STELIS COMPACTA 



Stelis compacta sp. nov. Planta pusilla, casspitosa, ± 2 cm. 

 alta. Caules secondarii graciles, ± 5 mm. longi, 1-foliati. Fo- 

 lium oblanceolatum, apiculatum, coriaceum, 1-2.7 cm. longum, 

 ±2 mm. latum, carina prominent! dorsali media. Pedunculus 

 gracilis, filiformis, 3 cm. longus, foliis longior. Bimctece tubu- 

 lares, ad apicem dilatatse, oblique truncates. Bixictece iriflores- 

 centice squamiformes, pedicellis breviores, apiculatee. Sepala 

 lateralia late ovata, 1 mm. longa, circa 1 mm. lata. Sepcdum 

 dorsale lateralibus simile sed angustius. Petala oblanceolata vel 

 spathulata, obtusa, uninervia, circa 1 mm. longa. Labellum eras- 

 sum, ovato-lanceolatum, acuminatum, obtusum vel subacutum, 

 in alabastro acutum, 1 mm. longum. Columna erecta, crassius- 

 cula, apoda, utroque ad apicem ala rotundata. Pollinia 2, sub- 

 globosa vel pyriformia, minutissima. 



Guatemala : Cubilquitz, Depart. Alta Verapaz, at 350 m, alt., May, 1901, 

 H. von Tuerckheim (no. 7991). 



This compact little plant which, with some hesitation, is here 

 referred to the genus Stelis Swartz, is most nearly allied with 

 Stelis lancilahris Reichb. f. {Beitrdge zu einer Orchideenkunde 

 Central- Ame?ikas, 94, tab. 8, ii. 3-5, 1866), which it closely re- 

 sembles in habit and with which it agrees in having membra- 

 naceous, petals devoid of thickening at the apical margin. Ac- 

 cording to Lindley's tentative classification of the genus in 

 Folia Orchidacea, Stelis compacta belongs in the section Mono- 

 stachy^e brachypodas, although in its floral parts it resembles 

 none of the well-known species of that extremely artificial group. 

 The petals in outline bear no resemblance to the labellum, and 

 in this respect are unusual for the genus. The floral bracts are 

 obliquely truncate and clasp the slender rhachis. The apicules 



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