsal

sepal oblong-elliptic, acute, strongly concave, 6-7 mm. long, 2-2.3 mm. wide.

Lateral sepals somewhat obliquely oblong-elliptic, acute, gibbous at the base,

6-7 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide. Petals narrowly ovate to linear-oblong, truncate

to subacute at the apex, 5.5-6.2 mm. long, 2-2.3 mm. wide. Lip 4.5-6.5 mm.

long, cymbiform, concave-saccate with basal margins strongly involute, thickened

with a median groove at the base, constricted near the middle and with the apex

thin and somewhat expanded, broadly rounded and often retuse-apiculate; disk

pubescent at the middle, with two intramarginal ridges that converge near the

apex. Column 3-4 mm. long, terete. Capsule oblong-ellipsoid, prominently

6-ribbed, becoming black at maturity.

Guatemala (fide Schlechter, Beih. Bot. Centralbl. Am. 36: 437.

1918).

FIG. 41. Tropidia polystachya. Plant (X M); 1, column, to show anther

(a) and upper part of ovary ( X 4) ; 2, dorsal sepal ( X 4) ; 3, petals (X 4) ; 4, column,

front- ventral view and upper part of ovary (X 4) ; 5, lateral sepals (X 4) ; 6, lip,

from above (X 4). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

152

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 153

18. COR YMBORCHIS Thou.

Terrestrial coarse tall leafy herbs, sometimes branching, with thick woody

roots clustered on the short rhizome. Sheaths decaying below, spathaceous or

passing into leaves above. Leaves ample, plicate, chartaceous, with the petioles

sheathing the stem. Flowers rather small, subsessile, in short terminal or axillary

subcorymbose panicles. Bracts small, ovate. Sepals and petals linear to oblanceo-

late. Lip erect from the base of the column and parallel with the column, free,

broadly ovate to spatulate, canaliculate, recurved at the apex. Column long,

erect, clavellate, terminated by two lobules or auricles; stigma at the base of an

erect acuminate rostellum; clinandrium short. Anther erect, narrow, nearly as

long as the rostellum, acuminate, with the cells contiguous; pollinia granular,

attached to a subulate stalk that depends from a peltate gland of the rostellum;

on the fall of the pollinia the rostellum remains bifid. Capsule cylindrical, sub-

terete, crowned by the remains of the perianth.

In this genus there are about a dozen species, which are widely

dispersed through the tropics of the world. Two of them are to be

found in the western hemisphere.

Corymborchis forcipigera (Reichb. f.) L. 0. Wms. Bot. Mus.

Leafl. Harv. Univ. 12, no. 7: 237. 1946. Macrostylis forcipigera

Reichb. f. Bonpl. 2: 96. 1854. Corymborchis cubensis Acufia in Bol.

T£c. 60, Est. Exp. Agron. Santiago de Las Vegas 51. 1939; emend,

and validated by Correll in Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harv. Univ. 8: 125,

fig. 1. 1940. Figures 42, 43.1

Terrestrial in rich soil and humus of shaded dense forests and

thickets, up to 1,300 meters alt. Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica

and the West Indies.

Plant simple, tall, stout, erect, up to 2 meters tall, leaf-sheaths, peduncles

and lower surface of the young leaves usually lepidote with brownish scales. Stem

terete, occasionally geniculate at the base. Leaves large, crowded on the upper

part of the stem, elliptic-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, long-acuminate, dis-

tichous, sessile, plicate and conspicuously many-nerved, 15-45 cm. long, 3-7.5 cm.

wide. Inflorescences one to three lax corymbose panicles, arising in the axils of

the uppermost leaves, up to 12 cm. long; peduncle slender, usually somewhat

lepidote, up to 8.5 cm. long. Floral bracts ovate-triangular to lanceolate, acute

to acuminate, concave and clasping at the base, 3-18 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide

near the base, those subtending the branches of the inflorescence longest. Flowers

greenish white or white, arcuate, spreading. Sepals canaliculate, fleshy-thickened,

conspicuously dorsally carinate along the mid-nerve; dorsal sepal linear to linear-

oblanceolate, acute to shortly acuminate, incurved, 12-19 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm.

wide above the middle; lateral sepals linear-oblanceolate, acute or abruptly and

shortly acuminate, in natural position prominently falcate-recurved, 10-15 mm.

long, 2-2.5 mm. wide above the middle. Petals obliquely linear to oblanceolate,

acute or abruptly and shortly acuminate, somewhat dilated and concave at the

1 Figures 42 and 43 were combined after the manuscript had been set in type.

FIGS. 42, 43. Corymborchis forcipigera. 1, plant (X Ve); 2, upper flowering

portion of plant (X }/£) ; 3, lip, spread out ( X 3). C. flava. 4, lip, spread out ( X 3).

The only other species of Corymborchis occurring in this hemisphere, from Costa

Rica southward. Drawn by D. E. Tibbitts.

154

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 155

apex with the margins crisped, thinner than the sepals, conspicuously dorsally

carinate along the mid-nerve, 11-13.5 mm. long, 2.5-3.5 mm. wide above the

middle. Lip in natural position arcuate-decurved above the middle, when spread

out linear-spatulate, acute, cucullate-concave and rounded at the base, dorsally

carinate along the thickened mid-nerve, 11-14 mm. long; basal portion linear,

canaliculate, 6-8 mm. long, 1.5-3 mm. wide; apical portion dilated, ovate to oval,

reflexed, with the margins usually undulate-crisped, 5-6 mm. long, 3-4.5 mm. wide;

disk with an intramarginal linear callus on each side extending from the base to

about the middle of the apical portion. Column clavellate, terete below, 10-12

mm. long. Capsule cylindrical, ribbed, 1.5-2 cm. long.

Alta Verapaz: Near Pansamala, Turckheim 1021. Cubilgiiitz,

Turckheim 8601. — Solola: South-facing slopes of Volcan Atitlan,

above Finca Moca, Steyermark 47928.

The following collections are sterile but probably represent this

species: Alta Verapaz: Montana Yxocubvain, 2J/6 miles west of

Cubilgiiitz, Steyermark 44989.— Izabal: Cerro San Gil, damp rain-

forest, along Rio Frio, Steyermark 39898.

19. STELISSwartz

Small epiphytic caespitose herbs with a solitary leaf at the apex; secondary

stems provided with loosely clasping sheaths. Roots fibrous, clustered, from a

short creeping stem. Leaves fleshy or coriaceous, subsessile or petiolate. Flowers

minute or small, numerous, on one or more long slender racemes that rise in the

axil of the leaf. Sepals subequal or with the dorsal sepal longest, spreading or

cleistogamous, more or less connate; lateral sepals slightly oblique. Petals much

shorter than the sepals, with thickened margins. Lip sessile, variously shaped,

simple or 3-lobed, about as long as the petals. Column without a foot, short,

thickened above; rostellum Ungulate; anther terminal, operculate; pollinia 2,

waxy, pyriform. Capsule small, ovoid to cylindrical, 3-angled.

In this genus there are more than two hundred species, all natives

of tropical America where they occur from Mexico and the West

Indies to Brazil and Peru. Because of the usually very small petals

and lip, which are fleshy and pliable, the species of Stelis are difficult

to study in herbarium specimens. Flower-color of the species seems

to be extremely variable. Flowers of the same species growing in

sun or shade often vary in color, accordingly, from greenish yellow

to purplish.

1. Dorsal sepal much longer than the lateral sepals, spreading conspicuously,

2-4 mm. long S. despectans.

1. Dorsal and lateral sepals subequal.

2. Column about twice as long as the petals S. ovatilabia.

2. Column about equal to the petals in length.

3. Lip with a tuft of cilia on each side at the base, minutely mucronate at

the apex S. tenuissima.

3. Lip without a tuft of cilia on each side at the base.

156 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

4. Lip not of an ovate, rhombic or reniform type, or with an apiculate

or acuminate apex, or with the sepals conspicuously ciliate along the

margins.

5. Lip with an acuminate apex or with a conspicuous deltoid-acuminate

apicule.

6. Lip 1 mm. long, truncate or broadly rounded, long-apiculate.

S. guatemalensis.

6. Lip less than 1 mm. long, not truncate.

7. Lip suborbicular-obovate with a prominent deltoid acuminate

apicule; sepals glabrous S. hymenantha.

7. Lip rhombic-lanceolate, inner surface of the sepals short-pubes-

cent.

8. Petals broadly cuneate, rounded-truncate at the apex.

S. rubens.

8. Petals obliquely obovate-cuneate with a conspicuous apicule

at the apex S. rubens var. oxypetala.

5. Lip not acuminate at the apex.

9. Lip narrowly oblong or oblong-quadrate.

10. Lip truncate and sinuately tridentate or apiculate at the apex.

S. cleistogama.

10. Lip obtuse with 2 median and marginal falcate calli or lobes

curving inward toward the center of the disk. . . .S. microchila.

9. Lip not oblong or oblong-quadrate; sepals usually ciliate on the

margins.

11. Lip with a minute erect apiculate process on the anterior margin,

thick-fleshy, quadrate to semiglobular or rhombic.

12. Lateral sepals 5-nerved S. leucopogon.

12. Lateral sepals 3-nerved S. Endresii.

11. Lip without an apiculate process.

13. Lip oval or occasionally ovate S. ciliaris.

13. Lip broadly reniform S. chihobensis.

4. Lip of an ovate, rhombic or reniform type, subtruncate, broadly

rounded or obtuse at the apex; sepals glabrous.

14. Floral bracts large, amplexicaul-peltiform with spreading, somewhat

revolute margins S. parvula.

14. Floral bracts ovate-cucullate or tubular, not conspicuously spread-

ing.

15. Plants large, up to 43 cm. tall; secondary stem more than 4 cm.

long; lip semiorbicular to subreniform, broadly rounded or obtuse

at the apex S. purpurascens.

15. Plants small, less than 20 cm. tall; secondary stem less than 4 cm.

long; lip not suborbicular or reniform.

16. Lip somewhat cuneate or rhombic-ovate, subtruncate or broadly

obtuse at the apex, about 0.5 mm. long.

17. Petals obovate-cuneate, from a narrow base; lip with 2

approximate calli in the middle of the disk; sepals often with

revolute margins S. gracilis.

17. Petals broadly flabellate from a wide base; lip with a large

fleshy subquadrate callus above the middle of the disk;

sepals with incurved margins S. Johnsonii.

16. Lip not rhombic-cuneate, 0.75-1 mm. long, with a transverse

callus near the base of the disk.

18. Lip triangular-ovate, bidentate at the base; leaves usually

linear S. bidentata.

18. Lip from a broad, flat base, subrhomboidal, not toothed at

the base; leaves usually oblanceolate S. perplexa.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 157

Stelis bidentata Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 358. 1912 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, near Tactic, Turckheim 511; near

Coban, Turckheim 1842). Figure 44.

Epiphytic on trees, up to 1,800 meters alt. Mexico and Guate-

mala.

FIG. 44. Stelis bidentata. 1, flower (X 21); 2, lip (X 25); 3, petal (X 25).

Drawn by Blanche Ames.

Plant densely caespitose, glabrous, up to 15 cm. tall; secondary stem erect,

short, with one or two sheaths, 1.5-4 cm. long. Leaves erect, linear or narrowly

oblanceolate, obtuse and obliquely bidentate or tridentate at the apex, somewhat

oblique, tapering into the very short petioles, 3-8 cm. long, 2.5-7 mm. wide.

Inflorescence including the peduncle up to 11 cm. long, loosely few-flowered,

slender, filiform. Bracts scarious, broadly ovate-cucullate, shortly acuminate,

1.5-3 mm. long. Flowers small, purplish or white with a greenish, purplish or

reddish brown infusion. Pedicellate ovaries ascending, slender, about as long

as the bracts. Sepals orbicular-ovate, obtuse, concave, 3-nerved, 1.5-2.2 mm.

long, 1.8-2 mm. wide; lateral sepals coherent below the middle. Petals cuneate

to suborbicular-rhombic, broadly obtuse, concave, thickened at the apex, 1 mm.

158

FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

long, about as wide as long. Lip fleshy, triangular-ovate, obtuse, bidentate at

the base, deeply concave in front and at the base, somewhat divided near the base

by a transverse bilobed callus, about 1 mm. long and 0.8 mm. wide.

The flowers of this species are usually closed during the day, but

open at night.

FIG. 45. Stelis chihobensis. 1, flower (X 11); 2, petal (X 21); 3, column

(X 21); 4, lip (X 21). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

Amatitlan: Pacaya, Johnston 1311. Finca Moca, J. Bequaert 48.

Moca, Margaret W. Lewis 73.

Stelis chihobensis Ames, Sched. Orch. 1: 3. 1922 (type: Guate-

mala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Chihob, Johnson 939). Figure 45.

Epiphytic on trees, up to 1,000 meters alt. Guatemala and

Costa Rica.

Plant caespitose, glabrous, up to 22 cm. tall; secondary stem erect, rather

stout, provided with 3 bracts, 4-9 cm. long. Leaves including the short sulcate

petiole 4-9.5 cm. long; lamina ligulate, linear-elliptic, obtuse and obliquely tri-

dentate at the apex, 5-12 mm. wide. Inflorescence including the short peduncle

up to 13 cm. long, loosely many-flowered. Bracts obliquely tubular, acute, shorter

STEJLIS

FIG. 46. Stelis ciliaris. Plant (X 1); 1, flower (about X 9); 2, petal (about

X 13); 3, lip (about X 16); 4, column and lip, front-side view (about X 13).

Drawn by Blanche Ames.

159

160

FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

FIG. 47. Stelis ciliaris. 1, flower

(about X 9); 2, lip, front view (about

X 16); 3, lip, front-side view (about

X 16); 4, column (anther removed;

much enlarged) ; 5, petal (about X 22).

Drawn by Blanche Ames.

FIG. 48. Stelis ciliaris. 1, flower

(about X 9); 2, lip, front-side view

(about X 15); 3, lip, front view (about

X 15); 4, petal (X 17). Drawn by

Blanche Ames.

than the pedicellate ovary, about 1.5 mm. long. Flowers small, distichous, bright

pale green or yellow. Pedicellate ovary about 2 mm. long. Sepals broadly ovate,

obtuse, 3-nerved, glandular-pubescent, the margins minutely ciliolate, about 2 mm.

long and 2 mm. wide. Petals subrhomboidal from a wide base, a little less than

1 mm. long. Lip very fleshy, broadly reniform from a short claw, rounded in

front, concave, traversed by a thick transverse ridge near the middle, minutely

papillose, about 1 mm. long and 1 mm. wide. Column fleshy, dilated toward the

summit. Capsule obliquely ellipsoid-pyriform, becoming black with age, about

7 mm. long.

This species is distinguished from closely related species by its

distinctly ciliolate sepals.

Represented from Guatemala only by the type collection.

Stelis ciliaris Lindl. Comp. Bot. Mag. 2: 353. 1836. Figures

46-48.

On trees in very humid forests, up to 1,000 meters alt. Wide-

spread in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, British Honduras and Costa

Rica.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA

161

Plant caespitose, glabrous, 1-3 dm. tall; secondary stem short, stout, provided

with tubular sheaths, up to 3 cm. long. Leaves linear to elliptic-oblanceolate,

obtuse and obliquely tridentate or retuse at the apex, tapering into the short

petiole, often oblique, erect, 3.5-15 cm. long, 1-3.2 cm. wide. Inflorescence includ-

ing the rather long peduncle up to 27 cm. long, exceeding the leaves, slender, loosely

many-flowered. Bracts short, obliquely tubular, reddish, 1-2 mm. long. Flowers

deep maroon, purplish, showy, small. Pedicellate ovary slender, about 3 mm.

long. Sepals broadly ovate to orbicular-elliptic, broadly rounded to subacute,

3-nerved, mostly conspicuously ciliate on the margins, 2-4 mm. long, 2-2.8 mm.

wide. Petals broadly cuneate, flabellate or subreniform, thickened along the

solitary central vein and above, from a narrow base, 0.75-1.25 mm. long, 1-1.5

mm. wide at the apex. Lip oval or ovate, subtruncate or obtuse and recurved at

the apex, fleshy, the lower margins upturned, 1-2 mm. long, about as wide as long;

disk with a mammillate callus on each side at the base. Column short, mottled

with purple. Capsule obliquely ellipsoid, prominently 6-ribbed, about 1 cm. long.

The illustrations show flowers from three different specimens to

demonstrate variability in this species.

