those of P. fragrans Schltr., but they are fewer in num- 
ber and are scarcely more than half as large. 
Cuzco: Prov. of Convencién, Sahuayaco-Cascarillayoce, at 1700 
meters altitude, on grassy slopes, January 17, 1947, C. Vargas 6306 
(Typr in Herb. Ames No. 63446); Prov. of Urubamba, Tuncapata, 
Sta. Rita, on open grassy slopes, at 2500 meters altitude, March 28, 
1942, C. Vargas 2686. 
Puno: Prov. of Sandia, Sto. Domingo area, at 1550 meters alti- 
tude, flowers red tinged with blue and having slight agreeable odor, 
February 12, 1940, D. McCarroll 102. The flowers in this collection 
are apparently in bud and are notably smaller than normal. 
Altensteinia elliptica C. Schweinfurth sp. nov. 
Herba parva, saxicola. Folia plura, prope caulis basim 
rosulata, oblongo-elliptica, acuta vel subacuta. Caulis 
vaginis pluribus laxis imbricatis tectus. Racemus dense 
multiflorus. Flores parvi, labello excepto membranacei. 
Sepala petalaque patentia vel reflexa. Sepalum dorsale 
elliptico-lanceolatum, subacutum vel obtusum, dorso 
pubescens. Sepala lateralia similia, oblique elliptico- 
lanceolata, complicato-acuta. Petala oblanceolato-line- 
aria, obliqua, subacuta, subglabra. Labellum carnosum, 
erectum, tubulari-concavum, vi explanatum suborbicu- 
lare, dorso minute pustulatum. Columna clavata. 
Plant low, about 16 cm. high. Roots fascicled, tuber- 
ous, short, numerous. Leaves four or five, clustered near 
the base and surrounded by several imbricating sheaths, 
oblong-elliptic, acute or subacute, narrowed to a broad 
sheathing base, up to about 8.5 cm. long and 2 cm. wide. 
Stem up to the inflorescence about 10.5 cm. high, en- 
tirely concealed by several loose imbricating sheaths. 
Inflorescence racemose, densely many-flowered, with 
the rachis lanuginose. Floral bracts ovate, acute or acu- 
minate, concave, scarious, sparingly ciliate, shorter than 
the flowers. Flowers small, whitish green, membrana- 
ceous except the lip. Dorsal sepal elliptic-lanceolate, 
subacute to obtuse, dorsally pubescent, 1-nerved with 
[3] 
