Ames — New Orchids from Tropical America. 87 



Stelis Johnsonii, sp. nov. 



Similitudinem gerit cum S. microchila Schltr. Radices albidae, fibratae. 

 Caules secondarii abbreviati, monophylli. Folium oblanceolatum, coriace- 

 um, quam inflorescentia brevius. Pedunculus gracilis, multiflorus. Flores 

 in sicco brunneo-rubentes, niinuti. Sepala triangulari-ovata, trinervia. 

 Petala flabellata, labello niulto inajora, apice incrassata, trinervia. Label- 

 lum parvum, circuitu rhonibicum, apicc incrassatum, obtusum, prope 

 medium callo instructuni . Columna basi angustata, apice utrinque 

 lobulo ornata. 



Epiphyte. From base of secondary stem to tip of inflorescence 8.5 cm. 

 high. Secondary stems erect, about 1 cm. long, when young concealed 

 by two elongated tubular sheaths, monophyllous. Leaf 2.5-4 cm. long, 

 up to 6 mm. wide, oblanceolate, obtuse, minutely bidentate at the apex, 

 narrowed toward the base into a sulcate petiole about 4 mm. long. Pedun- 

 cles with the lax-flowered raceme up to 7.5 cm. long, solitary or rarely 

 two, unibracteate below the raceme. Raceme 3.5-4.5 cm. long. Floral 

 bracts 1.5-2 mm. long, obliquely infundibuliforni, acuminate, acute, 

 shorter than the pedicels. Flowers twelve more or less, reddish-brown 

 in dried specimens, 3 mm. apart on the rhachis. Pedicel together with the 

 ovary up to 2.5 mm. long. Sepals adherent at base, 1.5 mm. long, about 

 1.5 mm. wide, triangular-ovate, obtuse, conspicuously three-nerved. 

 Petals 1 mm. long, 1.25 mm. wide near the apex, fan-shaped, thickened at 

 the tip, three-nerved. Labellum .5 mm. long, rhombic in outline, tri- 

 angular in side-view, margins erect, apex thickened, near the apex provided 

 with a large fleshy callus. Column slender near the base, dilated upwards. 



Allied to Stelis bidentata Schltr. from which it is distinguished by wider 

 leaves and a different lip. In habit similar to the Costa Rican S. obscurata 

 Reichb. f. 



GUATEMALA, Department Alta Verapaz, Chama. Harry Johnson 

 252. May 15, 1920. Epiphytic on trees, flowers reddish, odorless. Alti- 

 tude 900 feet. (Type in Herbarium of Oakes Ames 22114. Duplicate 

 type in United States National Herbarium 1081106.) 



Bussey Institution, Harvard University. 