FIG. 49. Stelis cleistogama. 1, column, side view (X 38); 2, petal (X~38);

3, flower, sepals broken apart and spread out (X 20); 4, lip, front view (X 38);

5, lip, front-side view (X 38). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

162 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Alta Verapaz and Chiquimula (eastern portions) : Chocon Planta-

tion, Watson 361.— Izabal: Vicinity of Quirigua, Standley 23900.—

Pete"n: La Libertad, Sabana San Francisco, Lundell 2141.

Stelis cleistogama Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 203. 1918

(type: near Guatemala, July, 1866, Bernoulli & Cario 505). Figure

49.

Epiphytic. Rare in Guatemala.

Plant slender, about 30 cm. tall, glabrous; secondary stem erect, 8-9 cm. long.

Leaves erect, oblanceolate-ligulate, obtuse, tapering gradually into the short

petiole, 7.5-10.5 cm. long including the petiole, 1.5-1.8 cm. wide. Inflorescence

slender, erect, loosely many-flowered, about 10 cm. long. Bracts cucullate,

apiculate. Flowers small, cleistogamous. Sepals ovate, obtuse to acute, 3-nerved,

glandulose on the inner surface, about 2 mm. long and 1.5 mm. wide. Petals

broadly cuneate-obovate, obtuse and thickened verruculose at the apex, 3-nerved,

about 0.75 mm. long and 1 mm. wide. Lip oblong-quadrate, truncate and sinuately

tridentate or apiculate at the apex, about 0.75 mm. long and 0.5 mm. wide; disk

with a thickened transverse callus above the middle, which is excavated in front.

Column short, thick, about as long as the petals.

This species is distinguished from other species of Stelis found in

Guatemala by its oblong-quadrate lip.

Represented from Guatemala only by the type collection.

Stelis despectans Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 8: 453. 1910. Figure

50.

Epiphytic on trees in forests and open lands. Guatemala and

Costa Rica.

Plant small, glabrous, caespitose, 4-19 cm. tall; secondary stem slender,

concealed by stramineous sheaths, 0.5-5 cm. long. Leaves erect, linear to linear-

oblanceolate, subobtuse and minutely tri cuspidate at the apex, 1.5-9 cm. long

including the short petiole, 3-6 mm. wide. Inflorescence 1-2, slightly exceeding

the leaves, loosely many-flowered, up to 12 cm. long including the short peduncle;

raceme fractiflex. Bracts ovate-cucullate to lanceolate-cucullate, apiculate to

acuminate, about 1.5 mm. long. Flowers small, spreading-ringent, nodding, pale

green to yellow. Pedicellate ovary arcuate-decurved, slender, 2-2.5 mm. long.

Sepals adherent at the base, 3-nerved; dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic to elliptic-

lanceolate, subobtuse to acute, ascending, the lower half concave, recurved above

the middle, much longer than the lateral sepals, 2-4 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide;

lateral sepals obliquely ovate-oblong to suborbicular, obtuse to subacute, strongly

concave, 1.5-3.2 mm. long, 1.2-2 mm. wide. Petals obliquely rhombic-obovate

with obtuse angles to broadly flabellate with a broadly rounded apex, fleshy-

thickened along the apical margin, concave, 1-nerved, 0.5-0.75 mm. long, 0.5-0.8

mm. wide. Lip orbicular-ovate-cucullate to subcordate-cucullate, narrowed above

to an obtuse or acute apex, with a thin membranous callus stretched across the

lower half to form a hood, 3-nerved, about 0.75 mm. long and 0.5 mm. wide.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA

163

Column short, thick, 3-lobed at the apex. Capsule obliquely pyriform-ovoid,

conspicuously ribbed, 3-4 mm. long.

Guatemala (fide Schlechter).

FIG. 50. Stelis despectans. 1, petal (X 36); 2, column, front view (X 36);

3, flower (X 12); 4, lip, front-side view (X 36); 5, lip, side view (X 36). Drawn

by Blanche Ames.

Stelis Endresii Reichb. f. Gard. Chron. 1373. 1870. Figure 51.

Epiphytic on trees and shrubs in forests, up to 1,600 meters alt.

Widespread from Mexico through Central America to Panama,

Brazil and Peru.

Plant caespitose, glabrous, up to 2.5 dm. tall. Secondary stem slender, uni-

foliate, up to 5 cm. long, partly concealed by tubular scarious sheaths. Leaf

elliptic-ligulate to oblanceolate, obtuse to rounded at the apex, coriaceous, epetio-

late or with a short petiole, 8-12 cm. long, up to 2 cm. wide above the middle.

Raceme laxly flowered, up to 2.4 dm. long including the peduncle, exceeding the

leaf. Floral bracts infundibuliform, acute, about 2 mm. long, shorter than the

pedicellate ovaries. Flowers pinkish, reddish green or purplish red. Sepals sub-

equal, broadly ovate to suborbicular, broadly obtuse, glandular-papillose within,

2.5-4.5 mm. long, 3-5 mm. wide; dorsal sepal 5-nerved; lateral sepals slightly

164 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

oblique, 3-nerved. Petals broadly cuneate to flabellate, broadly rounded at the

thickened apex, 3-nerved, 0.6-1 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide at the apex. Lip very

fleshy, semiglobular or rhombic, 0.5-1 mm. long and wide, with an erect apicule

at the apex and a thickened ridge along the middle of the upper surface, with the

margins more or less erect to form a thin rim along the sides and in front. Column

dilated upward.

FIG. 51. Stelis Endresti. 1, flower (about X 7); 2, lip, side view (X 20);

3, lip, front view ( X 20); 4, petal ( X 20); 5, column (anther removed; about X 20).

Drawn by Blanche Ames.

This species is allied to S. leucopogon. However, that species

usually has larger flowers in which the lateral sepals are always

distinctly 5-nerved, and the lip is differently formed. No specimen

has been seen from Guatemala. However, since Guatemala is

included in the area of distribution of this species it is included here.

Stelis gracilis Ames, Orch., Fasc. II: 266. 1908 (type: Guate-

mala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Cubilgiiitz, August, 1900, H. von Turck-

heim 7681). Figures 52, 53.

Epiphytic on trees along moist ridges and in dense tropical forests,

up to 1,100 meters. Mexico to Costa Rica.

Plants densely caespitose, glabrous, mostly less than 15 cm. tall; secondary

stem slender, erect or ascending, 1.5-4 cm. long. Leaves linear-oblong to linear-

oblanceolate, obtuse, rigid, pale green, somewhat oblique, 5-13 cm. long, 5-10

mm. wide. Inflorescence including peduncle slender, filiform, about as long as

or exceeding the leaves, up to 15 cm. long. Bracts tubular, obliquely truncate,

apiculate, about 1 mm. long. Flowers minute, greenish white. Pedicellate ovary

\

STELIS aracilis cAmes

FIG. 52. Stelis gracilis. Plant (X 1); 1, flower (X 6); 2, dorsal sepal (X 8);

3, lateral sepal (X 8); 4, petal (X 16); 5, column (X 16); 6, lip (X 16). Original

drawing by Oakes Ames; redrawn by D. E. Tibbitts.

165

166

FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

slender, exceeding the bracts, about 2 mm. long. Sepals similar, ovate, subacute,

the margins revolute, 3-nerved, about 2 mm. long and 1.5 mm. wide. Petals

cuneate, fleshy, especially at or near the apex, about 0.5 mm. long and 1 mm.

wide at the apex. Lip fleshy, ovate-rhombic to somewhat cuneate, about as long

FIG. 53. Stelis gracilis. 1, lip (X 32); 2, anther (greatly enlarged); 3, petal

( X 32) ; 4, column, front view ( X 32) ; 5, petals, lip, and column, front-side view

(X 24); 6, flower, side view (X 12). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

as the petals, somewhat concave in front; disk with 2 approximate calli in the

middle. Column short, triangular; margin of the clinandrium crenate-dentate.

Capsule obliquely cylindrical, prominently 6-ribbed, about 5 mm. long.

Alta Verapaz: Cubilgiiitz, Turckheim II 1891. Chama, Johnson

247.

Stelis guatemalensis Schltr. Bull. Herb. Boiss. 7: 541. 1899

(type: Guatemala, Dept. Huehuetenango, near Yalambohoch, Seler

2316). S. patula Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 359. 1912 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, near Coban and Pansamala, H. von

Turckheim 698; II 1916; II 1478). Figure 54.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 167

Epiphytic on oaks and pines and on trees in dense rain forests,

up to 1,400 meters. Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Plants densely caespitose, glabrous, up to 35 cm. tall; secondary stem slender,

terete, erect, provided with two sheaths, 5-15 cm. long. Leaves linear-oblong,

obtuse and obliquely tridentate at the apex, tapering into the short terete petiole,

occasionally oblique, coriaceous, 5-14 cm. long including petiole, 1-2 cm. wide.

FIG. 54. Stelis guatemalensis. 1, flower (X 17); 2, interior parts of flower

(X 25); 3, lip (X 40); 4, petal (X 40). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

Inflorescence of 1-3 spikes, subsessile, slender, loosely flowered, up to 25 cm. long.

Bracts tubular, obliquely truncate, apiculate, scarious, 1.8-2.5 mm. long. Flowers

small, nodding, spreading, greenish white or reddish. Pedicellate ovary slender,

arcuate-decurved, a little longer than the bracts. Sepals bilabiate, concave, with

involute margins, the lateral ones more or less coherent almost to the apex; dorsal

sepal oblong, obtuse to subacute, 3-nerved, 2.5-3.2 mm. long, 2-3.3 mm. wide; lateral

sepals obliquely ovate to ovate-oblong, subacute, 2.5-3.2 mm. long, about 2 mm.

wide. Petals minute, rhombic-orbicular, with obtuse angles, 0.75-1 mm. long,

about as wide as long. Lip fleshy, semioblong-cuneate to suborbicular, truncate

or broadly rounded and apiculate at the apex, concave, with a hooded bilobed

168

FIELD IANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

callus on the center of the disk, about 1 mm. long, nearly as wide as long. Column

short, dilated above, trilobed. Capsule obliquely cylindrical.

Alta Verapaz: Trece Aguas, near Senahu, H. Pittier 351. Chama-

Coban road, Johnson 301; 553. Rio Coban, between Coban and San

Pedro, Johnson 649. — Huehuetenango: Cerro Negro, two miles east

of Las Palmas, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Steyermark 51705.

Stelis hymenantha Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 291. 1912

(type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, near Coban, H. von Turck-

heim II 1968). Figure 55.

6.

FIG. 55. Stelis hymenantha. 1, lip, front view (X 39); 2, column, side view

( X 56) ; 3, column, front view ( X 56) ; 4, petal ( X 63) ; 5, flower, side view ( X 21) ;

6, lip, side view (X 39). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

Epiphytic on trees in oak-pine forests and in dense humid forests,

up to 2,800 meters alt. Rather common from southern Mexico to

Panama.

Plant densely caespitose or fasciculate, glabrous, 7-27 cm. tall; secondary stem

rather stout, terete, erect, covered by two long tubular scarious sheaths, 1.5-8 cm.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 169

long. Leaves erect, linear-oblanceolate, obtuse and obliquely tridentate at the

apex, narrowed at the base, 4-10 cm. long, 4-10 mm. wide. Inflorescence including

the short peduncle up to 15 cm. long, solitary, loosely few- to many-flowered, as

long as or exceeding the leaves. Bracts tubular-cucullate, subobtuse to acuminate,

mostly exceeding the pedicellate ovary, 1.8-3 mm. long. Flowers pale greenish

white or greenish yellow, small, slightly nodding, spreading. Pedicel 1.5-2 mm.

long, arcuate above the middle. Sepals orbicular-ovate to ovate-elliptic, obtuse

to shortly acuminate, connate near the base, shallowly concave, 3-nerved, 1.5-1.7

mm. long, about 1.2 mm. wide. Petals cuneate-obovate, thickened and sub-

truncate at the apex, somewhat concave, about 0.5 mm. long and 0.3 mm. wide.

Lip suborbicular-obovate with a prominent deltoid acuminate apicule, concave,

the margins and apicule curved upward, 0.5-0.75 mm. long, usually about as wide

as long; disk with two somewhat semilunate calli on each side near the base, which

are often rather indistinct from one another. Column small, dilated above, obtuse,

bilobed. Capsule ovoid-ellipsoid, 3-angled, 6-ribbed, 4-5 mm. long.

Alta Verapaz: Pansamala, Turckheim 1012. On road from

Chama to Coban, Johnson 506. Rio Coban-Coban San Pedro, Johnson

610. — Chiquimula: Middle slopes of Montana Norte to El Jutal,

on Cerro Brujo, southeast of Concepcion de las Minas, Steyermark

31053. — Huehuetenango: Cerro Pixpix, above San Ildefonso Ixta-

huacan, Steyermark 50581. — Izabal: Cerro San Gil, uppermost ridges

and summit, Steyermark 41958. — Quezaltenango: Fuentes Georginas,

western slope of Volcan de Zunil, Standley 67342. Densely forested

damp white sand quebrada, El Pocito, south of San Martin Chile

Verde, on road to Colomba, Standley 85083. — San Marcos: Barranca

Eminencia, road between San Marcos and San Rafael Pie" de la

Cuesta, in upper part of the barranca between Finca La Lucha and

Buena Vista, Standley 86483. Between town of Tajumulco and

Tecutla (nine miles south and west of Tajumulco), northwestern

slopes of Volcan Tajumulco, Steyermark 36774. Along Quebrada

Canjula, between Sibinal and Canjula, Volcan Tacana, Steyermark

36045. — Suchitepequez: Volcan Santa Clara, between Finca El

Naranjo and upper slopes, Steyermark 46645. — Volcan de Ipala,

Pittier 1870.

Stelis Johnsonii Ames, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 35: 87. 1922

(type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Chama, Johnson 252).

Figure 56.

Epiphytic on trees, up to 300 meters alt. Guatemala.

Plant somewhat caespitose, glabrous, 8.5 cm. tall; secondary stem erect,

when young concealed by two elongated tubular sheaths, 1-1.2 cm. long. Leaves

2.5-4 cm. long, up to 6 mm. wide, oblanceolate, obtuse and minutely bidentate

at the apex with a cusp in the sinus, narrowed toward the base into a sulcate petiole

that is about 4 mm. long. Inflorescence including the peduncle up to 7.5 cm. long,

170

FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

solitary or rarely two, loosely few-flowered, filiform. Bracts obliquely funnel-

shaped, acute to acuminate, 1.5-2 mm. long. Flowers minute, few, reddish,

odorless, not spreading. Pedicellate ovary up to 2.5 mm. long, exceeding the bracts.

Sepals adherent at the base, triangular-ovate, obtuse, conspicuously 3-nerved,

about 1.5 mm. long and 1.5 mm. wide. Petals flabelliform, thickened at the

apex, 3-nerved, about 1 mm. long, 1.25 mm. wide near the apex. Lip rhombic

in outline, triangular in side view, margins erect, thickened at the apex, provided

FIG. 56. Stelis Johnsonii. 1, flower (X 16); 2, lip, front view (X 39);

3, petal (X 21); 4, lip, side view (X 39). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

with a large fleshy subquadrate callus above the middle of the disk, about 0.5 mm.

long. Column short, slender near the base, dilated upwards.

This species is allied to S. bidentata, from which it is distinguished

by the differently shaped lip.

Represented from Guatemala only by the type collection.

Stelis leucopogon Reichb. f. Beitr. Orch. Centr.-Am. 95. 1866.

S.Bernoullii Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 201. 1918 (type: Guatemala,

Hacienda de las Nubes, Costa Grande, November, 1877, Bernoulli &

Cario}. Figure 57.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA

171

Epiphytic on trees, up to 1,500 meters. Guatemala, Costa Rica

and Panama.

