4. Zeuxine.] 159. ORCHIDACEJE. 



Lower part of stem with short annular sheaths. Leaves Unear acuminate, 

 1-2" long. Spike 1-2", dense, bracts erect, lanceolate acuminate, • 25- • 5", 1-nerved. 

 Perianth oblique on the -2" long ellipsoid glabrous ovary, median sepal gibbous 

 •22" loosely connate with the petals, lateral sepals oblong to lanceolate obtuse 

 • 18" free 2-3-nerved. Lip green fleshy linguiform with uptmned sides, side-lobes 

 slightly elevated only, a slight constriction at base of terminal lobe which has 

 2 fleshy upturned lobules, obtuse or refuse. Filament very short broad hyaUne 

 bearing a hinged red broadly ovate apiculate 2-celled anther, pollinia attached to 

 a common membranous process of the oblique rostellum, consisting of numerous 

 small waxy masses held together by viscid threads, rostellum 2-fid. 



The F.B.I, says that the flowers are white, yellow or very pale rose and lip 

 yellow. The short claw at base of terminal lobe of lip is described as pubescentj; 

 it and the side-lobes are rather papillose in my specimens. Being a wide-spread 

 Indian orchid, it is probably variable, but the F.B.I, has united with Z. sulcata 

 the following species, which is quite distinct. 



2, Z. membranacea, Lindley. Syn. Z. sulcata, F.B.I, (in part). 



A dwarf orchid 3-15" high with habit of Z. sulcata and somewhat 

 similar leaves. Spike -5-2" on peduncles 2-4" long of white flowers 

 •15-- 18" long (without the ovary). Perianth nearly straight on the 

 ovary which is pubescent and obconic. Lateral sepals ovate acu- 

 minate -1" free, indistinctly 1-nerved. Median sepal -15" conniving 

 but not connate with the petals into a hood, ovate, obtuse, 1-nerved. 

 Lip contracted between the orbicular saccate hypochile and the thin 

 transversely oblong expanded flat -07" broad epichile which is apicu- 

 late between the wings, side-lobes 0. Eostellum deeply 2-fid. Fila- 

 ment very short bearing an erect sub-sagittate anther. 



Growing in grass. Purneah ! Fl. Dec-Jan. Distrib. Purneah to Burmah. 



Lower part of stem with short sheaths. Leaves linear or hnear-oblanceolate 

 acute or acuminate, 1-2" long. Bracts lanceolate slightly exceeding the flowers. 

 Median sepal not gibbous, • 15". Perianth not pubescent nor papillose. Capsule 

 •2" somewhat obovoid-oblong, ribbed. 



Quite distinct from Z. sulcata, with which it has been united. 



3. Z. affinis, Benth. 



A pretty little orchid 8-15" high ascending from a creeping base, 

 which and lower parts of stem are furnished with membranous sheaths 

 or leaf-bases. Leaves several, ovate-oblong, 1-1 • 7" sessile or with 

 short petioles on the inflated broad hyaline sheaths. Flowers white 

 in thinly pubescent spikes 1-3" long with perianth -IS-- 2" long very 

 oblique on the erect thinly pubescent ovary. Lip saccate with 2 white 

 hatchet-shaped wings each about • 12". Bracts membranous, 3- 

 nerved, mostly shorter than the narrow ovaries. 



Sikkim Tarai and Duars and probably in Purneah ! Fl. Feb.-March. 



5. POGONIA, Grijf. 



(Section Nervilia, Gaud. Gen.) 



Terrestrial tuberous herbs with a single remarkable leaf, being 

 orbicular or broadly ovate with cordate base and strongly plicate, 

 appearing after the fiow'ers. Flowers small or mod. -sized, often 

 green, solitary, few or many, horizontal or pendulous in a raceme. 

 Sepals and petals subequal, narrow, connivent or spreading. Lip 



1162 



