Tas. 8825, 
SIGMATOSTALIX costTARICENSIS. 
Costa Rica. 
OrcHIpacEAE, Tribe VanDEAE. 
Siematostaxix, Reichb. f.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 565. | 
Sigmatostalix costaricensis, Rolfe in Kew Bulletin, 1916, p. 78; affinis 
S. Eliae, Rolfe, sed sepalis petalisque longioribus et labello sagittato- 
cordato differt. 
Herba pseudobulbis approximatis ovato-oblongis compressis acutangulis 2-2-5 
cm. longis, apice monophyllis, basi 2~3-phyllis. Folia oblongo-lanceolata, 
subacuta, 5-12 em. longa, 1'2-2 cm. lata. Scapi graciles, 15-20 cm. longi, 
multiflori; bracteae ovato-lanceolatae, acutae, 8 mm. longae; pedicelli 
4 mm. longi. Flores parvi. Sepala et petalu reflexa, lanceolata, acuta, 
8-9 mm. longa. Labellum patens, unguiculatum, sagittato-ovatum, sub- 
convexum, minute apiculatum, 6 mm. longum, 5 mm. latum; lobi laterales 
recurvi, 1 mm. longi; unguis 2 mm. longus ; crista suberecta, dentiformis, 
subobttisa. Colwmna arcuata, 0°6 cm. longa, basi gracilis; alae sub- 
obsoletae. Pollinia pyriformia ; stipes oblongus; glandula squamiformis. 
—R. A. Roure. 
The interesting Orchidaceous genus Sigmatostalix in- 
cludes about a dozen species, the majority of which are 
characteristic of the Andes from Peru northwards to New 
Granada. It is one of the rather numerous small genera 
recognised within the sub-tribe Oncidieae of the tribe 
Vandeae, and is especially distinguished by the ungui- 
culate suberect lip, which is usually truncate or sagittate 
at the base, as well as by the elongated column. The 
genus, which now for the first time finds a place in this 
work, extends beyond the Andes, for S. costaricensis, the 
species now figured, was discovered in Costa Rica by 
Mr. C. H. Lankester, who sent a living plant to Kew 
which flowered in the collection in October, 1915, and 
remained in bloom for a considerable time; our drawing 
was made in December of that year. Though the 
interest attaching to this species is mainly botanical, it 
is nevertheless a very graceful little plant, in general 
appearance not unlike a small Oncidium, with the flowers 
borne on an elongated spike. The sepals and petals are 
OcToBER—DECEMBER, 1919, 
