277 



MR. SCOTT ELLIOT'S TEOPICAL AFRICAN ORCHIDS. 



By a. B. Rkndle, M.A., F.L.S. 



{ Continued from p. 252.) 



Deroemeria acuminata Rendle & Sclilechter, sp. nov. Semi- 

 peclalis, anthcsi apliylla glabra, scapo squamis triangulari-acutis 

 bracteiformibus instructo ; racemo subsecundo 14-iloro; sepalis 

 uniiierviis, dorsali ovato mucronato, latoralibus ovato-lanceolatis 

 obtusis vix mucroiiulatis ; petalis ovalibus superne autem oblique 

 3-fidis, lobo medio lougiori ; labelli basi cymbiformi auriculata ad 

 columnam alte allixa et in calcar rectum producta, parte superior! 

 subpateute et trilobulo, lobo medio longiore acuto. 



Hab. Dry burnt ground, Nandi, Nile watershed, 6-700U ft., 

 Jan. (between the rains), 1893, No. 7049. Schimper, Ft. Abyss. 

 No. 790. Auf Berg Edda Girges, 7000 ft., iiber Meer, bei Adum, 

 24 Januar. 1863. 



A slender leafless plant, resembling in habit Dercemeria aplujlia 

 Schlechter & Rendle [Ilolothri.v aphylla Rchb. f.), collected by 

 Forskahl in Arabia Felix. The acute lanceolate flowering bracts 

 (1^ lines long) are about half the length of the shortly-stalked 

 ovary (3-4 lines long). The dorsal sepal is 1^ lines by f line 

 broad, the laterals slightly smaller (IJ by less than f ) ; the petals 

 are 2^ lines by 1 line, the lateral lobes shorter and more obtuse, 

 the median elongated and acute. The round basket- shaped base of 

 the lip forms with the column a tube in which the stigma is sunk, the 

 column projecting only a short way above the point of union ; the 

 lateral lobes of the spreading upper part are broad, and shortly 

 pointed on the side next the longer acute central lobe ; from the 

 tip of the latter to the beginning of the spur is 2^ lines ; the upper 

 portion is a little over 1^ lines broad, and the spur is 2| lines long. 

 The anther-canals are short and truncate. 



Distinguished from D. aphylla by its divided lip (entire in 

 Forskahl's plant) and straight (not curled) spur. Is also near H. 

 Schimpcri Rchb. f., but distinguished (e descript.) by the broader 

 sepals and petals, the latter being ligulate in the Abyssinian plant ; 

 the bracts are moreover only about half the length of the ovary 

 (not subequal to it), and the spur is straight (not arcuate). Also 

 differs from the allied H. prcBcox Rchb. f. in its shorter floral bracts, 

 and shape of sepals and petals, the latter of which are never 

 elongated into threads. 



In discussing this plant with Mr. Schlechter, who contemplates 

 a monograph of HoluihrLc, he pointed out that it differs, like its 

 allies H. aphylla, H. pracox, and one or two more, very strikingly 

 in habit from the other species of the genus, in all of which we find 

 an ebracteate hairy scape springing from between the radical leaves. 

 He suggested that if the floral characters were sufficiently distinct, 

 it would be well to revive Reicheubach's genus Dercemeria for the 

 reception of these few species. We accordingly examined the 

 flowers, and found them characterized by the very high union of 



