ORCHIDACEiE 



54. H. diffusa Rich. (§ Gal, in Ann. Sci. Nat. ser. 3, 3 : 28 (1845) ; H. diffusa 

 Reichb.f., in Linnaa 28 : 381 (1856) ; Hems., Biol. Cent. Am. 3 : 

 305 (1884); KrdnzL, in Engl. Bot. Jahrb. 16: 132 (1893), Orch. 

 Gen. et Sp. 1: 315 (1898); Schltr., in Bull. Herb. Boiss. 7: 539 

 (1899).— H. novemfida Lindl, in Benth. PI. Hartw. 94 (1842); 

 Hems., Biol. Cent. Am. 3: 306 (1884); Kranzl, in Engl. Bot. 

 Jahrb. 16: 98 (1893), Orch. Gen. et Sp. 1 : 253 ( 1897).— H. lacti- 

 flora Hems., Biol. Cent. Am. 3: 305 (1884) as to specimen cited. 



"96. H. diffusa Nob. Foliis sessilibus elliptico-acutis; flor. viri- 

 dibus, sepalis internis lanceolatis, appendice lineari ascendente: 

 labelli laciniis lateralibus linearibus, intermedia latiori breviori, 

 calcare ovario longiori." Rich, h Gal. loc. dt. 



In Lindley's herbarium there is a duplicate of a Galeotti 

 specimen which is identified as H. diffusa. Lindley's drawing of 

 a flower resembles very closely Richard's drawing, which was 

 presumably prepared from Galeotti's no. 5150, although it shows 

 longer anterior divisions on the petals. Measurements from Ga- 

 leotti's no. 5150 are as follows: 



Plant 3.4 dm. tall. Leaves about 7 cm. long, 1.5-2.5 cm. wide. 

 Raceme 9.5 cm. long, rather loosely flowered. Ovary 18 mm. 

 long, very slender; bracts about half as long (up to f ). Dorsal 

 sepal 5 mm. long. Lateral sepals reflexed, 7 mm. long, 3 mm. 

 wide. Petals shorter than the dorsal sepal, the anterior divisions 

 5-5.5 mm. long and equal to the lateral divisions of the labellum. 

 Middle lobe of the labellum wider than the lateral lobes. Spur 

 about 1.7 cm. long. 



H. novemfida Lindl. presents for consideration a remarkable 

 example of inaccuracy of observation. The petals as described 

 by Lindley are 3-parted. In Lindley's herbarium there is a sketch 

 which shows this character and beside which is written "verified 

 Aug., 1854." Dr. Prain kindly examined the original specimen 



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