ORCHIDACE.E 



5. Octarrhena gemmifera sp. nov. Herba epiphytica, minutis- 

 sima, caulescens. Caules 1-3 cm. alti, superne complanati, vaginis 

 foliorum obtecti, conferti, ad basim radicantes. Folia disticha, 

 valde linearia, prope caulem articulata, vaginis imbricatis, lamina 

 1-2.5 cm. longa, circiter 1 mm. lata, coriacea, in sicco viridis, 

 ascendens, patens, leviter curvata, acuta. Vaginae 2 mm. longa?, 

 superne dilatata?, complanata?. Pedunculi ascendentes, folia 

 a?quantes vel breviores, axillares, 1.5-2 cm. longi, sa?pe fractiflexi, 

 infra racemum bracteis scariosis, infundibuliformibus, superne 

 oblique truncatis acutis, circiter 2 mm. longis. Racemus usque ad 

 1.5 cm. longus, laxiflorus. Bractea? inflorescentia? flores subten- 

 dentes rhachidem amplectentes, cordato-ovata?, acuminata?, acu- 

 ta?, flores a?quantes, vix 2 mm. longa?. Pedicelli abbreviati circiter 

 .5 mm. longi, quam bractea subtendens breviores. Ovarium 1 mm. 

 longum. Flores minuti, globosi, 1-1. 25 mm. longi. Sepala lateralia 

 triangulari-ovata, acuta, 1 mm. longa, ad basim circiter 1 mm. 

 lata. Sepalum dorsale simile. Petala minuta, ad apicem rotundata, 

 breviter spathulata, quam sepala multo minora, circiter .5 mm. 

 longa. Labellum ellipticum, obtusum, vix unguiculatum, circiter 

 .75 mm. longum,. 5 mm. latum, leviter convexum. Gynostemium 

 brevissimum apodum. Pollinia 8. 



In habit Octarrhena gemmifera resembles Phreatia luzoniensis 

 Rolfe more closely than any other Philippine species. The bracts 

 of the inflorescence, however, are serviceable for purposes of 

 separation. In P. luzoniensis the bracts are lanceolate and hardly 

 embrace the pedicels of the flowers, whereas in O. gemmifera the 

 bracts not only enclose the pedicels but embrace the rhachis of 

 the inflorescence. Among the specimens examined, the plants in 

 flower hardly exceeded 2 cm. in height. Plants with fruit or flower- 

 less racemes measured 3 cm. in height. Octarrhena Amesiana is a 



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