Plant rather large, glabrous, caespitose, erect, up to 43 cm. tall; secondary

stem stout, provided with tubular sheaths, 1.5-15 cm. long. Leaves very thick

and coriaceous, subsessile or with a broad short petiole, narrowly elliptic to

elliptic-oblanceolate, obtuse and retuse at the apex, occasionally oblique, 7-16.5

FIG. 57. Stelis leucopogon. 1, flower (X 8); 2, petal (X 16); 3, column

(X 20); 4, lip, side view (X 24); 5, lip, front view (X 24). Drawn by Blanche

Ames.

cm. long, 1-3.5 cm. wide. Inflorescence 1 or 2, rather stout, loosely many-flowered,

up to 30 cm. long including the peduncle, subtended by a closely appressed or

complanate spathaceous bract that is up to 2 cm. long. Bracts funnel-shaped,

obliquely truncate, acute or apiculate. Flowers large for the genus, purplish and

greenish, appearing almost simultaneously and remaining open for only a short

time during the day. Pedicellate ovary slender, ascending or recurved, 6-8 mm.

long. Sepals deltoid-ovate to rhombic-ovate, obtuse, fleshy-thick, 5-nerved,

3.5-8 mm. long, 4-8 mm. wide. Petals broadly flabellate to cuneate, much

thickened and truncate-rounded at the apex, glabrous or somewhat glandular-

puberulent, 1-1.5 mm. long, 1.25-2.5 mm. wide at the apex. Lip quadrate to

subquadrate-ovate, somewhat obliquely truncate at the apex, rounded beneath,

172

FIELDI AN A: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

with a minute erect apiculate process on the anterior margin, fleshy, 0.75-1.3

mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide; disk concave, with a longitudinal, somewhat T-shaped

slightly raised callus on the basal half in the center. Column short, thick, about

1 mm. long. Capsule obliquely cylindrical, about 1.5 cm. long.

This species varies considerably in the size of the sepals. It

has the largest flowers of all the Stelis found in Guatemala. The

leaves are large, and when dry are very tough, rigid and coriaceous.

Solola: Western slope of Volcan Atitlan, Hatch. — Quezaltenango :

Palma, Skutch 1433. Finca Moca, Bequaert 49. Moca, Lewis 74;

Bates 4.

Stelis microchila Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 9: 289. 1911 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, near Pansamala, July, 1886,

H. von Tilrckheim 700). Figure 58.

Epiphytic in wet mountain forests, up to 1,650 meters. Occa-

sional in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama.

FIG. 58. Stelis microchila. 1, lip, front-side view (X 63); 2, column, front-

side view (X 30); 3, column, front view (X 30); 4, lip, front view (X 63); 5, petal

(X 33); 6, flower (X 15). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 173

Plant small, densely caespitose, glabrous, 4.5-15 cm. tall; secondary stem very

short, 0.5-1.5 cm. long. Leaves erect, linear-oblanceolate to narrowly spatulate,

obtuse and minutely tricuspidate at the apex, tapering into the very short petiole,

2-5 cm. long, 4-7 mm. wide, mostly oblique. Inflorescence filiform, rather densely

flowered, 2-4 times as long as the leaves. Bracts ovate-cucullate, acuminate,

hyaline, 1-2.5 mm. long. Flowers small, reddish-brown or bronze-green, spreading.

Pedicellate ovary recurved, 2-2.5 mm. long or slightly longer. Sepals mostly 1-

nerved or 3-nerved, the lower fourth adherent, usually coarsely glandular-pubes-

cent; dorsal sepal elliptic to ovate-oblong, obtuse, rarely apiculate, 1.3-3 mm. long,

1.5-2.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals obliquely orbicular-ovate, obtuse, 1.5-2.3 mm.

long, 1.2-2 mm. wide. Petals broadly cuneate to subreniform-quadrate, broadly

rounded to obtuse, thickened along the apical margin, from a broad base, 3-nerved,

0.75-1 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide. Lip small, fleshy, narrowly oblong, obtuse,

with two median and marginal falcate calli or lobes curving inward toward the

center of the disk, 0.5-0.75 mm. long, about 0.5 mm. wide. Column short, thick.

Capsule ellipsoid, prominently 6-ribbed, about 4 mm. long.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Turckheim 2494. Coban, Johnson 729.

Mountains east of Tactic, on road to Tamahu, Standley 71340.

Near Coban, Standley 71658. Tactic, Johnston 1862. Along Rio

Carcha, between Coban and San Pedro Carcha, Standley 89823;

89919. Mountains along road between Tactic and the divide on

road to Tamahu, Standley 91399. — Huehuetenango : Vicinity of

Maxbal, about 17 miles north of Barillas, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes,

Steyermark 48783.

Stelis ovatilabia Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 211. 1918 (type:

Guatemala, near Palohuero, Costa Cuca, April, 1878, Bernoulli &

Cario 583). Figures 59, 60, 61.

Epiphytic on trees in mixed pine-oak forests, up to 3,800 meters.

Uncommon in Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Plant usually very small, densely caespitose, glabrous, 5-23 cm. tall; secondary

stem mostly short and slender, 1-11 cm. long. Leaves erect, linear to linear-

spatulate, obtuse and inconspicuously retuse at the apex, 2-13 cm. long, 4-10 mm.

wide. Inflorescence slender, up to 10 cm. long including the peduncle, subtended

by a conduplicate sheath that is up to 7 mm. long. Bracts ovate-cucullate, clasp-

ing the rachis, acute to acuminate, 1.5-2.5 mm. long. Flowers greenish white,

small. Pedicellate ovary slender, about 2 mm. long. Sepals broadly ovate to

oval, obtuse, fleshy, 3-nerved, 1.5-2 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide. Petals sub-

orbicular to subreniform, oblique, 1-nerved, fleshy-thickened at the obtuse apex,

about 0.5 mm. long and wide. Lip ovate, obtuse, in natural position trulliform,

subtruncate and usually auriculate at the base, 3-nerved, somewhat thickened

transversely at the base in front of the very short claw, shallowly concave in front,

0.75-1 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide. Column dilated at the apex, almost twice

as long as the petals, about 1 mm. long. Capsule ovoid, conspicuously 6-ribbed,

2-4 mm. long.

FIG. 59. Stelis ovatilabia. 1, plant (X 1); 2, raceme (X 4); 3, flower, front

view ( X 11); 4, lip ( X 22); 5, flower, side view ( X 11); 6, column (anther removed;

X 21); 7, petal (X 21). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

174

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA

175

Stelis ovatilabia is distinguished from other species in Guatemala

in having an elongated column that is almost twice as long as the

petals. The illustrations show flowers from three different speci-

mens to demonstrate variability in this species.

Amatitlan: Volcan Pacaya, Shannon 3670. — Chimaltenango:

Tecpam, Bates 19. Chichavac, Skutch 374. Calderas, Johnston

1470; 1471. — Guatemala: Slopes of Volcan de Pacaya, between

FIG. 60. Stelis ovatilabia. 1, flower

(about X 13); 2, column, front view

(X 20); 3, lip, front view (X 20); 4,

lip, side view (X 20); 5, petal (X 22).

Drawn by Blanche Ames.

FIG. 61. Stelis ovatilabia. 1, flower

(about X 11); 2, column, front-side view

(anther removed; about X 22); 3, lip

(about X 20) ; 4, lip from the type (about

X 20); 5, petal (about X 24); 6, column

with petal attached (about X 18).

Drawn by Blanche Ames.

San Francisco Sales and the base of the active cone, Standley 80762.—

Solola: Volcan Atitlan, south-facing slopes, Steyermark 47401. —

Suchitepequez : Volcan Santa Clara, between Finca El Naranjo

and upper slopes, Steyermark 46683; 46646.

Stelis parvula Lindl. Fol. Orch. (Stelis) 7. 1858.

Epiphytic on trees in forest, up to 1,900 meters alt. Uncommon

in Guatemala and Nicaragua. Common in Costa Rica.

Plant slender, short, glabrous, 5-14 cm. tall; secondary stem ascending or

erect, 1-4.5 cm. long, concealed by tubular loosely appressed brownish sheaths.

176 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Leaves including the petiole 2-6.5 cm. long; lamina linear, elliptic or linear-ob-

lanceolate, obtuse and tridenticulate at the apex, abruptly tapering into the

rather long petiole, 5-13 mm. wide. Inflorescence including the peduncle 6-10 cm.

long, slender, densely flowered. Bracts large for the plant, amplexicaul-peltiform,

dilated into an oblique suborbicular-ovate lamina with revolute margins, apiculate,

1.5-3.2 mm. long. Flowers white, greenish yellow or purplish, minute. Pedicel-

late ovary slender, about 1.5 mm. long. Sepals deltoid-ovate, rounded-obtuse to

subacute, adherent at the base, conspicuously 3-nerved, 1.5-2.5 mm. long, 1.5-

2.7 mm. wide. Petals orbicular-obovate to transversely elliptic-rhombic, truncate

to obtuse and fleshy-thickened at the obscurely verruculose apex, 3-nerved, 0.5-1.3

mm. long, about as wide as long. Lip ovate-subcordate or rhombic with obtuse

angles and upturned lateral margins, 0.75-1.2 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide; disk

with a tuberous callus on each side below the middle, the calli coherent to form

a transverse ridge. Column minute, dilated. Capsule obliquely ellipsoid, about

6 mm. long, prominently 3-angled and 6-ribbed.

This species is distinctive in having unusually large floral bracts

that are amplexicaul-peltiform with spreading, somewhat revolute

margins.

Alta Verapaz: Road Chama to Coban, Johnson 320.

Stelis perplexa Ames, Sched. Orch.l: 7. 1922 (type: Guatemala,

Dept. Alta Verapaz, banks of Chisaxte River, below Secanquim,

May 9, 1905, H. Pittier 308).

Epiphytic, up to 900 meters alt. Uncommon in Guatemala and

Honduras.

Plant caespitose, glabrous, up to 16 cm. tall; secondary stem erect, rather

stout, about 2.5 cm. long, when young concealed by tubular sheaths, monophyllous.

Leaves ligulate, linear or narrowly oblanceolate, obtuse, often minutely and ob-

liquely tridentate at the apex, 3-9 cm. long, 5-10 mm. wide. Inflorescence including

the short peduncle up to 14 cm. long, exceeding the leaves, loosely few- to many-

flowered. Bracts surrounding the rachis, obliquely funnel-shaped or ovate-

cucullate, obtuse to acute, 1.5-2.3 mm. long. Flowers usually about 4 mm.

apart, small, light green. Pedicellate ovary exceeding the bracts, up to 3 mm.

long. Sepals orbicular-ovate, obtuse to acute, coherent below the middle, fleshy,

3-nerved, 2-3 mm. long, 2-2.2 mm. wide. Petals broadly rhomboid from a wide

base, obtuse-angled at the summit and thickened, narrowly triangular in cross

section at the tip, scarcely 1 mm. long and 1 mm. wide at the tip, 3-nerved. Lip

subrhomboidal from a wide base, obtuse-angled at the tip, 0.75-1 mm. long, 0.75-1

mm. wide, much thickened, with a transversely thickened callus in the middle of

the disk, apical half of lip in front of the callus strongly concave; callus dilated

at each side, constricted at the center. Column dilated above, equaling the petals.

This species differs from S. gracilis, to which it is closely allied,

in its broader sepals and stouter peduncles.

Alta Verapaz and Chiquimula (eastern portions) : Watson 221C. —

Chiquimula: Volcan Quezaltepeque, 3-4 miles northeast of Quezal-

tepeque, Steyermark 31475. — Izabal: 40 miles from coast, Lewis 6.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA

177

Stelis purpurascens A. Rich. & Gal. Ann. Sci. Nat. se"r. 3, 3:

18. 1845. S. curvata Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 358. 1912 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Cubilguitz, July, 1907, H. von

Turckheim II 1889). S. Carioi Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 202.

1918 (type: Guatemala, near Guatemala, November, 1865, Ber-

noulli & Cario). S. fulva Schltr. Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 36, Abt. 2:

FIG. 62. Stelis purpurascens. 1, flower (X 11); 2, column (X 18); 3, petal

(X 18); 4, lip (X 26). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

388. 1918 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Cubilguitz, May,

1913, H. von Turckheim 4064). Figure 62.

Epiphytic on trees in damp forests, up to 1,800 meters alt.

Rather common and widespread in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras,

El Salvador and Costa Rica.

Plant stout, glabrous, somewhat caespitose, up to 43 cm. tall; secondary stem

erect or ascending, 4-19 cm. long. Leaves linear-oblanceolate, oblong or oblong-

lanceolate, obtuse and retuse at the apex, sessile or subsessile, usually oblique,

5-20 cm. long, 0.7-4 cm. wide. Inflorescence 1-2, up to 33 cm. long including

the peduncle, loosely many-flowered, arising from a prominent conduplicate lanceo-

STBLLS

'.be

ScMr.

FIG. 63. Stelis rubens. Plant (X 1); 1, flower (about X 11); 2, petal (X 20);

3, lip, from above (X 20); 4, lip, side view (X 20); 5, column (anther removed;

X 20); 6, lip, side view (drawn from the type of S. Tuerckheimii; about X 20);

7, flower (drawn from the type of S. rubens; about X 11); 8, petal (X 20); 9,

lip, side view (X 20); 10, lip, from above (X 20). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

178

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 179

late sheath, which is up to 2.5 cm. long. Bracts ovate-cucullate, clasping the

rachis, acute, acuminate or apiculate, 1.5-5 mm. long. Flowers spreading, reddish

brown, purplish or purplish green. Pedicellate ovary recurved, about 3 mm. long.

Sepals orbicular-ovate, ovate-elliptic or subrhombic, obtuse to subacute, adherent

to about the middle, 3-6-nerved with the nerves mostly carinate on the outside,

2-4 mm. long, 3-4 mm. wide. Petals small, cuneate-obovate to broadly flabellate,

subtruncate-obtuse at the apex, with the apical margin thickened and more or

less verrucose, about 1 mm. long, 0.9-1.25 mm. wide. Lip fleshy, semiorbicular

to subreniform, broadly rounded or obtuse at the apex, occasionally with a slight

protuberance at the apex, about 1 mm. long, about as wide as long; disk 3-nerved,

provided with a transverse somewhat constricted fleshy ridge below the middle.

Column short, about as long as the petals. Capsule obliquely ellipsoid, promi-

nently 3-ribbed, 8-10 mm. long.

This species is extremely variable. It is very similar in habit to

Stelis leucopogon but is distinguished from that species by its smaller

flowers.

Alta Verapaz: Chama, Johnson 240. — Amatitlan: Pacaya, John-

ston 1384. — Guatemala: Large swamp east of Tactic, Standley

92342. Volcan de Pacaya, above Las Calderas, Standley 58496. —

Quezaltenango: Above Mujulia, between San Martin Chile Verde

and Colomba, Standley 85563. — Santa Rosa: Laguna de Carrizal,

Heyde & Lux 4627. — Suchitepequez : Southwestern lower slopes of

Volcan Zunil, in vicinity of Finca Montecristo, southeast of Santa

Maria de Jesus, Steyermark 35256. — "Guatemala," Bates 13.

Stelis rubens Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 8: 564. 1910 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, near Cubilgiiitz, September, 1904,

H. von Turckheim II 1061). S. Tuerckheimii Schltr. Repert. Sp.

Nov. 8: 564. 1910 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, near

Cubilgiiitz, August, 1904, H. von Turckheim II 79). Figure 63.

Epiphytic on trees, up to 1,100 meters alt. Rare in Mexico,

Guatemala and British Honduras.

Plant slender, caespitose, glabrous, up to 23 cm. tall; secondary stem very

slender and short, 1-4 cm. long. Leaves erect, narrowly linear-oblong, obtuse and

minutely tridentate at the apex, tapering into the petiole, 4-13 cm. long, 4-7 mm.

wide. Inflorescence filiform, somewhat flexuose, up to 21 cm. long. Bracts ovate-

cucullate, subtruncate to acute, occasionally apiculate, 1-1.2 mm. long. Flowers

minute, spreading, white or yellowish green tinged with purple. Pedicellate ovary

slender, recurved, 1.5-2.2 mm. long. Sepals broadly ovate, obtuse to apiculate,

coherent below the middle, minutely papillose-puberulent on the inner surface,

3-nerved, 1.3-2 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide; dorsal sepal suberect-recurved.

Petals fleshy, broadly cuneate, rounded-truncate at the apex, thickened on the

apical margin and rarely apiculate, about 0.5 mm. long, about as wide as long.

Lip obscurely 3-lobed or rhombic-lanceolate, arcuate with a sharply upturned

acute tip, fleshy, the lateral lobes rounded and erect, apical lobe narrowly lanceo-

180 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

late or triangular-cymbiform, about 0.75 mm. long; disk with a thickened sub-

orbicular-elongate tubercle in the middle. Column short, the apical margin erose-

denticulate.

Izabal: 40 miles from coast, Lewis 5.

