An erect g-labrous herb, 15-30 cm. high ; stem straight or sub- 

 flexuous, 2foliate, the leaves distant, 2-7fl. at the apex, the flowers 

 suberect ; the lower leaf basal erect oblong, obtuse and apiculate 

 or acute, sheathing at base, margin usually undulate, 5-10 cm. 

 long, the upper one smaller, often sheath-like, spreading at the 

 apex ; bracts herbaceous lanceolate acute, a little shorter than the 

 flowers ; lateral sepals spreading concave ovate acuminate, 1 cm. 

 long ; odd sepal erect subgaleate apiculate, the apiculus reflexed, 

 as long as the lateral sepals ; petals erect, almost semi-orbicular, 

 concave, the margin obscurely undulate, about as long as the odd 

 sepal ; limb of the lip deflexed small rhomboidal acuminate, 0'5-0'6 

 cm. long, the appendix larger, oblong in outline, erect, incurved 

 at the narrowed denticulate apex which is verruculose on the inner 

 side ; stigma horse-shoe shaped. 



Described from several living and dried specimens. The 

 drawing was made from a plant collected on the Cape Peninsula. 



This is one of the commonest of our orchids, and very regular 

 in its appearance. It very closely resembles P. acutifolium, 

 but may always be distinguished by the difference in the apical 

 portion of the lip and in never having more than two leaves. 



