ORCHIDACEM 9 



CESTICHIS BENGUETENSIS 



Cestichis Benguetensis, sp, nov. Pseudobulbi approximati 

 pyriformes. Folium oblanceolatum, apiculatura. Pedunculus bia- 

 latus. Flores flavo-virentes. Sepala lanceolata, carinata. Petala 

 linearia. Labellum lanceolatum, 5 mm. longum, ad basim callo 

 cucuUato. Columna breviuscula, apice incrassata, anthera ob- 

 longa. 



Roots fibrous. Pseudobulbs 16-24 mm. long, pyriform, approx- 

 imate, sheathed by scarious bracts. Leaves narrowly oblanceolate, 

 apiculate, 11-14 cm. long, 12-16 mm. wide, broadest near the 

 rounded apex, deciduous, articulated, with an elongated persistent 

 base. Peduncle as long as, or usually longer than, the leaves, 

 ebracteate, compressed, strongly bialate. Floral bracts distich- 

 ously arranged, 7-10 ram. long, conduplicate, carinate. Spike 2-6 

 cm. long, 10-14 mm. across. Pedicels of the flowers 9-12 mm. 

 long, slender. Lateral sepal lanceolate, strongly keeled, condupli- 

 cate at the apex, 7 mm. long. Upper sepal similar, narrower. 

 Petals linear, obtuse, or only sub-acute, about 5 mm. long. Lip 

 lanceolate, 5 mm. long, with three basal calli, the middle one 

 cucullate. Column fleshy, stout, 3 mm. long. Anther trans- 

 versely oblong, about 2 mm. wide. Pollinia pyriform. 



Cestichis henguetetisis is most nearly allied to C. ^^hilij^pine'/i- 

 sis, from which it is well distinguished by its smaller flowers, 

 oblanceolate leaves, transversely oblong anther, and by its pedun- 

 cle, this being as a rule longer than the leaves. The sepals are 

 strongly keeled as in C. pliilippinensis, but near the apex are 

 conspicuously conduplicate and apparently fused along the inner 

 opposed surfaces. The flowers open in succession and are, accord- 

 ing to field notes, greenish and inconspicuous. 