Stelis rubens var. oxypetala (Schltr.) Ames, Bot. Mus. Leafl.

Harv. Univ. 2, no. 1: 23. figs. pp. 6-7. 1934. S. oxypetala Schltr.

Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 203. 1918 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Pete"n,

near Faclus, September, 1877, Bernoulli & Carlo 624). Fig-

ure 64.

Variety oxypetala differs from the typical form of the species in the unusual,

thin texture of the petals, which are obliquely obovate-cuneate with a conspicuous

apicule at the apex. The apical margin is also usually irregularly crenulate. The

plants and flowers are usually larger than those of typical S. rubens.

Represented from Guatemala only by the type collection of

S. oxypetala.

Stelis tenuissima Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 204. 1918 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Quezaltenango, Sta. Maria Ikibal, May, 1878,

Bernoulli & Cario 590). Figure 65.

Epiphytic on trees in forests, up to 2,250 meters alt. Rare in

Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant slender, glabrous, densely caespitose, 9-14 cm. tall; secondary stem

slender, 1-5 cm. long. Leaves linear to semiterete, obtuse, obliquely and minutely

tridenticulate at the apex, erect to strongly recurved above the middle, 3-7 cm.

long, 1.5-3 mm. wide. Inflorescence filiform, loosely many-flowered, up to 11 cm.

long including the peduncle. Bracts obliquely ovate-cucullate, acute or apiculate,

1.2-1.5 mm. long. Flowers minute, purplish brown or yellowish. Pedicellate

ovary slender, about 1.5 mm. long. Sepals orbicular-ovate, obtuse to subacute,

the lower third coherent, 1-3-nerved, concave, 1-1.5 mm. long, 1-1.2 mm. wide.

Petals obliquely orbicular-quadrate to broadly cuneate-reniform, broadly rounded

to obtuse at the apex, 1-3-nerved, shallowly concave, 0.5-1 mm. long, 0.75-1 mm.

wide. Lip suborbicular to orbicular-rhombic, minutely mucronate, with the obtuse-

rounded lateral margins upturned and a tuft of cilia on each side at the base,

3-nerved, 0.75-1 mm. long, 0.5 mm. or more wide; disk with a thickened and

fleshy ovate callus on the lower half. Column short, thick, dilated at the triangular

obtuse apex.

FIG. 64. Stelis rubens var. oxypetala. Plant (X 1); 1, a portion of the raceme

(about X 2); 2, column, with the petals and lip attached (X 20); 3, petal (X 20);

4, column and lip, side view showing the protuberant stigma, the obliquely erect

rostellum, and the anther (X 20); 5, flower (about X 8); 6, pollinia (much en-

larged); 7, lip (much enlarged). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

181

182

FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

This species may be distinguished from other species of Stelis

found in Guatemala by the two tufts of cilia on each side at the base

of the lip and by the extremely slender, often semiterete leaves.

Quezaltenango: Finca Pirineos, lower south-facing slopes of

Volcan Santa Maria, between Santa Maria de Jesus and Calahuache',

FIG. 65. Stelis tenuissima. 1, flower (X 23); 2, petal (X 30); 3, column,

front-side view (X 40); 4, lip, front view (X 40); 5, lip, front-side view (X 40).

Drawn by Blanche Ames.

Steyermark 33190. Montana Chicharro, on lower southeast-facing

slopes of Volcan Santa Maria, 2-4 miles south of Santa Maria de

Jesus, Steyermark 34305. Region of Las Nubes, south of San Martin

Chile Verde, Standley 83838.

20. PHYSOSIPHON Lindl.

Small epiphytic caespitose herbs with a solitary leaf at the apex; secondary

stems erect or ascending, provided with tubular sheaths. Roots fibrous from a

short creeping stem. Leaves fleshy or coriaceous, narrowed at the base. Flowers

small, in elongate racemes that rise in the axil of the leaf. Sepals connate for more

than half their length to form an obliquely 3-angled inflated tube that is spreading

or ventricose at the base and constricted at the mouth, free above and spreading.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 183

Petals and lip minute compared to the sepals, enclosed at the base of the sepaline

tube. Lip articulated to the base or foot of the column, 3-lobed (in ours) or entire,

fleshy, canaliculate. Column small, erect-arcuate, subterete, 3-lobed; anther

terminal, operculate, incumbent; pollinia 2, ovoid, ceraceous. Capsule small,

ellipsoid.

This is a small genus of perhaps a half dozen species which are

found in tropical America. It is very closely allied to Masdevallia

and Pleurothallis.

Sepals less than 5 mm. long P. minor.

Sepals more than 5 mm. long P. tubatus.

Physosiphon minor Rendle, Journ. Bot. 38: 275. 1900.

Epiphytic on trees, up to 2,300 meters alt. Rare in Guatemala,

Honduras and Costa Rica.

Plant densely caespitose, up to 13 cm. tall, provided at the base with several

sheaths that conceal the secondary stem and the lower part of the peduncle and

petiole; sheaths brownish, tubular, loosely appressed, dilated at the mouth, up

to 1.5 cm. long; roots fibrous, whitish, smooth, slender. Secondary stem slender,

up to 2 cm. long, erect, unifoliate. Leaf shortly petioled; lamina oblong-elliptic

to narrowly elliptic, obliquely tridenticulate at the rounded to obtuse apex, sulcate

above, fleshy-coriaceous, up to 6 cm. long (including the petiole) and 1.3 cm. wide.

Peduncle usually one, occasionally as many as three, filiform, provided with several

short scarious bracts; raceme laxly flowered, with as many as fifteen flowers.

Floral bracts ovate-cucullate, embracing the rachis, obliquely truncate, up to 3 mm.

long. Flowers pale yellow on the upper half, deep maroon at the base, subdistich-

ous, with slender pedicellate ovaries that exceed the bracts. Sepals united to

above the middle to form a tube that is about 2 mm. long, 3-nerved, prominently

keeled on the back, 3.5-4 mm. long; free part ovate-oblong, acute, about 1 mm.

wide. Petals obliquely cuneate-oval to elliptic-cuneate, with the margins irregular

at the obtuse apex, 1-nerved, membranaceous, 1 mm. long, about 0.5 mm. wide.

Lip 3-lobed, arcuate in natural position, 3-nerved, about 2 mm. long and 1 mm.

wide; lateral lobes small, thin, erect, rounded; mid-lobe very fleshy-thickened,

suborbicular, obtuse, with the margin obscurely erose. Column with a prominent

foot, sulcate on the ventral surface, irregularly toothed at the apex, about 3 mm.

long including the concave foot.

Huehuetenango: Northwest of Cuilco, two-thirds of the way up

Cerro Chiquihui. above Carrizal, Steyermark 50803.

Physosiphon tubatus (Lodd.) Reichb. f. in Walp. Ann. 6: 188.

1861. Stelis tubatus Lodd. Bot. Cab. t. 1601. 1830. Physosi-

phon guatemalensis Rolfe, Kew Bull. 197. 1891 (type: Guatemala).

Figure 66.

Epiphytic on trees, especially oaks, in wet or dry forests, up to

3,500 meters alt. Rather common in Mexico and Guatemala.

FIG. 66. Physosiphon tubatus. 1, two flowering plants (X 1); 2, petal (X 10);

3, lip, spread out ( X 10) ; 4, lip and column, side view ( X 10) ; 5, column, front view

(X 10). Drawn by G. W. Dillon.

184

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 185

Plant glabrous, erect or ascending, caespitose, 0.75-4.7 dm. tall; secondary

stem stout, encased by scarious tubular sheaths, 1.5-12 cm. long. Leaves elliptic

to oblanceolate, obtuse and minutely retuse at the apex, with a short sulcate

petiole, fleshy, 4-15 cm. long including the petiole, 1.5-3 cm. wide. Inflorescence

stout, with numerous approximate flowers, 8-42 cm. long including the peduncle.

Bracts tubular-spathaceous, acute or acuminate, scarious, dorsally carinate, 3-6.5

mm. long. Flowers vary in color from greenish yellow to brick red. Sepals 6-22

mm. long, including the sepaline tube; free part spreading, elliptic-oblong to

elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse or acute and mucronate, 3-nerved, dorsally carinate

along the mid-nerve, 3-10 mm. long, 0.8-3 mm. wide. Petals small, enclosed

at the base of the sepaline cup, obliquely obovate-spatulate to oblong-cuneate,

subtruncate, obtuse or obscurely 3-lobed at the apex, prominently 1-nerved,

1.5-2.5 mm. long, 0.6-1 mm. wide. Lip small, 3-lobed, somewhat arcuate and

canaliculate, conspicuously dorsally carinate along the 3 nerves, the upper part

clasping the column, 2-3.2 mm. long, 1-2.2 mm. wide across the lateral lobes when

spread out; lateral lobes semiquadrate, truncate, turned upward; terminal lobe

ovate, obtuse, crenulate along the margin, often papillose on the upper surface;

disk fleshy-thickened below the lateral lobes. Column slender, semiterete, arcuate,

3-lobed at the apex, 2-3.2 mm. long. Capsule ellipsoid, 3-angled, 8-10 mm. long.

This species is extremely variable, particularly in the length of

the sepals and in flower color. A complete series was found in the

size of the flowers, from 6 to 22 mm. long. It is known as "monja."

Amatitlan: Near Lake Atitlan, road from Panajachel, Margaret

Ward Lewis 81. — Chimaltenango: Johnston 1245. — Guatemala:

Calderas, Porter 3. — Huehuetenango: Aguacatan, Skutch 1918.

Aguacatan, Johnston 1707. Above Democracia on trail towards

Jutal, Steyermark 51036. Aguacatan road, 10 km. east of Huehue-

tenango, Standley 82101. — Quiche": Cune"n, Heyde & IMX 3490.—

San Marcos: Finca Vergel, near Rodeo, Standley 68948. — Santa

Rosa: Volcan Jumaytepeque, Heyde & Lux 4620. — Solola: Volcan

Atitlan, south-facing slopes, Steyermark 47430. — Zacapa: Sierra de

las Minas, between Santa Rosalia de Marmol and San Lorenzo,

Steyermark 43153.

21. MASDEVALLIA Ruiz & Pavon

Epiphytic herbs with creeping rhizomes; secondary stem short, terminated

by a solitary leaf, enclosed by scarious sheaths. Leaves fleshy, coriaceous, linear

or oblanceolate. Peduncle scapose, 1-several-flowered, arising at the base of the

petiole. Flowers small or large, variously colored. Sepals connate or connivent

to form a tube at the base, free portion spreading, terminated by a cauda or shortly

acuminate. Petals much smaller than the sepals, linear-oblong, dolabriform or

rhombic-quadrate. Lip small, polymorphic, articulated to the foot of the column,

subsessile or with a slender claw. Column erect or curved, with or without wings,

produced into a short foot at the base, apex entire or variously toothed; anther

terminal, operculate, incumbent, 1-celled; pollinia 2, ceraceous.

186 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

This is a large and complex genus of some 250 species, which

are natives of tropical America. They are commonly found at high

elevations in cool mountain regions. Some of the species of Masde-

vallia are extremely variable in regard to the sepals. It is quite

possible that growth of the sepals continues after anthesis and after

fertilization has occurred, thus causing the apical portion and

caudae to become farther elongated. At one time this was an

exceptionally popular genus with orchid fanciers and some of the

rarer and more attractive species commanded fabulous prices.

1. Lip strongly constricted near the middle, pandurate; apical lobule calceolate-

saccate.

2. Lip about 5 mm. long; apical lobule about 2 mm. wide M. pusilla.

2. Lip more than 8 mm. long; apical lobule 5-6 mm. wide M. erythrochaete.

1. Lip not strongly constricted near the middle; apical portion not calceolate-

saccate.

3. Petals linear-oblong; lip linear-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, cordate at the

base, not broadest above the middle.

4. Free part of the lateral sepals more or less abruptly caudate . M. floribunda.

4. Free part of the sepals triangular, shortly acuminate, not caudate.

M. tubuliflora.

3. Petals not linear-oblong; lip oblong-spatulate to flabellate or obscurely

trilobed and ovate.

5. Petals obliquely ovate-lanceolate, 1 mm. or less wide .... M. chontalensis.

5. Petals not as above, 2 mm. or more wide.

6. Sepals long-caudate; column wings long, narrow, decurved.

M. linearifolia.

6. Sepals shortly acuminate; column wings obtuse or acute. . . .M. Simula.

Masdevallia chontalensis Reichb. f. Otia Bot. Hamb. 17.

1878.

Epiphytic on trees in forests, up to 2,000 meters alt. Rare in

Guatemala, rather widespread in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama.

Plant caespitose, glabrous, 5.5-11 cm. tall. Secondary stem short, up to 1 cm.

long, unifoliate, concealed by tubular chartaceous sheaths. Leaf erect, fleshy-

coriaceous, grass-green above, pale green beneath, linear-elliptic to narrowly

oblanceolate, minutely tridenticulate at the obtuse apex, tapering to a short

petiole, 2-8.5 cm. long, 3-9 mm. wide. Inflorescence regularly 2-flowered, exceed-

ing the leaves. Floral bracts infundibuliform, obtuse-apiculate, scarious, 3-5 mm.

long. Flowers white, tipped with yellow; pedicellate ovaries about 5 mm. long.

Sepals united to near the apex to form a sepaline tube, 3-nerved, tapering at the

apex to form thickened semiterete caudae; sepaline tube 1.1-1.7 cm. long including

the caudae; caudae up to 8 mm. long. Petals with a short claw, obliquely ovate-

lanceolate, obtuse-apiculate at the apex, 2.6-3.6 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide,

provided on the inner surface with a fleshy nipple and an intramarginal linear

callus on the anterior margin. Lip broadly oblong-spatulate, dilated near the

apex, obtuse, erose on the apical margin, decurved above the middle in natural

position and with the lateral margins slightly reflexed, 3-4.2 mm. long, 1.3-1.8 mm.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 187

wide; disk longitudinally sulcate in the center with the canal bordered by thickened

ridges. Column 3 mm. long, erose on the thin apical margin. Capsule light green,

obliquely ellipsoid, 6-ribbed, 1-2 cm. long.

Izabal : Cerro San Gil, uppermost ridges and summit, Steyermark

41957.

Masdevallia erythrochaete Reichb. f. Gard. Chron. 2: 392.

1882.

Epiphytic on trees, up to 1,250 meters. Rare in Guatemala and

Costa Rica.

Plant glabrous, caespitose; secondary stem obsolete, less than 5 mm. long,

enclosed by large loose scarious sheaths. Leaves linear or linear-oblanceolate,

obtuse to acute and minutely tridentate at the apex, tapering into the long tri-

angular-sulcate petioles, dorsally carinate along the mid-rib, 11-21 cm. long, 9-20

mm. wide. Peduncle horizontal or descending from the base of the petiole, recurved

near the apex, provided with several tubular sheaths, 2-3-flowered, 9-28 cm. long.

Sepals united near the base to form a wide shallow cup 4.5-9 cm. long from the

base to the tip of the caudae; free portion ovate-deltoid, 1.1-1.5 cm. wide, long-

caudate, the inner surface covered with small elongated papillae, white-yellow,

spotted with crimson-purple; caudae 3.5-7 cm. long, crimson-purple. Petals

oblong to oblong-obovate, broadly rounded-retuse and denticulate at the apex,

white or pale pink and brown-spotted, 1-nerved, 3-3.5 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide;

inner surface with a triangular lamella near the middle, papillose above the lamella.

Lip pandurate, deeply constricted below the middle to form two lobes, arcuate-

recurved and fleshy at the base, pale pink to almost white, 9-12.5 mm. long;

basal portion canaliculate, rhombic-cuneate and about 4 mm. wide when spread

out, the margins just below the constriction somewhat revolute, with two intra-

marginal calli on the disk; apical portion calceolate, semiorbicular-saccate, with

the three central veins lamellate and the branch veins of the lateral veins lamellate

on the marginal half, 5-6 mm. wide. Column short, thick, recurved, toothed at

the apex, narrowly winged, 3-4 mm. long.

Guatemala (fide Schlechter).

Masdevallia floribunda Lindl. Bot. Reg. 29: Misc. p. 72. 1843.

M. Tuerckheimii Ames, Orch., Fasc. II: 265. 1908 (type: Guatemala,

Dept. Alta Verapaz, Cubilgiiitz, August, 1903, H. von Turckheim

II 464).

Epiphytic on trees in damp forests, up to 1,500 meters. Rather

widespread in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.

