ORCHIDACEM 



263 



MALAXIS Soland. ex Sw. 



M. MACRANTHA sp. nov. Herba gracilis vel robusta, 30-60 

 cm. alta, diphylla, glabra. Caulis ad basim tumidus, vaginis magnis 

 tubularibus vestitus. Folia late ovata, ob- 

 tusa vel acuta, 8-12 cm. longa, 4-7 cm. 

 lata, in petiolos amplexicaules dilatatos 

 angustata. Pedunculus bialatus. Race- 

 mas multiflorus, laxus. Bractece inflores- 

 centice lanceolatae, acutae, decurrentes, 4-6 

 mm. longae, pedicellis breviores. Flores 

 permagni, circa 12-14 mm. in diametro, 

 viridi-flavi. Sepala later alia late ovata, 

 obtusa, 7-8 mm. longa, circa 5.5 mm. lata, 

 margine prope apicem irregulariter sub- 

 dentato. Sepalum dor sale simile. Pe- 

 tala rhombico - ovata, subacuta, 8 mm. 

 longa, 5.5 mm. lata, margine dentato. 

 Labellum cordatum, crassum, margine breviter dentato, circa 4 

 mm. latum, ab apice labelli ad apices loborum lateralium 5-6 mm. 

 longum. 



MALAXIS MACRANTHA 



This species, which appears to have no close affinity with 

 any hitherto described species of Malaxis, belongs in the same 

 group with M. spicata Swartz, from which it differs in its much 

 larger flowers and leaves and in the very different sepals and 

 petals. 



Type in U. S. Nat. Herb. (no. 233072) from roadside between 

 Tuxtla and San Cristobal, alt. 2300-5500 ft., Chiapas, Mexico, 

 September 14, 1895, E. W. Nelson (no. 3124). — Sierra de San 

 Felipe, alt. 7500 ft., State of Oaxaca, Mexico, October 10, 1894, 

 C. G. Pringle (no. 5628, in hb. Gray). — Canada de San Ga- 

 briel, Etla, Oaxaca, alt. 2000 m., August 8, 1897, C. Conzatti & 

 V. Gonzalez (no. C 304). — Chiapas, Mexico, 1841, Ghiesbrecht 

 (specimen in hb. Gray). 



