Ames Herbarium and accompanying library by drawings 
of the type) are inseparable from our basic concept. 
Polystachya Weigelt Reichb.f., described with a re- 
tuse mid-lobe of the lip, was reduced to P. foliosa by 
Reichenbach filius in his type diagnosis of the latter spe- 
cies, while that great orchidologist considered P. nana 
KI. referable to P. caracasana Reichb. f. 
Polystachya minor Fawe. & Rendle has already been 
shown to represent P. cerea Lindl. 
It is evident both from an excellent photograph of the 
type and from the diagnosis that Polystachya altilamel- 
lata Schltr. is only a narrow-leaved form of this variable 
species. In this form, the mid-lobe of the lip is described 
as suborbicular, as seen in the type drawing of that organ 
in P. caracasana Reichb.f. 
Polystachya ecuadorensis Schltr. seems, judging from 
the description and from the floral analysis, to represent 
a concept closely similar to the usually broad-leaved 
species with the quadrate mid-lobe of the lip shown by 
Polystachya minor Fawe. & Rendle. 
Judging from a photograph of the type and the orig- 
inal description, Polystachya cubensis Schltr., represents 
a plant inseparable from P. minor Fawe. & Rendle, with 
somewhat longer and narrower leaves. 
It appears that Polystachya amazonica Schltr. repre- 
sents the small form exemplified by Stelis foliosa Lindl., 
but it seems to have the ovate-oblong dorsal sepal and 
the subquadrate mid-lobe of the lip seen in Polystachya 
minor Fawe. & Rendle. 
Polystachya Huebneri Schltr. and P. stenophylla 
Schltr., both narrow-leaved species, are in other charac- 
ters very similar to P. minor Fawe. & Rendle. In P. 
Huebneri, the inflorescence is described as commonly 
little surpassing the leaves, and the flowers appear to be 
very close to those shown in the type of Stelis foliosa 
[ 54 | 