Plant glabrous, densely caespitose, up to 15 cm. tall; secondary stem short,

erect or erect-spreading, up to 1 cm. long. Leaves oblanceolate to oblong-spatu-

late, obtuse or broadly rounded and obliquely tridenticulate at the apex, narrowed

into the slender sulcate petiole; fleshy, 4-14 cm. long, 1-2 cm. wide above the

middle. Peduncle 2.5-10.5 cm. long including the pedicellate ovary, slender,

wiry, dull green streaked with crimson, 2-flowered. Bracts appressed, membranous,

188 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

apiculate, 1-1.5 cm. long. Sepals yellow- white with crimson spots, 3-nerved, more

or less abruptly tapering into the caudae. The caudae brownish orange and 3-14

mm. long; dorsal sepal 11-21 mm. long, united to the lateral sepals for about 6 mm.,

ovate-oblong, free part subrotund, deltoid; lateral sepals 11-20 mm. long, united

for 10-13 mm., oblong-elliptic, free part obliquely ovate to semiorbicular. Petals

linear-oblong, obtuse-truncate and retuse, apiculate or toothed at the apex, with

a pointed keel on the anterior margin, white, 5-5.5 mm. long, 1.2-1.5 mm. wide.

Lip linear-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, cordate and thickened at the base, obtuse-

rounded and reflexed at the apex, denticulate along the apical margin, 4.5-6 mm.

long, 1.5-2 mm. wide, white with crimson spots; disk laterally and medianly

bilamellate. Column green-purplish, suberect, thick, 4-5 mm. long. Capsule

obliquely cylindrical, about 12 mm. long.

This is an extremely variable species, particularly in the length

of the caudae. The sepals may be abruptly or gradually tapering

into the caudae.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Turckheim 3996. — Izabal: Along slopes,

Rio Frio, Steyermark 39966.

The following collection is sterile but probably represents this

species: Quezaltenango: Lower south-facing slopes of Volcan Santa

Maria, between Finca Pirineos and Los Positos, between Santa

Maria de Jesus and Calahuache", Steyermark 33714.

Masdevallia linearifolia Ames, Sched. Orch. 5: 7. 1923 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Cubilgiiitz, August, 1900, H. von

Turckheim 7784).

Epiphytic on trees in dense tropical forests, up to 650 meters alt.

Rare in Guatemala and Honduras.

Plant small, glabrous, densely caespitose, 2-4 cm. tall; secondary stem con-

cealed by scarious sheaths, up to 6 mm. long. Leaves linear to linear-oblanceolate,

obtuse and obliquely tridenticulate at the apex, coriaceous, 1.2-3.2 cm. long, 1-2

mm. wide near the apex. Peduncle with the pedicellate ovary 5-10 mm. long, fili-

form, 1-flowered, subtended by several scarious apiculate sheaths. Flowers light

yellow to brownish red, spotted with purple, more or less concealed among the

secondary stems and leaves. Sepals united at the base, dorsally carinate along

the nerves, 3-nerved lateral sepals united almost to the middle; dorsal sepal

elliptic-oblong, caudate-attenuate, thickened at the tip, concave, 5.5-8.5 mm.

long, about 2 mm. wide; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, triangular, caudate-

attenuate, with a transversely thickened callus on the anterior half of the inner

surface at mouth of tube orifice, 5.2-6 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide. Petals

dolabriform, obtuse, 2-nerved, emarginate on the anterior margin, 2-2.2 mm. long,

2-2.2 mm. wide just below the apex; inner surface with a papilliform callus on or

near the anterior margin below the middle on the upper half. Lip with a slender

claw, obovate-unguiculate, sagittate, obtusely rounded, with the lateral margins

erose or subfimbriate, 2-2.5 mm. long, 1.3-1.5 mm. wide; lateral basal auricles

slender, retrorse, parallel with or appressed to the claw; disk with a prominent

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 189

complanate callus at the base of each auricle. Column slender, curved, with a

deflexed or pendent triangular-acuminate acute wing on each side near the summit,

3 mm. long. Capsule obliquely obovoid-pyriform, conspicuously 3-angled, about

1 cm. long.

This species is closely allied to Masdevallia Simula but is dis-

tinguished from that species by its conspicuously caudate sepals,

sharply toothed lip-plate and long, narrow decurved column wings.

Represented from Guatemala only by the type collection.

Masdevallia pusilla Rolfe, Kew Bull. 335. 1893. M. Johannis

Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 359. 1912 (type: Guatemala, Dept.

Alta Verapaz, near Coban, November, 1907, H. von Turckheim II

1993).

Epiphytic in damp forests, up to 1,600 meters. Rare in Guate-

mala, Costa Rica and Ecuador.

Plant caespitose, glabrous, 12-15 cm. tall; secondary stem short, enclosed by

scarious sheaths. Leaves erect-spreading, ligulate, obtuse to subacute and tri-

denticulate at the apex, tapering into the short petioles, dorsally carinate, 10-15

cm. long, 7-13 mm. wide. Peduncle slender, arcuate-deflexed, descending or hori-

zontal from the base of the petiole, dull reddish green, provided with small distant

tubular-amplexicaul bracts, 1-3-flowered, 6-12 cm. long. Bracts about 6 mm. long,

acuminate. Sepals united near the base into an oblique semiorbicular tube, up

to 3.2 cm. long from the base to the tip of the caudae, ovate-triangular to ovate-

. oblong, with the inner surface covered with elongated papillae, pale yellowish

green spotted with dark purple-brown; caudae variable in length, 8-22 mm. long.

Petals obliquely oblong, obtuse-rounded and reflexed at the apex, irregularly

denticulate along the apical margin, decurrent at the base, papillose on the inner

surface near the apex, keeled along the solitary central vein, yellow-white with

a pair of large purple blotches, 2.2-3.5 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide. Lip con-

stricted and reflexed above the middle, panduriform when spread out, 3-veined,

3.2-5 mm. long, with numerous light brown spots and some purplish lines near

the base; basal portion with erect sides, canaliculate, when spread out orbicular-

rhombic, with thickened calli along the lateral veins 3.2-3.5 mm. wide; apical

lobe calceolate, semiorbicular-saccate, with thickened keels along the 3 nerves

that branch out from the thickened constriction, about 2 mm. in diameter. Column

short, thick, about 3 mm. long; clinandrium irregularly denticulate.

This species is easily distinguished from Masdevallia erythrochaete,

which it resembles in habit, by the very small apical lobe of the lip.

Represented from Guatemala only by the type collection of

M. Johannis.

Masdevallia Simula Reichb. f. Gard. Chron. 1: 8. 1875. M.

guatemalensis Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 15: 201. 1918 (type: Guate-

mala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, near Cubilgiiitz, August, 1903, H. von

Turckheim, II 490). Figure 67.

190

FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Epiphytic in dense tropical forests, up to 600 meters. Uncommon

in Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica.

Plant small, glabrous, densely caespitose, 3-10 cm. tall; secondary stem

short, less than 1 cm. long, enclosed by short scarious sheaths. Leaves erect or

erect-spreading, narrowly linear to linear-oblanceolate, obtuse and tridenticulate

at the apex, often tinged with purple, 2-10 cm. long, 1.5-5 mm. wide. Peduncle

with the pedicellate ovary less than 1 cm. long, slender, 1-flowered. Flowers

small, suberect. Sepals united at the base to form a short saccate tube, dorsally

carinate along the three nerves, white marked with purple; dorsal sepal elliptic-

oblong, tapering into the shortly acuminate apex, longitudinally concave, incurved

at the apex, 6-12 mm. long, 3.5-5 mm. wide; lateral sepals obliquely orbicular-

FIG. 67. Masdevallia Simula. 1, plant (about X 1); 2, plant (X V<i)', 3,

flower, side view (X 4) ; 4, lip, from above (X 5) ; 5, lip, front-side view, natural

position (X 6); 6, petal (X 4); 7, column, side view (X 6); 8, tip of leaf (enlarged).

Drawn by Dorothy O. Allen.

ovate to ovate-oblong, tapering into the shortly acuminate recurved apex, with a

transversely thickened lamella on the inner surface at the orifice of the sepaline

tube, 6-8 mm. long, 3.2-4 mm. wide. Petals obliquely rhombic-quadrate or

quadrate and bilobed at the apex, the angles or lobes obtuse, white with purple

markings, 2-3.5 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide near the apex. Lip sagittate, obscurely

trilobed-ovate to broadly flabellate, with a prominent deltoid-acute spreading

auricle on each side at the base, the lobules broadly rounded with the apical

lobule decurved and unevenly crenulate along the margin, transparent white,

3.2-5 mm. long including the short slender claw, 3-3.5 mm. wide; disk 3-nerved,

with the lateral veins fleshy-thickened just above the auricles. Column purple,

toothed at the apex, with short acute or obtuse deflexed wings near the apex.

Capsule obliquely ovoid, glabrous, triangular, prominently 6-ribbed, 5-7 mm. long.

This species is represented in Guatemala only by the type col-

lection of M. guatemalensis.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 191

Masdevallia tubuliflora Ames, Orch., Fasc. II: 265. 1908 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Cubilgiiitz, January, 1902, H. von

Tiirckheim 512). Figure 68.

Epiphytic on trees. Rare in Guatemala, Honduras and Costa

Rica.

Plant small, caespitose, glabrous, 7-9 cm. tall; secondary stem obsolete, erect,

less than 1 cm. long. Leaves oblanceolate, broadly rounded and retuse at the

apex, 3.5-9.5 cm. long, 8-12 mm. wide. Peduncle including pedicellate ovary

6-8 cm. long, slender, filiform, with a solitary flower. Flowers recurved-nodding,

white or yellowish with a purple blotch in the throat of the calyx. Sepals united

into a recurved tube for about two-thirds their length, conspicuously 3-nerved.

Dorsal sepal 1.5-1.9 cm. long to the base of the tube; free part somewhat thickened,

linear-lanceolate, acute, fleshy. Lateral sepals 1.3-1.7 cm. long to the base of the

tube; free part falcate, obliquely triangular, fleshy-thickened. Petals obliquely

linear-oblong, obtuse-apiculate at the apex, slightly dilated at the middle, con-

spicuously 1-nerved, with an intramarginal linear callus on the inner surface

extending from about the middle to near the apex, 4-4.2 mm. long, about 1.2 mm.

wide. Lip linear-lanceolate, cordate at the base, acute-apiculate at the apex,

denticulate along the margin near the apex, tuberous-thickened on the lower

surface at the base, about 4 mm. long, 1.2-1.5 mm. wide near the base; disk

with two lamellate calli near the middle along the two lateral veins. Column

short, thick, tridentate at the apex, 3.5-4 mm. long.

This species is closely allied to Masdevallia Livingstoneana Reichb.

f., a Costa Rican and Panamanian species, but differs from that

species in that the sepaline tube is narrowly cylindrical instead of

being urceolate and the free part of the dorsal sepal is directed

forward instead of being conspicuously recurved.

Represented from Guatemala only by the type collection.

DOUBTFUL SPECIES

Masdevallia jalapensis Kranzl., Repert. Sp. Nov. Beih. 34: 117.

1925 (type: Guatemala, saxicola et terrestris in quercetis haud

densis in via a Sta. Rosa Jalapam in 1500 m.s.m. [F. C. Lehmann

1296 !]— Herb. Boissier.— Barbey-Unicum !) .

Kranzlin compared M. jalapensis with Pleurothallis immersa,

and in our opinion this concept is very probably referable to the

genus Pleurothallis. Kranzlin described his plant as having a raceme

11 cm. long composed of about twenty flowers. The dorsal sepal

was also described as being almost free to the base and the lateral

sepals were united to form a cymbiform bifid lamina. In Central

America we know no species of Masdevallia that approach this

description. There are, however, several species of Pleurothallis,

MASDEVALLIA

FIG. 68. Masdevallia tubuliflora. Plant (X 1); 1, petal (X 10); 2, lip (X 7).

Original drawing by Oakes Ames; redrawn by D. E. Tibbitts.

192

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 193

especially P. immersa, which closely resemble the description of

M. jalapensis.

22. SCAPHOSEPALUM Pfitzer

Epiphytic repent or caespitose herbs consisting of an abbreviated or elongated

primary stem and short unifoliate secondary stems that are provided with scarious

sheaths. Leaves coriaceous, contracted below into a short petiole. Peduncles

lateral from the lowermost node of the secondary stem, provided with several

short scarious bracts and supporting a lax many-flowered spicate raceme. Flowers

small. Sepals spreading, narrow, sharply acute or more or less caudate at the

apex; dorsal sepal free or essentially free; lateral sepals united into a concave

bifid lamina that has a retrorse fleshy excrescence near the apex of each sepal.

Petals smaller than the sepals. Lip uppermost, small, variously shaped and

adorned on the disk with lamellae, articulate with the column-foot. Column

incurved, dilated and emarginate or winged above, produced at the base into a

short foot; clinandrium oblique, concave, with the margins variously denticulate;

anther terminal, operculate, incumbent, cucullate, 1-celled; pollinia two, cereous,

narrowly ovoid, compressed. Capsule narrowly obovoid, erostrate, lightly costate.

This is a small genus of about twenty species that are confined

to the American tropics. The lateral inflorescence, a character

that has apparently been previously overlooked, is unique in the

Pleurothallidinae .

Scaphosepalum Standleyi Ames, Sched. Orch. 9: 24, fig. 4-

1925. Figure 69.

Epiphytic on trees in forests, up to 2,000 meters alt. Uncommon

in Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica.

Plant up to 1.5 dm. tall; rhizome abbreviated. Secondary stems densely

caespitose, abbreviated, up to 1 cm. long, slender, unifoliate, nearly concealed by

short scarious sheaths. Leaves erect, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, tridenticu-

late at the obtuse apex, tapering below to a short sulcate petiole; lamina coriaceous,

up to 10 cm. long and 1.5 cm. wide; petiole up to 2.5 cm. long. Peduncle lateral

from the lowermost node of the secondary stem, filiform, provided with several

minute closely appressed tubular bracts. Raceme slender, with the flowers opening

in succession. Floral bracts ovate, acute, concave, about equal to the pedicellate

ovaries, about 3 mm. long. Flowers dark purple-red or purplish green, distichously

arranged. Dorsal sepal free, 5-7 mm. long, oblong, obtuse, strongly concave

below the middle; apical half thickened, convex, dorsally carinate with the keel

becoming evanescent above the middle of the sepal. Lateral sepals 6-9 mm. long,

united almost throughout their length; lamina broadly elliptic, bidentate at the

apex, strongly concave, 3.5-5.5 mm. wide, furnished above the middle (on each

mid-nerve) with a blunt papilliform retrorse callosity, strongly carinate exteriorly

along the mid-nerve of each sepal with the keels terminating in prolonged rostri-

form appendages. Petals semielliptic, 2-nerved, acute, shortly aristate beneath

the lip, about 3 mm. long and 1.2 mm. wide. Lip linguiform, obtuse, 3-nerved

at the base, strongly bicarinate on the disk near the middle, with the keels more

194 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

or less crescentiform, 2-3 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide. Column 2-3 mm. long,

produced at the base into a conspicuous foot, dilated above, tridentate at the apex

with the apical margin obscurely denticulate.

Izabal: Along creek between Virginia and Lago Izabal, Montana

del Mico, Steyermark 38823.

23. LEPANTHESSw.

Small or dwarf epiphytic herbs with a short rhizome that gives rise to caespitose

erect slender unifoliate secondary stems concealed by sheaths. Sheaths tubular,

enlarged and dilated at the oblique apex and marked with several longitudinal

ridges, usually ciliate. Leaves sessile or subsessile, more or less rigidly coriaceous,

orbicular to linear, with a prominently or obscurely tridentate apex. Racemes

axillary, solitary or fasciculate. Flowers usually small, few or numerous, sometimes

solitary, 2-ranked. Sepals spreading or erect, subequal, broadly ovate to narrowly

lanceolate, united at the base; lateral sepals more or less connate. Petals minute,

with the short claw adnate to the base of the column, simple or transversely bilobed,

usually much wider than long. Lip minute, adnate at the base or just above the

base of the column, 2- or 3-lobed; lobes variously shaped, erect, with the large

lateral lobes parallel to and embracing the column. Column short, fleshy; anther

terminal, operculate, usually obovate; pollinia two, waxy, pyriform, pedicellate.

Capsule obovoid.

