ivrRi SCOTT Elliot's tropical African okchids; 199 



lobes. The stout column is scarcely 1 line long. The anther has 

 a blunt anterior peak. 



Tins species must be very near P. spateUa Krilnz., described in 

 EiKji, Hot. Jalirb. xix. ii51, collected by Stuhlmann on the same 

 mountain. A comparison of Mr. Elliot's plant with Krilnzliu's 

 description reveals several differences. The petals of P. spateUa 

 are said to be narrowly linear and acute; those of P. FAUotii are 

 spathulate and obtuse ; again, no mention is made of any callus 

 below the median lobe of the lip, a characteristic feature in our 

 plant, which has moreover narrower leaves overtopping the raceme. 

 The fact that a second species, closely allied, but evidently distinct, 

 has been found by Mr. Elliot on Kuwenzori was a further induce- 

 ment to their description as new. They are evidently members of 

 a group of closely allied species. 



Polystachya ruwenzoriensis, sp. nov. Prrecedenti similis 

 sed minor et minus diffusa, Horibus autem vix majoribus, sepalo 

 dorsali ovato concavo subacuto, lateralibus galeatis, parte libera 

 oblonga acuta ; petalis lineari-spathulatis, labelli longe unguiculati 

 sparse setulosi parte superiore 3-loba crispata basi involuta, callo 

 auriculiformi sub utroque sinu instructa. 



Hab. In heather, Butagu, liuwenzori, about 9000 ft., July 

 (rains), 1894, No. 8617. 



Flowering-shoots 2-3 in. long, the blunt linear-lanceolate 

 leaves not exceeding If in. in length by 2 lines in breadth. 

 Triangular setaceous bracts 1^ lines long, a little shorter than 

 the flower-pedicel. Dorsal sepal 2^ lines long by l\ broad, 

 lateral ones a little over 5 lines, the free portion 3 lines by Ih. 

 Petals 2^ by less than ^ hue. Lip 5 lines long, the linear claw 2J; 

 the limb is curled on each side at the juncture with the claw, and 

 bears on the disc below each incision a broad auricular projection 

 with an irregularly crenulate margin. The short lateral lobes are 

 oblong, the central orbicular and apiculate. The stout column is 

 1 line long. The rounded anther is beaked. The fertiUzed ovary 

 (^ in. long) is sharply triangular. 



Distinguished from P. Elliutii by its larger sepals, narrower 

 petals, and lip-characters, besides being a smaller plant. 



Polystachya simplex, sp. nov. Semipedalis, internodiis in- 

 ferioribus vagiuatis incrassatis vix pseudo-bulbosis, 3-1 superioribus 

 foliosis ; foliis auguste oblanceolatis racemum brevem valde super- 

 antibus ; bracteis triangulo-setaceis, ovaria cum pedicellis baud 

 {Equantibus ; floribus parvis, sepalo dorsali ovato acuto, lateralibus 

 ovato-triangularibus acutis mentum formantibus ; petalis lineari- 

 oblanceolatis acutis, labello e basi triangulari 3-lobo, lobis laterali- 

 bus subrotuudatis antice truncatis, lobo medio late ovato vel 

 semiorbiculari, disco ruguloso, margiue crispulato, apice valde 

 apiculato ; columna brevi, crassa. 



Hab. On rocks at foot of waterfall, 6200 ft., Wimi, Euwen- 

 zori, June (rains), 1894, No. 7827. 



A small plant 6-7 in. high, the lower internodes covered by the 

 almost colourless scarious obtuse sheaths, the upper bearing sub- 

 obtuse leaves with a blade, plicate at the base, 4 in. or less in 



