Erythrodes Merrillii mes, Orch. 8 (1908) 79, ¢. 
54; Ames, Orch. 5 (1915) 29: Ames in Merrill, Enum. 
Philipp. Fl. Pl. 1 (1924) 278. 
Herpysma Merrilla Ames in Philipp. Journ. Sci. 2 
(1907) Bot. 818; Schltr., Orchideen (1914) 118: J... 
Smith in Blumea 1 (1984) 213. 
This interesting and rare plant is now known by a 
second collection from the Philippine Islands. 
Luzon: Montalban, Prov. Rizal, April 1912, Loker 13279, 
The generic status of this species has been in question 
since the time of its publication. Described in 1907 as 
an Herpysma without discussion, it was changed to Mry- 
throdes in 1908 by Ames and a good discussion of the spe- 
cles was given, stating reasons for the change. Schlechter 
referred to it under Herpysma in his Orchideen in 1914. 
In 19384, J.J.Smith had occasion to refer to it in connec- 
tion with his paper *‘Artificial Key to the Orchid Genera 
of the Netherlands Indies, together with those of New 
Guinea, the Malay Peninsula and the Philippines’’ and 
referred the species to Herpysma. A short discussion of 
the status of the genus is given. Among others the fol- 
lowing statement occurs, “‘It is not impossible that the 
very blunt anther forms a good generic character, as it 
is very different from the, so far as | know, always acu- 
minate anther of the species of Wrythrodes.”” 1 have not 
seen specimens of Herpysma longicaulis Lindl., the gen- 
eric type, but if plate 867in Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Cal- 
cutta 8 (1898) is correct then the blunt anther shown is 
very different from the long acuminate one of H/rythrodes 
Merrillii.. Ames’ plate (Orch. 8 (1908) ¢. 54) shows the 
anther to be acute. The floral details of that plate were 
drawn from buds and according to new material the an- 
ther is longer, when mature, than is shown in the plate. 
[56 | 