This is a complex and difficult genus of about sixty species which

are usually found at high elevations in the mountains of tropical

America. Many of the described species are closely allied or poorly

defined.

1. Inflorescence exceeding the leaves.

2. Petals simple, not 2-lobed; lip 3-lobed, with the mid-lobe small and smooth.

L. Johnsonii.

2. Petals unequally 2-lobed; lip 2-lobed, at most with an apicule in the sinus.

3. Dorsal sepal 6 mm. or less long, subacute or caudate.

4. Dorsal sepal shortly caudate; leaves less than 1.2 cm. long. .L. gibberosa.

4. Dorsal sepal subacute; leaves 1.5 cm. or more long L. oreocharis.

3. Dorsal sepal 7 mm. or more long, long-acuminate L. guatemalensis.

1. Inflorescence shorter than the leaves.

5. Lip with a ciliate apicule or short pubescent mid-lobe in the sinus between

the lateral lobes.

6. Lateral lobes of lip ciliate at the apex, with a ciliate apicule in the sinus;

petals more than 2.5 mm. wide L. samacensis.

6. Lateral lobes of lip smooth, with a small pubescent lobe in the sinus;

petals less than 2.5 mm. wide.

FIG. 69. Scaphosepalum Standleyi. Plant (about X 2); 1, flower, side view,

with the perianth segments spread out, showing the external rostrate appendages

of the lateral sepals and the retrorse appendages on the inner surface (about

X 8); 2, column, front-side view (about X 14); 3, lip (about X 12); 4, petal (about

X 12). Drawn by Blanche Ames.

1

SCAPHOSEPALUM

Stajwfeyt

195

196 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

7. Lateral lobes of lip crescentiform and overlapping; leaves elliptic to

oblanceolate L. excedens.

7. Lateral lobes of lip oblong-subquadrate, not overlapping; leaves ovate.

L. appendiculata.

5. Lip without a ciliate apicule or pubescent mid-lobe, at most with a smooth

apicule in the sinus.

8. Dorsal sepal 5.5 mm. or more long.

9. Petals with the suborbicular lobes about equal, usually less than 3 mm.

wide; leaves ovate to elliptic-oblong L. acuminata.

9. Petals with the narrow lobes unequal, 3 mm. or more wide; leaves

narrowly elliptic to linear-lanceolate L. inaequalis.

8. Dorsal sepal usually much less than 5.5 mm. long.

10. Leaves suborbicular-ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, 8 mm. or more wide;

flowers conspicuously distichously arranged L. Turialvae.

10. Leaves narrowly elliptic to linear-lanceolate, 8 mm. or less wide;

flowers not conspicuously distichous.

11. Leaves acuminate; dorsal sepal 3-3.5 mm. long L. stenophylla.

11. Leaves obtuse to acute; dorsal sepal up to 5 mm. long.L. oreocharis.

Lepanthes acuminata Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 355. 1912

(type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Coban, September, 1907,

H. von Turckheim II 1965).

On rotten logs and epiphytic on trees in mountain forests, up

to 1,800 meters alt. Rare in Guatemala and Honduras.

Plant small, erect, up to 8 cm. tall. Secondary stem slender, up to 6 cm. long,

monophyllous, concealed by 3-8 tubular sheaths; sheaths conspicuously dilated

and shortly acuminate at the apex, profusely hispid along the prominent nerves

and margin of the apex. Leaves ovate to elliptic-oblong, abruptly constricted

above to form a narrowly obtuse and tridenticulate apex, marginate, 1-2.8 cm.

long, 4.5-12 mm. wide. Racemes 1-2, laxly several-flowered, slender, about 1 cm.

long including the short filiform peduncle. Floral bracts oblong-cucullate, apicu-

late, about 2 mm. long, hispid dorsally and on the margins. Flowers small, slender,

suberect. Sepals united at the base, slightly thickened at the apex, greenish;

dorsal sepal broadly lanceolate, long-acuminate, 3-nerved, 6-7 mm. long, 2-2.5

mm. wide near the base; lateral sepals obliquely ovate-lanceolate, long-acuminate,

somewhat 2-nerved, united for about 1.5 mm., 5-6 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. wide

above the point of coalescence. Petals 1.3-2 mm. long, 2.5-3.2 mm. wide, broadly

obcordate or transversely bilobed with the lobes oblong-orbiculate and broadly

rounded, forming an obtuse angle. Lip reddish, 1.25-2.3 mm. long, about 2 mm.

wide, cordate at the base with the angles obtuse, forcipate-bilobed above, with a

pubescent suberect submarginal tubercle on the lower surface near the broadly

obtuse sinus; apical lobes linear-falcate, subobtuse to acute, with a thin mem-

branous lamella on the upper surface. Column reddish, slender, exceeding the lip

in length.

This species is distinguished by its lanceolate, long-acuminate

sepals and rotundate-lobed petals.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Johnson 730. Samac-Coban, Johnson 766.

Samac, Johnson 876. Near Coban, Turckheim II 1840 (in part).

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 197

Lepanthes appendiculata Ames, Sched. Orch. 3: 9. 1923

(type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Samdc, October 20, 1920,

Harry Johnson 879).

Epiphytic on trees. Rare in Guatemala.

Plant erect or ascending, up to 9.5 cm. tall. Secondary stem 1.5-7 cm. long,

monophyllous, slender, the longer ones with six closely appressed sheaths that

are hispidulous along the prominent nerves; sheaths dilated at the summit, termi-

nating in an acute tip, purplish when dry. Leaves ovate, acuminate and obliquely

tridenticulate at the apex, contracted at the base into a short sulcate petiole,

coriaceous, 2-3 cm. long, up to 1.7 cm. wide. Peduncles 1-3, shorter than the leaf,

filiform, with the raceme about 1.5 cm. long. Floral bracts minute, dorsally

hispid. Flowers distichous, crowded. Sepals united at the base. Dorsal sepal

ovate-elliptic, subacute, somewhat 3-nerved, 2.5-3 mm. long, 1.8-2 mm. wide.

Lateral sepals coherent to about the middle, obliquely orbicular-ovate, subapicu-

late, 2-veined, about 2 mm. long and 1.5 mm. wide across the free portion near

point of coalescence. Petals obliquely crescentiform or deeply bilobed with the

lobes subquadrate and obtuse, 1 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide. Lip 1-1.5 mm.

long, about 1.8 mm. wide, 3-lobed, auriculate on each side at the base; lateral

lobes oblong-subquadrate, obtuse, much exceeding the middle lobe, carinate on

the upper surface; middle lobe fleshy, deltoid-rounded, thicker than wide, covered

with glandular spreading hairs, narrowed into the slender claw. Column slender,

gradually dilated toward the summit.

In habit Lepanthes appendiculata resembles L. samacensis, but

differs from it in the form of the petals and lip. In the shape of the

petals, it is comparable to L. acuminata.

Represented from Guatemala only by the type collection.

Lepanthes excedens Ames & Correll, Bot. Mus. Lean1. Harv.

Univ. 10: 72, pi. 6. 1942 (type: Guatemala, road to Mataquescuintla,

about 18 miles from Guatemala City, alt. about 6,000 feet, February

19, 1935, Margaret Ward Lewis 105). Figure 70.

Apparently endemic to Guatemala.

Plant minute, erect or ascending, caespitose, epiphytic, usually less than 4 cm.

tall. Roots simple, white, filiform. Secondary stem filiform, red, unifoliate, less

than 1.5 cm. long, concealed by two or more infundibuliform sheaths. Sheaths

dilated and acute at the apex, lightly costate, with the costae and apical margin

ciliolate. Leaves dark green or ruddy, especially on the lower surface and near the

margins, elliptic to oblanceolate, obtuse to subacute and tridenticulate at the

apex, tapering at the base into the short petiole, marginate, fleshy, glabrous,

somewhat undulate-contracted on the margins and conduplicate-ensiform with

age, up to 13 mm. long including the petiole and 5.5 mm. wide. Inflorescences

one or two, commonly a little shorter than the leaf, loosely 3- to 8-flowered. Floral

bracts ovate-cucullate, acute, glabrous, less than 1 mm. long, longer than the

pedicellate ovaries. Flowers extremely small, somewhat arcuate-recurved, about

3 mm. long. Sepals pale yellowish green, united at the base. Dorsal sepal elliptic-

198 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

lanceolate, acute, concave below the middle, 3-nerved, up to 3 mm. long and 1.5

mm. wide near the base. Lateral sepals united to about the middle, obliquely

ovate-elliptic, acute, up to 2.5 mm. long and 1 mm. wide above the point of

coalescence. Petals green and reddish-purple, broadly flabelliform-bilobed, with

an apicule in the sinus, up to 0.5 mm. long and 1.2 mm. wide; posterior lobe oblong-

lanceolate, obtuse; anterior lobe obliquely quadrate, truncate or retuse at the

apex. Lip bright purple, with a rather broad involute claw, 3-lobed, obovate in

outline, about 1 mm. long, usually narrower than long; lateral lobes not auriculate

at the base, linear-oblanceolate, crescentiform, broadly rounded at the apex, in-

curved so as to overlap one another, lightly keeled near the middle; mid-lobe

small, narrowly ovate-triangular, subacute, pubescent. Column cylindrical,

fleshy, about 1.2 mm. long, with a dorsal flap near the apex, acute-apiculate at

the apex; clinandrium tridentate; pollinia two.

This species is easily identified by its peculiar lip, which has

rather broad lateral lobes that are incurved in front so as to overlap.

The column and petals are also distinctive and are useful in separat-

ing the species from nearly allied entities. The specific name signifies

"overlapping" in reference to the position of the lateral lobes of the

lip.

Represented from Guatemala only by the type collection.

Lepanthes gibberosa Ames, Sched. Orch. 3: 12. 1923 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Ainal, July, 1886, H. von Turck-

heim 967).

Epiphytic, up to 1,400 meters alt. Rare in Guatemala.

Plant small, caespitose, up to 5 cm. tall including the inflorescence. Secondary

stem monophyllous, 1.3-2 cm. long, concealed by several elongated sheaths;

sheaths with hispid nerves and the margin of the infundibuliform summit hispid.

Leaves elliptic, coriaceous, marginate, shortly petiolate, up to 9 mm. long and

5 mm. wide. Peduncles 2 or more, exceeding the leaves, 2 cm. or more long;

raceme lax, several-flowered. Floral bracts infundibuliform, dorsally hispid, 1.5

mm. long. Flowers pink and red. Sepals united at the base. Dorsal sepal tri-

angular-ovate, with a shortly caudate tip, 3-nerved, 6 mm. long, 3.5 mm. wide

where it joins the lateral sepals. Lateral sepals about 6 mm. long, coherent

nearly to the middle, forming a deeply bilobed 4-nerved lamina that is 4 mm. wide,

each lobe of which is abruptly narrowed into a linear-caudate termination 2.5 mm.

long; at the base of the caudate termination each sepal is strongly protuberant

on the inner margin. Petals transversely obliquely linear-lanceolate, with the

anterior lobe narrow and acuminate, about 1 mm. long and 2.5 mm. wide. Lip

1.75 mm. long, cordate at the base with the auricles rounded, deeply bilobed in

FIG. 70. Lepanthes excedens. 1, plant (X 2); 2, sepals, spread out (X

3, lip, from above (X 20); 4, petal (X 20); 5, column, dorsal-side view (X 15).

Pleurothallis angustisepala. 6, plant (X 1AY,1, flower, side view (X 2); 8, sepals,

spread out, and column (X 2) ; 9, lip, spread out ( X 5) ; 10, petal (X 7}^). Drawn

by G. W. Dillon.

199

200 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

front, the lobes obtuse, each with a membranaceous keel. Column slender,

about 1.5 mm. long.

This species is closely allied to Lepanthes guatemalensis, from

which it differs in that the lateral sepals are protuberant on the

inner margin near the base of the caudate tip.

Represented from Guatemala only by the type collection.

Lepanthes guatemalensis Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 355.

1912 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, near Coban, June,

1908, H. von Turckheim II 2387). L. Tuerckheimii Schltr. Repert.

Sp. Nov. 10: 357. 1912 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz,

near Coban, H. von Turckheim 15 [November, 1877], 45 [1878],

11 [September, 1907]).

Epiphytic on trees in mountain forests, up to 3,000 meters alt.

Rare in Guatemala.

Plant small, caespitose, up to 12 cm. tall. Secondary stem erect or ascending,

slender, monophyllous, up to 5 cm. long, concealed by 2-4 long tubular sheaths;

sheaths slightly dilated at the apex, with the prominent nerves and apical margins

minutely hispid. Leaf erect, elliptic to broadly obovate, minutely retuse at the

broadly rounded apex, marginate, abruptly tapering into the short petiole, 0.8-2

cm. long, 3-8 mm. wide. Raceme slender, loosely few-flowered, usually with the

rachis retrofracted, up to 11 cm. long including the peduncle, exceeding the leaf;

peduncle filiform, glabrous. Floral bracts ovate-cucullate, apiculate, minutely

and sparsely hispid on the outer surface, about 1.5 mm. long. Flowers suberect,

pink and red. Sepals united at the base, 3-nerved; dorsal sepal broadly ovate-

lanceolate, long-acuminate, 7-9 mm. long, 3-4.5 mm. wide at the base; lateral

sepals obliquely elliptic-lanceolate, long-acuminate, united at the base for about

1.5-2.5 mm., 7-8 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide above the point of coalescence. Petals

transversely obliquely linear-lanceolate or bilobed, 3.5-4 mm. wide, about 1 mm.

long; posterior lobe oblong-quadrate, broadly rounded; anterior lobe narrowly

acuminate. Lip broadly subcordate-cuneate, with broadly obtuse angles on each

side at the base, forcipate-bilobed above with a glabrous linear suberect apicule

in the broad sinus, 1.3-2 mm. long, almost as wide as long; lateral lobes falcate-

lanceolate, obtuse, lightly carinate, with a membranaceous keel on the upper sur-

face. Column slender, about 1.25 mm. long.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Turckheim 2495. — El Progreso: Sierra de

las Minas, between Finca Piamonte and top of Montana Piamonte

along Joya Pacayal, Steyermark 43702a. — Zacapa: Sierra de las

Minas, between Cerro de Monos and upper slopes of Monte Virgen,

Steyermark 42883.

Lepanthes inaequalis Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 356. 1912

(type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, near Coban, November,

1877, H. von Turckheim).

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 201

Epiphytic on trees, up to 1,400 meters alt. Rare in Guatemala.

Plant erect or ascending, caespitose, 6-14 cm. tall. Secondary stem slender,

monophyllous, 3-9 cm. long, concealed by 4-9 tubular sheaths; sheaths spreading

revolute and acuminate at the apex, with the costae and apical margin densely

ciliolate. Leaf erect or spreading, elliptic to linear-lanceolate, subobtuse to

acuminate and tridenticulate at the apex, glabrous, marginate, somewhat undu-

late-constricted along the margins, usually with a purple tinge particularly along

the margins, 1.8-5 cm. long, 4-8 mm. wide. Racemes 1-3, filiform, 3-6-flowered,

up to 1 cm. long including the peduncle. Floral bracts ovate-cucullate, shortly

acuminate, about as long as the pedicellate ovaries, dorsally ciliolate. Flowers

erect-spreading, white-red. Sepals united at the base; dorsal sepal triangular-

ovate, acute to subacuminate, 3-nerved, 6-6.5 mm. long, about 4 mm. wide at

the base; lateral sepals united to about the middle, obliquely ovate or semicordate,

shortly acuminate, 2-nerved, 5-6 mm. long, 2.5-3 mm. wide just above the point

of coalescence. Petals transversely obliquely bilobed, 3-4.5 mm. wide, 1-nerved;

posterior lobe obliquely oblong or orbicular-quadrate, subtruncate at the apex,

1.8-2 mm. wide; anterior lobe obliquely triangular or oblong-quadrate, broadly

obtuse at the apex, 0.9-1.1 mm. wide. Lip concave, cordate at the base with

broadly obtuse lobes on each side, forcipate-bilobed above, with a minute apicule

in the sinus, about 2.5 mm. long, 2.2-2.5 mm. wide; lobes falcate, lanceolate-

triangular, obtuse, each longitudinally carinate. Capsule conspicuously oblique,

ovoid, about 6 mm. long.

Alta Verapaz: Samac-Coban, Johnson 767. Samac, Johnson

886.

