CONSPECTUS TABULARUM. .- 49 
176. POLYSTACHYA GERRARDI, Harv. ( Orchidea.) 
PR, Gerrardi: caule elongato cylindraceo, folio solitario ligulato- 
lanceolato subacuto striato erecto caulem coronante, pedunculo inflo- 
rescentiaque glaberrimis, spica bifida pluriflora, petalis spathulatis, la- 
bello glaberrimo medio verrucoso lobis lateralibus obtusis. 
Han.—On trees. Ingoma, Natal, Feb., W. T. Gerrard, 1557. (Herb. T. C. D.) 
Descr.—Stem 38-4 inches long, } inch in diameter, crowned with a 
single erect leaf, 7-8 inches long, ¢ inch wide, subacute, clasping at base, 
striate, flat, rather widening upwards, and ending in a subacute, equal 
point. -All parts of the plant quite glabrous. Pedunc. from the axil 
of the leaf, slender, 6-8 inches high, bearing 2-3 small bracts, bifid; 
the branches nearly equal, each bearing several flowers. Proper bracts 
ovate, clasping. Ovary slender, uncial, tapering much at base. Petals 
linear-spathulate, obtuse. Zabellwm with two blunt, short, smooth, 
lateral lobes, and a longer, subacute, medial lobe, which is three-ridged © 
at base, depressed or concave in the middle, and warted from the middle 
to the point. Pollinia not observed. 
The solitary leaf and the perfectly glabrous inflorescence distinguish 
this species from any of the Cape Polystachye; but by these same cha- 
racters it appears to be nearly allied to P. cultrata of the Mauritius, 
with which I have not had an opportunity of comparing it. It is one 
of Mr. Gerrard’s many discoveries, and deservingly bears his name. 
Fig. 1, lower part of stem, with leaf; 2, upper part, with flowers; ihe natural size. 
Fig. 3, a flower, pulled open; 4, labellum; 5, a petal; 6, lateral sepal; 7, back sepal ; 
8, column; all magnified. 
177. POLYSTACHYA SANDERSONI, Harv. ( Orchidee.) 
P. Sandersoni: caule bulboso ovato apice angustato, foliis binis 
lato-linearibus obtusis subfalcatis basi vaginantibus, panicula floribus- 
que pubescentibus, petalis linearibus subspathulatis, labello glabro 
medio verrucoso lobis lateralibus obtusis. 
Has.—Attercliffe, Natal, 600 ft., rare, J, Sanderson, 134. (Herb. T. C. D.) 
Descr.— Stems tufted, bulb-like, }—2 inch long, 4 inch in diameter. 
Flowering stem (peduncle) clothed with 2-3 close sheaths at base, and 
bearing two long, spreading or falcate, linear-strapshaped, obtuse leaves, 
parted above, branched, pubescent, as are also the bracts and the 
flowers. Bracts taper-pointed, spreading. Ovary $-2 inch long. Sepals 
acuminate. Petals linear, slightly spathulate, subobtuse. Labellum 
with two broad, oblong, very obtuse, ascending lateral lobes, granulated 
or warted in the middle, and an ovate, subacute, warted medial lobe. 
Pollinia 4, connate in pairs. : : 
Of this rare plant I have seen but a single specimen, communicated 
tome in 1860 by Mr. Sanderson, its discoverer. It differs from P. 
E 
