HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
CambBripGe, Massacuusertrs, JuLy 9, 1936 VoL. 4, No. 3 
STUDIES IN STELIS. VI. 
BY 
OaKkES AMES 
Stelis Lankesteri 4 mes in Sched. Orch. 3 (1923) 4. 
AMONG MIDDLE AMERICAN species of Stelis, Stelis 
Lankesteri has the largest flowers, being approached only 
by S. /eucopogon Reichb.f. [t is characterized by the un- 
equally bilabiate calyx which gives the flowers the aspect 
of being disepalous. The lateral sepals are coherent to 
the apex forming a strongly concave lamina; the petals 
are very fleshy, about 2 mm. long and 2 mm. wide, strong- 
ly imbricating behind the fleshy column and conspicu- 
ously thickened above the middle. The column is char- 
acterized by having the cushion-like stigmatic processes 
widely separated equalling the anther, with the triangu- 
lar-lingulate rostellum erect between them. The labellum 
is about half as long as the petals and in its structure sug- 
gests the species of the group to which S. nwbis Ames 
belongs. 
The flowers of S. Lankesteri are described by the 
collector as being vinaceous brown. When dry they are 
brown-purple. 
Only three collections are known to me; that of the 
type found in the hot forest near La Florida, at an alti- 
tude of 150 meters, and two collections from Estrella de 
Cartago, found at an altitude of 5,000 feet. Because of 
the great difference in altitude between the type-locality 
[21] 