Lepanthes Johnsonii Ames, Sched. Orch. 2: 24. 1923 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Chama, July 26, 1920, Harry

Johnson 420).

Epiphytic on trees, up to 900 meters alt. Rare in Guatemala.

Plant minute, glabrous, 3.5 cm. tall. Secondary stem concealed by about

3 closely appressed elongated hispidulous sheaths, about 1 cm. long; sheaths

dilated abruptly at the summit into a thickened ring-like hispid rim that is pro-

duced on one side into a slender rigid acute point, 3-4 mm. long. Leaves elliptic,

coriaceous, apiculate and denticulate at the apex, contracted at the base into an

abbreviated slender petiole, conspicuously marginate, 1-1.2 cm. long, 4 mm.

wide. Peduncles 1 or 2; raceme about 1.5 cm. long, lax, usually 4-flowered. Bracts

of the inflorescence tubular-infundibuliform, dorsally hispid. Flowers about 2 mm.

apart, pink-purple. Sepals united, forming a 3-lobed calyx with the lobes caudate-

tipped; dorsal sepal triangular-caudate, 1 cm. long to the base, free portion about

3.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals 1.1 cm. long to base, about 7 mm. long to the sinus,

free portion triangular-caudate, 4 mm. wide. Petals narrowly triangular, acute,

oblique, 3 mm. long in a line parallel to the dorsal sepal, 0.75 mm. wide near the

point of insertion, rounded on the outer angle nearest the point of insertion. Lip

3-lobed; lateral lobes much larger and longer than the middle lobe, similar to the

petals, 2 mm. long, 0.5 mm. wide, rounded at the base; mid-lobe about 0.5 mm.

long, longer than broad, porrect, obtuse. Column fleshy, short.

202 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

This species is distinctive among the Guatemalan species of

Lepanthes in that the flowers are extremely large in relation to the

size of the diminutive vegetative parts of the plant.

It is represented from Guatemala only by the type collection.

Lepanthes oreocharis Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 483. 1912

(type: Guatemala, on a mountain ridge, May, 1900, A. Wendt),

Epiphytic on trees in mixed forests at high altitudes, up to 3,500

meters alt. Rare in Mexico and Guatemala.

Plant small, erect or ascending, caespitose, 4-10 cm. tall. Secondary stem

slender, provided with 3-4 long tubular sheaths 1.5-7 cm. long; sheaths costate,

obliquely dilated at the apex, shortly acuminate, ciliate along the costae and margin

of the apex. Leaves elliptic, linear or lanceolate, obtuse to acute and tridenticulate

at the apex, coriaceous, subsessile, green mottled with purple, 1.5-4 cm. long,

3-7 mm. wide. Raceme one or several, rather densely flowered, filiform, 1.2-3 cm.

long including the short peduncle. Bracts tubular-cucullate, scarious, subtruncate

or acute, about 1 mm. long. Flowers small, glabrous. Sepals pale yellow with

a purple hue, united at the base; dorsal sepal ovate to ovate-oblong, subacute,

up to 5 mm. long; lateral sepals obliquely oblong-elliptic, subobtuse to apiculate,

connate to about the middle, about as long as the dorsal sepal. Petals dull yellow,

transversely bilobed, forming a right angle, glabrous, 2-3.5 mm. wide; posterior

lobe subquadrate-oblong, broadly round or obtuse at the apex; anterior lobe

oblong, obtuse, a little shorter and narrower than the posterior lobe. Lip with

a short narrow claw, 1.3-2 mm. long, orange with purple suffusion, quadrate-

auriculate at the base, with the auricles obtuse, bipartite above the middle, with

a short mucro in the sinus, the lobes obliquely lanceolate and very obtuse; disk

with two longitudinal curved calli extending from the base of the lip to above

the middle of each of the apical lobes. Column glabrous, slender.

Quezaltenango: Volcan Zunil, Steyermark 34673. — Solola: Volcan

Santa Clara, south-facing slopes to summit, Steyermark 47009.—

Zacapa: Cloud forest in ravine bordering Quebrada Alejandria,

summit of Sierra de las Minas, vicinity of Finca Alejandria, Steyer-

mark 29839. Forested slopes near summit of Sierra de las Minas,

near Finca Alejandria, Steyermark 29807.

Lepanthes samacensis Ames, Sched. Orch. 2: 25. 1923 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Samac, October 20, 1920, Harry

Johnson 880).

Epiphytic on trees in dense or open forests, up to 1,400 meters

alt. Rare in Guatemala and Honduras.

Plant small, caespitose, up to 5.2 cm. tall. Secondary stem erect or ascending,

0.7-3.5 cm. long, with 2-4 elongated tubular sheaths; sheaths lanceolate and acute,

at the summit often blackish, with the nerves hispidulous. Leaves suborbicular,

apiculate and tridenticulate at the apex, marginate, coriaceous, 8-22 mm. long

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 203

including the abbreviated petiole and apicule, 5-14 mm. wide. Inflorescence

usually solitary, about 1 cm. long; peduncle filiform, with a closely appressed

bract near the middle, about 5 mm. long; raceme densely few-flowered, about

5 mm. long. Floral bracts ovate-cucullate, dorsally hispid, 1-1.5 mm. long.

Flowers minute. Sepals pink, 1-nerved, often beaded along the margins; dorsal

sepal coherent at the base with the laterals, ovate-lanceolate, acute, about 3 mm.

long and 1.2 mm. wide; lateral sepals coherent to about the middle, about 2 mm.

long, forming a suborbicular bilobed lamina about 2 mm. wide, lobes obliquely

deltoid-acute and about 1 mm. wide, with the outer margins minutely ciliate.

Petals red, transversely subcrescentiform and 3-4 mm. wide, with the margins

minutely ciliolate; posterior lobe deltoid-lanceolate, obtuse, 0.75-1 mm. wide;

anterior lobe narrowly lanceolate, acute. Lip red, 1-1.5 mm. long, up to 1.25 mm.

wide, subquadrate-cordate, the base with an elongate auricle on each side, apex

deeply cleft to about the middle or bilobed with a densely ciliate suberect apicule

in the sinus; lateral lobes narrowly oblong and slightly incurved with a conspic-

uously ciliate apex, convergent. Column reddish, slender up to the bilobed apex.

This species is closely allied to L. Turialvae but is, in part, dis-

tinguished from that species by the ciliate apicule and lateral lobes

of the lip.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Turckheim II 1840 (in part).

Lepanthes stenophylla Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 396.

1912 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, near Coban, September,

1907, H. von Turckheim II 1969).

Epiphytic on trees, at high elevations, up to 3,000 meters alt.

Rather common in Guatemala.

Plant small, erect or ascending, densely caespitose, 4-11.5 cm. tall. Secondary

stem filiform, monophyllous, 4.5-9 cm. long, concealed by 3-7 tubular sheaths;

sheaths somewhat dilated and acute to long-apiculate at the apex, minutely ciliate

along the costae and on the apical margin. Leaf erect or erect-spreading, linear-

lanceolate, acuminate and tridenticulate at the apex, glabrous, marginate, some-

what undulate-constricted along the margins, 1.5-3 cm. long, 3.5-5 mm. wide.

Racemes 1-several, shorter than the leaves, up to 1.5 cm. long including the

peduncle, filiform, loosely many-flowered. Floral bracts ovate-cucullate, apiculate,

dorsally sparingly ciliate. Flowers small, erect-spreading, yellow-reddish. Sepals

united at the base; dorsal sepal ovate, acute to shortly acuminate, 3-nerved,

3-3.5 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals united to about the middle,

obliquely ovate, shortly acuminate, 2-nerved, 2.5-3 mm. long, 1-1.8 mm. wide

just above the point of coalescence. Petals transversely bilobed, about 3 mm.

wide; posterior lobe obliquely oblong, obtuse, 0.5-0.8 mm. wide; anterior lobe

triangular-oblong, subacute, about 0.35 mm. wide. Lip concave, subquadrate-

cordate, obtusely cordate at the base, forcipate-bilobed above, with a minute

apicule in the sinus; lobes obliquely triangular-falcate, obtuse to subacute, 1.5-

1.75 mm. long.

Lepanthes stenophylla is closely allied to L. inaequalis but differs

from that species, in part, by having much smaller flowers and

204 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

differently shaped petals. The plants are also usually much smaller

than those of L. inaequalis.

Alta Verapaz: Chama, Johnson 418. Rio Coban, between Coban

and San Pedro, Johnson 607; 608. Coban, Johnson 731. Samac-

Coban, Johnson 768. — El Progreso: Sierra de las Minas, between

Finca Piamonte and top of Montana Piamonte, along Joya Pacayal,

Steyermark 43702. — Zacapa: Cloud forest in ravine bordering Que-

brada Alejandria, summit of Sierra de las Minas, vicinity of Finca

Alejandria, Steyermark 29838 (in part).

Lepanthes Turialvae Reichb. f. Bonpl. 3: 225. 1855. L. scopula

Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 356. 1912 (type: Guatemala, Dept.

Alta Verapaz, near Coban, May, 1908, H. von Turckheim II 1840).

Epiphytic on trees in dense or open forests, up to 3,000 meters

alt. Widespread from Mexico to Panama.

Plant erect, caespitose, up to 16 cm. tall. Secondary stem slender, mono-

phyllous, concealed by 3-6 tubular sheaths; sheaths dilated and acuminate at

the apex, varying in color from green to black, hispid along the prominent costae

and apical margin. Leaf coriaceous, suborbicular-ovate to elliptic-lanceolate,

obtuse to abruptly acuminate and tridenticulate at the apex, green to bronze-

green with the under side usually purplish red, marginate, somewhat constricted

near the apex, 2.5-7 cm. long, 0.8-3 cm. wide. Racemes 1 to 4, shorter than the

leaves, up to 4.5 cm. long including the filiform peduncles, rather densely many-

flowered. Floral bracts shorter than the pedicels, cucullate, acute to acuminate,

dorsally muricate-papillose. Flowers distichous, spreading, with the rachis closely

pressed against the surface of the leaf. Sepals united at the base, pale greenish

yellow to brownish red or pink; dorsal sepal triangular-ovate, acute to shortly

acuminate, 3-veined, 2.5-3.5 mm. long, 1.8-2.2 mm. wide near the base; lateral

sepals united to above the middle, obliquely ovate-elliptic, acute, 2-veined, 2.5-

3.5 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide above the point of coalescence. Petals transversely

bilobed to form right angles, deep yellow, 2.5-4.2 mm. wide, up to 1.2 mm. long;

posterior lobe falcate-lanceolate, obtuse to acute; anterior lobe shorter and narrower

than the posterior lobe, obliquely triangular to lanceolate, acute. Lip yellow-red,

concave, cordate at the base with the basal lateral auricles obtuse, forcipate-bilobed

above, with a minute puberulent apicule in the sinus, 1.2-1.5 mm. long, up to 2 mm.

wide; apical lobes triangular-falcate, obtuse to subacute. Column bright magenta

red-yellow, arcuate. Capsule yellowish green, glossy, conspicuously oblique, about

8 mm. long.

Alta Verapaz: Chama, Johnson 421. Samac, Johnson 877.

Vicinity of Laguna Sapala (Chajvovuch), one mile southwest of

Sibicte", Steyermark 44908. Along Rio Icvolay, north and northwest

of Finca Cubilgiiitz to Quebrada Diablo, Steyermark 44774.—

Chimaltenango: Santa Elena, near Tecpam, Lewis 65. — Izabal: Cerro

San Gil, along Rio Frio, Steyermark 39915. — Santa Rosa: fide

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 205

Lewis. — Zacapa: Cloud forest in ravine bordering Quebrada Ale-

jandria, summit of Sierra de las Minas, vicinity of Finca Alejandria,

Steyermark 29837.

24. PLEUROTHALLIS R. Br.

Small or medium-sized epiphytic herbs with caespitose or approximate

secondary stems from a creeping primary stem or rhizome, not pseudobulbous;

secondary stems unifoliate or rarely 2-(or more) leaved. Leaves mostly coriaceous,

sessile or with a petiole. Inflorescence terminal or rarely lateral, fasciculate,

racemose or sometimes a solitary flower at the apex of an elongate peduncle.

Flowers small, subtended by small inconspicuous bracts. Sepals about the same

length or nearly so, erect or spreading; dorsal sepal free or connate with the lateral

sepals for a short distance, rarely clavellate at the apex; lateral sepals slightly

connate at the base to entirely united, mostly concave or gibbous under the

column-foot. Petals shorter or narrower than the sepals, rarely as long as the

sepals, sometimes clavellate at the apex. Lip shorter or rarely a little longer than

the petals, simple or 3-lobed, generally contracted and jointed with the base of

the column, mostly unguiculate. Column equaling or shorter than the lip, winged

or wingless, produced into a foot or footless at the base; foot, when present, almost

obsolete to as long as the column; anther terminal, operculate, incumbent, 1- to

2-celled; pollinia two or four, waxy. Capsule subglobose to ellipsoid.

Pleurothallis is a large New World genus of approximately six

hundred species that are commonly found in the montane regions

of the tropics and subtropics. The genus comprises a group of species

notable for their outward dissimilarity and polymorphism. It is of

interest to note that in most of the species found in the Pleurothal-

lidinae the sepals are extremely variable, especially as to size, while

the lip and petals are remarkably constant as to morphology and

size, varying only slightly in comparison with the variation evidenced

in the sepals.

The following key is entirely artificial and is prepared solely

for identifying the species of Pleurothallis which are found in Guate-

mala. The species have been combined in each series without thought

of the affinity of the species included. Closely allied species may thus

be scattered in each of the series.

A. Sheaths of the stem dilated above (as in Lepanthes), ciliate-hispid along the

prominent nerves and marginate apex I. Series Lepanthiformes.

A. Sheaths closely appressed to the stem or, if not appressed, without prominent

nerves or a marginate hispid apex.

B. Inflorescence shorter than the subtending leaf, 1-flowered, fasciculate or

racemose II. Series Brachystachyeae.

B. Inflorescence longer than the subtending leaf (occasionally subequal),

racemose or sometimes 1-flowered at the apex of an elongate peduncle.

III. Series Elongatae.

I. Series Lepanthiformes. The species comprising this small group are charac-

terized by having lepanthoid sheaths that conceal the secondary stem. The

206 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

sheaths are dilated at the apex and are conspicuously ciliate-hispid on the

prominent nerves and margin of the ostiole. The inflorescence in our species

is racemose, either exceeding or shorter than the subtending leaf.

1. Lip distinctly 3-lobed P. crucilabia.

1. Lip not 3-lobed, of an oblong or linear type.

2. Petals obliquely triangular, shortly acuminate, entire. .P. triangulipetala.

2. Petals not triangular, obtuse or broadly rounded at the apex.

3. Petals entire; secondary stems elongate, usually bearing more than one

leaf P. Broadwayi.

3. Petals ciliate or fimbriate along the margins; secondary stems short,

bearing only one leaf.

4. Secondary stems straight; lip thin, with a callus near the base.

P. Blaisdellii.

4. Secondary stems fractiflex; lip with a bifurcate callus extending from

near the base to beyond the middle of the disk P. ciliaris.

II. Series Brachystachyeae. The plants in this series are characterized by having

a short inflorescence that is exceeded by the subtending leaf. The inflores-

cence may be a single flower, a fascicle of flowers, a solitary raceme or a

fascicle of racemes. The sheaths of the stem are not ciliate.

1. Leaves cordate; inflorescence composed of one or several flowers, fasciculate.

2. Lip 4 mm. or more long; plants large, often up to 6.5 dm. tall.

3. Lip ovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate; dorsal sepal ovate to ovate-

elliptic, less than 9 mm. long P. Matudiana.

3. Lip ovate-triangular to oblong-quadrate; dorsal sepal suborbicular to

elliptic, more than 10 mm. long P. cardiothallis.

2. Lip less than 3.2 mm. long; plants mostly smaller than the preceding

species, less than 3 dm. tall.

4. Lip orbicular-ovate to subcordate-ovate P. pansamalae.

4. Lip triangular-hastate to triangular-ovate or with a blunt lobule on

each side at the base P. pansamalae var. triangulabia.

1. Leaves not cordate; inflorescence composed of a solitary flower or several

flowers in a fascicle or raceme.

5. Apex of the petals and dorsal sepal clavellate or long-caudate; usually

with the lip distinctly 3-lobed.

6. Peduncle and rachis setose-pubescent; leaves linear, less than 3.5 cm.

long P. setosa.

