168 



(3, y and b is perfectly alike i. e. spathulate, whereas that 

 of a on account of its strongly compressed base is like a stalked 

 oval. The alae ft, y and b exactly oppose the sepals s . . . s, 

 a opposes one of the petals (j;^). There can consequently be 

 no doubt as to ft, y and d representing the outer-antisepalous- 

 whorl of the staminodes, whereas a belongs to the inner whorl. 



The labellum marked by its notched and recurvous top and 

 a yellow stripe on the inner side, is traceable much farther 

 downward and disappears only near the top of j)^ to which it 

 is opposite. The semi-petalous anther, indicated by Eichler as 

 st, but in our figures marked with x, sinks down a little lower 

 still hiding itself behind p^ to which it is opposite. Also a can 

 be followed behind the basal portion of /f. Labellum, x and a 

 constitute the inner whorl of the staminodes and agree in this 

 respect that each of them vault'^ loith its two edges a portion of 

 the floivertube, thus forming ivith it three narrow funnels. 



What we may register as „nova" is firstly the constant 

 presence of the ala y just in the place where theory requires 

 it. There are, indeed, on the rich flowering specimens of the 

 Utrecht Conservatory odd flowers with only three alae, but 

 in several such cases T could discern a small excrescence on 

 the edge of a that on examination in fact proved to be a 

 rudiment of d. Our figures 7, 9 and 10 represent examples of 

 these cases. 



Another new observation is that the parts of the inner whorl 

 are to be distinguished from a tube enclosed by them. In order 

 to make this relation clear we remove the labellum as com- 

 pletely as possible from the tube (fig. 3) and thus uncover a 

 triangular light spot corresponding with the lower part of the 

 labellum. In reality this light spot to be seen in our figure 

 means a membrane of a dead dark red colour, more or less 

 indented on its free margin and on the left corner rising to a 

 short, somewhat swollen excrescence which in colour and shape, 

 but not in size, exhibits a likeness to the style. Further examin- 

 ation shows really that we must look upon this excrescence as 

 a rudimentary style {s). 



