Spiranthes obtecta is allied to 8. ertophora Robins. & 
Greenm. and to S. velata Robins. & Fern. From the 
former it differs in its densely flowered raceme, smooth 
rachis, much smaller flowers and narrower petals. From 
the latter it is distinct by reason of its quite dissimilar 
and less conspicuous lip. 
GuatTeMaLa, road to Mataquescuintla about twenty miles from 
Guatemala City. Common. Terrestrial in open clearings. At about 
8000 feet altitude, in shallow layer of topsoil (chiefly semi-decayed 
pine-needles). Sepals pale green; petals white; lip white with fine 
green mid-nerve. April 21, 1934. Margaret Ward Lewis 101 (Tyre 
in Herb. Ames No, 40375). 
Spiranthes sparsiflora C. Schweinfurth sp. nov. 
Herba terrestris, hysterantha. Radices fasciculatae, 
crassae. Folia oblanceolata vel spathulato-oblanceolata. 
Pedunculus infra racemum vaginis scariosis numerosis 
ornatus. Racemus laxiflorus. Flores parvi. Sepalum dor- 
sale elliptico-lanceolatum, apice cucullato-rotundatum. 
Sepala lateralia lineari-lanceolata, obtusa. Petala cum 
sepalo dorsali galeam formantia, anguste elliptico-lan- 
ceolata, faleata. Labellum in circuitu ovato-oblongum ; 
parte inferiore subquadrato-pandurata; parte anteriore 
multo minore, ligulato-apiculata. Columna generis. 
Plant terrestrial, about 20-22 cm. high. Roots very 
stout, fasciculate, thick-cylindric or fusiform, lanuginose. 
Leaves not present at flowering time, erect, oblanceolate 
or oblanceolate-spatulate; blades about 7-14 cm. long, 
2.3-2.95 em. wide, acute or acuminate, membranaceous, 
7-nerved with several supplementary nerves, gradually 
passing into the petioles; petioles slender, about 8 cm. 
long or less. Seape about 20 ecm. long, obviously imma- 
ture in our specimen. Peduncle up to the inflorescence 
adorned with numerous scarious infundibuliform acumi- 
nate sheaths which are imbricating below and looser a- 
[ 108 | 
