170 A NEW HABENARIA FROM BRAZIL. 



of the leaf, especially towards the apex ; in section of from three 

 to five almost equal cells. 



Fructification unknown. 



Habitat: — On earth, on and aboiit the roots of elms, near 

 Nortliampton. First found by the writer, April 8rd, 1884. 



This moss has been submitted to Dr. Braithwaite, who will 

 figure it in a supplementary plate to vol. i. of the ' British Moss 

 Flora,' and who has kindly informed the writer of his intention to 

 name it Catharinea Dixoni. 



It will be observed from the description that it differs from all 

 known species of Catharinea, except Atnchum pniaHelum Mitt. 

 (Journ. of Linn. Soc, vol. viii. p. 48, tab. viii ; Lesquereux, 

 ' Mosses of North America,' p. 258), in the absence of border to 

 the leaves ; and from all known species in the large number 

 of lamella). Whether these two points are sufficient to separate it 

 from Catharinea is a question that must be left undecided in absence 

 of fruit ; but the habit and general leaf-structure are distinctly 

 those of that genus. For the present Ehrhart's definition must be 

 widened with regard to those points, so as to include these two 

 species. 



A NEW HABENARIA FKOM BRAZIL. 

 By H. N. Ridley, M.A., F.L.S. 



Habenaria Melvillii, sp. n. — Tubera lanata clavata. Folia 

 duo, ovata obtusa patentia petiolata, 7-nervia ; lamina majoris 

 2 uncias louga, li lata, petiolus vix uncialis. Scapus brevissimus 

 1^ uncia longus. Flores duo magni. Sepala ovata obtusa, 

 lateralia parum obliqua patentia. Petala bifida, lacinia antica 

 erecta, ligulata obtusa falcata, postica longior recta linearis multo 

 angustior, acuminata. Labellum trifidum, lacinife laterales lineares 

 acuminata), media brevior, obtusa. Calcar longissimum 4-unciale, 

 pendulum rectum, apice paullo dilatato. Columna brevis lata. 

 Anthera baud apiculata, apices longa) curvte. 



Cidade de Entre Rios, Minas Geraes, Brazil, coll. H. C. Dent. 



The British Museum Herbarium is indebted for this interesting 

 plant to Mr. J. Cosmo Melvill, whose name I have great pleasure 

 in associating with it. It is remarkable for the broadly ovate- 

 petiolate leaves, and the very short flower-stem bearing one (or 

 two) rather large violet and white flowers, and with a spur more 

 than twice the length of the stem. The dorsal sepal is five-eighths 

 of an inch long, the laterals a little longer. The petals are bifid ; 

 the upper lobe about the length of the dorsal sepals ; the lateral 

 lobe a little over an inch long, much narrower, and tapering away 

 to a fine point. The lip has a short narrow base, ending in three 

 narrow linear lobes ; the two outer ones nearly an inch and a 

 quarter long, tapering gradually to a point, the middle one broader, 

 shorter, and blunt. The long upcurvcd anther-processes are nearly 

 three-eighths of an inch in length. 



