Microstylis histionantha Link, Klotzsch & Otto Icon. 
Pl. Rar. Hort....Berol. 1 (1841) 11, t. 5. 
Microstylis Parthoni Reichenbach filius in Walp. 
Ann. 6 (1861) 206. 
Microstylis Brenesti Schlechter in Fedde Repert. 
Beihefte 19 (1928) 167. 
The lip of Malaais Parthoni, as depicted by Mor- 
ren, is surely narrower in form than that of Microstylis 
histionantha as figured by Link, Klotzsch and Otto or by 
Hooker in Botanical Magazine 70 (1844) t. 4108. How- 
ever, authors of the high standing of Cogniaux and Ridley 
(the latter in his monograph of the genus) consider the 
two species as synonymous. Moreover, we have exam- 
ined a large series of specimens in which the lips, even in 
one collection, vary from broadly ovate to suborbicular 
or even transversely round-elliptic. 
Microstylis Brenesii is supposed to differ from the 
allied species in its smaller habit, sharper leaves, smaller 
flowers and the form of the lip. However, a drawing of 
the type of this species in our herbarium shows a leaf very 
similar in shape to that of Malaais Parthonii and M:- 
crostylis histionantha. As shown by a floral analysis of 
Schlechter’s species, the lip varies (perhaps due to spread- 
ing) trom round-ovate to transversely round-oval and is 
in no sense subreniform-flabellate as Schlechter describes 
it. At least in one of the lips shown, there appears to be 
a basal depression (as in Malawis Parthonii). The vege- 
tative size of plant and flowers certainly is scarcely diag- 
nostic in this genus. 
Malaais Parthoni appears to extend from Mexico, 
through Central America to Costa Rica and also occurs 
in Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Peru. 
Malaxis Reichei (Schitr.) Ames & Schweinfurth 
comb, nov. 
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