long and 0.5 mm. wide. Lip rhombic-ovate in outline, 
deeply 8-lobed near the middle, cuneate at the base, 
about 1.1 mm. long and 0.87 mm. wide across the lateral 
lobes, with a pair of fleshy keels through the lower por- 
tion; lateral lobes faleate-dolabriform, subequal to the 
mid-lobe, obtuse, porrect, erect in natural position; mid- 
lobe obovate-oblong, broadly obtuse, much exceeding the 
lateral lobes. Column about half as long as the petals, 
produced into a subequally long foot. Pollinia eight, 
pyriform. 
This species is probably the most minute member of 
the genus Octomeria yet described and ranks with the 
most insignificant orchids known to science. It appears 
to be allied to O. minuta Cogn., but differs in having 
acute sepals (when expanded), the lateral ones being free, 
as well as in having a widely dissimilar lip. 
I take the liberty of quoting from the notes of the 
collector of this remarkable little orchid, as follows: 
‘*A fter making camp one afternoon I put on the climb- 
ing irons in order to collect a specimen of a beautifully 
flowering Cunuria crassipes, a relative of Hevea rubber. 
When half way up the ninety foot tree, I stopped to 
lean back in the belt and rest. My glance was caught by 
what seemed to be a tiny orchid growing, together with 
the ever-present mosses and lichens, in the deep furrows 
of the shaggy dark brown bark of the tree. Carefully I 
plucked it out. Examination with a lens proved that it 
was indeed a very beautiful little orchid less than one 
half an inch high with yellowish flowers, of a genus un- 
known to me. Calling to Francisco to stop his cooking, 
I put the little plant in my note-book and let it fall to 
him. All other thoughts dismissed, we spent the rest of 
the afternoon searching the trunks of all the trees in the 
vicinity, but only a few additional specimens of the or- 
chid were found. 
[ 54 | 