6. Peduncle and rachis smooth; leaves ovate, not linear, more than 3.5

cm. long.

7. Lip 5-6 mm. long; petals filiform, 6-9 mm. long. .P. xanthophthalma.

7. Lip about 10 mm. long; petals lanceolate, nearly 20 mm. long.

P. Amesiana.

5. Apex of the petals and dorsal sepal not clavellate; lip not prominently

3-lobed, at most with small lateral lobules.

8. Plants distinctly repent.

9. Leaf more than 5 cm. long P. vittata.

9. Leaf less than 5 cm. long.

10. Leaves orbicular or elliptic, when mature less than 1 cm. long,

closely appressed to the bark of trees.

1 1 . Lip oblong, with a triangular lobule on each side near the middle,

about 2.5 mm. long P. Lewisae.

11. Lip narrowly ligulate, with the margins of the basal half

strongly inrolled, about 1.5 mm. long P. comayaguensis.

10. Leaves linear-lanceolate to linear-spatulate, when mature more

than 2 cm. long, erect.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 207

12. Lip with a small lobule on each side near the base; disk ecallose

or bicallose; column with a short foot about 1 mm. long.

13. Secondary stem about 3 mm. long; leaf linear-oblanceplate;

lip ecallose P. sertularioides.

13. Secondary stem usually more than 1 cm. long; leaf lanceolate;

lip bicallose P. Carioi.

12. Lip without a tooth or lobule on each side; disk smooth or

granulose-papillose; column without a foot.

14. Petals ovate-elliptic, subacute; disk of lip granulose-papil-

lose P. repens.

14. Petals lanceolate, acuminate; disk of lip smooth.

P. minutalis.

8. Plants caespitose.

15. Lip auriculate or sagittate.

16. Lip triangular-lanceolate, without calli, with prominent denticu-

late auricles, about 6 mm. long P. angustisepala.

16. Lip sagittate, with a median callus at the base, about 4 mm. long.

P. violacea.

15. Lip neither auriculate nor sagittate.

17. Peduncle completely embraced by the lower part of the leaf.

18. Lip ovate-oblong, with a small semiorbicular lobule on each

side near the base; disk densely papillose throughout.

P. gacayana.

18. Lip ovate-oblong to oblong, with the margins thickened; disk

not papillose P. circumplexa.

17. Peduncle free from the leaf.

19. Leaves obovate to spatulate.

20. Ovary and capsule profusely echinate; lip more than 2.5 mm.

long P. tribuloides.

20. Ovary and capsule not echinate, conspicuously 3-angled; lip

less than 1.5 mm. long P. stenostachya.

19. Leaves elliptic to lanceolate.

21. Lip ovate-cordate to ovate-subquadrate, less than 2.5 mm.

long; petals linear-lanceolate.

22. Flowers numerous, glomerate; petals more than 4 mm. long.

P. ruscifolia.

22. Flowers several, fasciculate; petals less than 3 mm. long.

P. leucantha.

21. Lip ovate-oblong to oblong or oblong-elliptic, more than

3 mm. long; petals oblong-elliptic to spatulate.

23. Petals 1 mm. or less wide P. hondurensis.

23. Petals 1.5 mm. or more wide.

24. Inflorescence both terminal and lateral; pollinia two.

P. Johnsonii.

24. Inflorescence terminal only; pollinia four .P. ophiocephala.

III. Series Elongatae. The plants in this series are characterized by having an

inflorescence that exceeds the subtending leaf. The inflorescence may be

either a single flower or a many-flowered raceme. The sheaths of the stem

are not ciliate-hispid.

1. Apex of the petals and dorsal sepal clavellate P. Amesiana.

I. Apex of the petals and dorsal sepal not clavellate.

2. Lip ovate, elliptic-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, occasionally subpandurate,

entire, without auricles or distinct lobes.

208 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

3. Lip distinctly ovate to ovate-oblong, obtuse to acuminate, conspicuously

widest below the middle.

4. Lip subacute to acuminate, less than 3 mm. long; dorsal sepal ovate-

lanceolate to oblong-elliptic, less than 4.5 mm. long.

5. Lip with a callus in front of the claw; inflorescence less than 2 cm.

long; column with a short foot P. pedicellaris.

5. Lip ecallose; inflorescence up to 10.5 cm. long; column without a

foot.

6. Petals oblong-elliptic to spatulate; raceme straight. P. compacta.

6. Petals linear-lanceolate; raceme fractiflex.

P. lancilabris var. oxyglossa.

4. Lip obtuse, 3 mm. or more long; dorsal sepal linear to narrowly

lanceolate, more than 6 mm. long.

7. Entire inflorescence granulose-ciliate; petals linear-lanceolate.

P. plumosa.

7. Inflorescence not granulose-ciliate, glabrous; petals oblong-quadrate

to oblanceolate.

8. Lip verruculose P. cobanensis.

8. Lip not verruculose, with a fleshy callus near the apex.

P. platystylis.

3. Lip elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, sometimes slightly dilated at the base

or constricted below the middle.

9. Inner surface of sepals long-hirsute P. hirsuta.

9. Inner surface of sepals not hirsute.

10. Lip with a distinct constriction below the middle, more than 3 mm.

long; leaves usually about equaling or shorter than the secondary

stems, rarely twice as long.

11. Sepals narrowly lanceolate, caudate-acuminate, papillose-pubes-

cent on the inner surface; lateral sepals free almost to the base.

P. dolichopus.

11. Sepals ovate-oblong to elliptic-lanceolate, glabrous on the inner

surface; lateral sepals united almost to the apex.

P. Ghiesbreghtiana.

10. Lip not constricted below the middle, 3 mm. or less long; leaves

more than twice as long as the secondary stems.

12. Lip ciliate or pubescent along the margins.

13. Lip pubescent along the margins, prominently sulcate,

thickened on each side of the groove, with a mammillate

process on each side at the base P. abjecta.

13. Lip ciliate along the apical margins, not sulcate, without

mammillate processes, somewhat angled at the base.

P. corniculata.

12. Lip not ciliate or pubescent along the margins.

14. Plant repent P. minutalis.

14. Plant caespitose.

15. Petals obovate to lanceolate; lip lightly carinate along the

lateral nerves P. Grobyi.

15. Petals linear-triangular; lip not carinate. .P. yucatanensis.

2. Lip not ovate, either obovate, panduriform, 3-lobed, auricled, hastate or

provided with conspicuous angles or teeth.

16. Peduncle and rachis setose-pubescent P. setosa.

16. Peduncle and rachis not setose-pubescent, at most glandular-pubescent.

17. Lip more than 5 mm. long, provided with a prominent auricle or

denticulate lobule on each side at the base.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 209

18. Ovary and capsule densely muricate; petals ligulate-lanceolate,

less than 2.5 mm. wide; lip with a denticulate lobule on each

side at the base P. muricata.

18. Ovary and capsule not muricate, glabrous; petals oblong-obovate,

more than 2.8 mm. long; lip auriculate at the base.

19. Inflorescence subtended by a large spathaceous sheath 2-8 cm.

long; raceme essentially straight, loosely many-flowered.

P. Tuerckheimii.

19. Inflorescence subtended by an inconspicuous spathaceous sheath

less than 1.5 cm. long; raceme often fractiflex, 1- to few-flowered.

P. pachyglossa.

17. Lip less than 4 mm. long, not conspicuously auriculate.

20. Lateral lobes of the lip large, parallel to the mid-lobe.

P. segoviensis.

20. Lateral lobes, if present, not parallel to the mid-lobe.

21. Lip triangular-sagittate or hastate.

22. Lip triangular-sagittate; leaves 10 cm. or more long.

P. immersa.

22. Lip hastate; leaves less than 5 cm. long.

23. Petals linear to narrowly lanceolate, about 0.5 mm. wide;

lateral sepals slightly united at the base P. hastata.

23. Petals oblong-spatulate, about 1 mm. wide; lateral sepals

united almost to the apex P. abbreviata.

21. Lip not triangular-sagittate or hastate.

24. Lip narrowly ligulate to lanceolate, prominently toothed or

angled on each side at the base.

25. Peduncle supporting a congested few-flowered spike, gla-

brous; lip bicarinate P. Brighamii.

25. Peduncle 1- to 2-flowered, densely glandular-puberulent;

lip ecarinate P. glandulosa.

24. Lip 3-lobed, obovate or panduriform, usually slightly con-

stricted at about the middle.

26. Petals obovate, broadly rounded or obtuse at the apex,

entire; lip broadest below the middle, 3-lobed or panduri-

form P. fuegi.

26. Petals not obovate; lip broadest above or at about the

middle, simple or lobed.

27. Lip obovate, entire; petals cuneate below, linear-caudate

above, irregularly dentate P. samacensis.

27. Lip 3-lobed; petals linear-falcate.

28. Lip 3-lobed near the apex; petals entire.

P. segregatifolia.

28. Lip 3-lobed at the base; petals laciniate. .P. Pringlei.

Pleurothallis abbreviata Schltr. Repert. Sp. Nov. 10: 352.

1912 (type: Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, near Coban, November,

1877, H. von Turckheim 10).

Epiphytic on trees, up to 1,350 meters alt. Rare in Guatemala.

Plant very small, caespitose, glabrous except for the lip, up to 3 cm. tall.

Secondary stem almost obsolete, concealed by small scarious sheaths, monophyl-

lous. Leaf erect, obovate-spatulate, obtuse-apiculate at the apex, tapering into

210 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

the short petiole, marginate, up to 1 cm. long including the petiole, 2-3.5 mm.

wide. Raceme solitary, loosely 4-12-flowered, up to 3 cm. long including the

setiform peduncle. Floral bracts ovate-cucullate, apiculate, about 1 mm. long,

about equal to the pedicellate ovaries. Flowers small, reddish purple. Dorsal

sepal oblong-cymbiform, subacute, glabrous, 3-nerved, 2.75-3 mm. long, about

1.2 mm. wide when spread out. Lateral sepals united almost to the apex to form

an oval bifid lamina with the apical lobules obtuse and converging; lamina about

3 mm. long and 2 mm. wide, 4-nerved, with the inside nerves dorsally carinate.

Petals oblong-spatulate, abruptly acuminate, falcate, 2.2-2.5 mm. long, about

1 mm. wide. Lip hastate, with two mammillate processes on each side of the claw

at the base, obtuse at the apex, ciliate along the margin, about 2 mm. long and

0.7 mm. wide above the middle; basal angles incurved, when spread out obtusely

rounded; disk with two large conspicuous thickened intramarginal keels extending

from the base to the apex and projecting beyond the apex so as to form an

apparently retuse apex. Column about 2 mm. long, dilated above, denticulate

at the apex, with the foot almost obsolete.

This species is characterized by having a hastate lip traversed

by two very large fleshy conspicuous keels.

Alta Verapaz: Coban, Johnson 651.

Pleurothallis abjecta Ames, Sched. Orch. 2: 17. 1923 (type:

Guatemala, Dept. Alta Verapaz, Chama, August 5, 1920, Harry

Johnson 905). Figure 75.

Epiphytic on trees in open forests, up to 1,300 meters alt. Rare

in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica.

Plants densely caespitose, glabrous except for the lip, less than 3 cm. tall.

Secondary stem up to 5 mm. long, monophyllous, concealed by scarious sheaths

that are deciduous. Leaf obovate, oblanceolate or spatulate, obtuse-apiculate

at the apex, tapering into the slender sulcate petiole, marginate, coriaceous,

erect, up to 1.8 cm. long including the petiole, 3-4 mm. wide near the apex. Raceme

solitary, few-flowered, slightly exceeding the leaves, up to 2 cm. long including

the filiform peduncle; peduncle provided with several minute fugaceous sheaths.

Floral bracts about 2 mm. long, scarious, tubular, acute. Flowers small, reddish

purple, subfasciculate. Pedicellate ovary up to 4 mm. long, the slender pedicels

about 2 mm. long and persistent. Dorsal sepal elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse to

acute, elongate-cucullate, 3-nerved, 3.5-4 mm. long, about 1.2 mm. wide. Lateral

sepals coherent almost to the apex to form a triangular-ovate or elliptic lamina

with two convergent free tips that are subacute; lamina 4-nerved, 3-4 mm. long,

about 2 mm. wide. Petals triangular-lanceolate from a broad base, acuminate,

1-nerved, 2-3 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide near the middle. Lip entire, narrowly

linguiform or oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, entire and provided with shaggy glandular

hairs at the apex, below provided with hairs of irregular length along the strongly

deflexed margins, 2.5-3 mm. long, hardly 1 mm. wide; disk sulcate to about the

middle, thickened on each side of the groove, with the thickened margin of the

groove extended below into two mammillate processes. Column produced into

a short foot, dilated above, denticulate at the apex, about 2 mm. long.

AMES AND CORRELL: ORCHIDS OF GUATEMALA 211

This species is closely allied to Pleurothallis dbbreviata, from

which it differs in having an entire lip.

Represented from Guatemala only by the type collection.

Pleurothallis Amesiana L. 0. Wms. Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harv.

Univ. 8: 143. 1940.

Epiphytic in dense moist forests, up to 1,700 meters alt. Rare

in Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Plant with a creeping rhizome that gives rise to numerous crowded secondary

stems, up to 20 cm. tall; roots fibrous, flexuous, glabrous, numerous. Secondary

stems up to 15 cm. long, unifoliate, entirely concealed by whitish scarious sheaths;

sheaths distichous, somewhat inflated and dorsally carinate, approximate or more

or less imbricating. Leaf with a short petiole, ovate-elliptic, tridenticulate at the

obtuse apex, rounded or somewhat cuneate at the base, fleshy-coriaceous, dorsally

carinate along the mid-nerve, up to 6.5 cm. long and 3 cm. wide. Inflorescences

usually several, 1-flowered, about equaling or surpassing the leaf; peduncle fili-

form, naked, subtended by three clasping sheaths. Flower large for the genus,

yellowish, tinged or spotted with reddish brown or purple, the pedicellate ovary

nearly concealed by a close tubular membranaceous bract. Sepals and petals with

a slight fleshy thickening at the very base. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, with an

elongate caudate tip, up to 2.7 cm. long, about 3 mm. wide near the base, dorsally

carinate, 5-nerved; cauda filiform, about 1.5 cm. long, fleshy, with a thickened

ellipsoid apex. Lateral sepals apparently free or connate into a lamina that is

oblanceolate-oblong, about 2.6 cm. long and 9 mm. wide above the middle, bi-

dentate at the subacute apex, concave at the base, 12-nerved beyond the middle.

Petals similar to the dorsal sepal but much smaller, nearly 2 cm. long, about

1.5 mm. wide near the base, 3-nerved with the lateral nerves marginal, toothed

on each side near the base with the anterior tooth rather prominent and falcate-

lanceolate. Lip lanceolate in outline, 3-lobed near the base, about 1 cm. long

including the minute claw, rounded at the base with a thickened margin, abruptly

truncate at the apex; lateral lobes very small and inconspicuous, triangular-

falcate, incurved, acuminate, setulose; mid-lobe semiorbicular at the base then

abruptly narrowed to form an elongate oblong termination of which the margins

(especially the lateral ones) are shortly and irregularly lacerate; disk 3-nerved,

with two fleshy converging keels near the margins of the suborbicular basal por-

tion, the oblong terminal part densely papillose on the inner surface. Column

slender, arcuate, clavate above, with a prominent triangular fleshy dilation at the

base.

This species is similar in habit and vegetative appearance to

P. xanthophthalma, but the flowers are very different in the two

species.

Quezaltenango: Along old road between Finca Pirineos and

Patzulin, Standley 87029. — San Marcos: Above Finca El Porvenir,

along Rio Cabus to within two miles of Cueva de las Palomas,

south-facing slopes of Volcan Tajumulco, Steyermark 37983.—

212 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 26

Suchitepequez : Southwestern lower slopes of Volcan Zunil, bordering

quebradas and barrancas between Finca Montecristo and Finca

Asturias, southeast of Santa Maria de Jesus, Steyermark 35275.

Pleurothallis angustisepala Ames & Correll, Bot. Mus. Lean1.

Harv. Univ. 10, no. 4: 74. pi. 6. 1942 (type: Guatemala, Dept.

Alta Verapaz, above Tamahu, on tree, alt. 900-1,200 meters, April

5, 1939, P. C. Standley 70958). Figure 70.

Epiphytic on trees and shrubs, up to 1,200 meters alt. Rare in

Guatemala.