10 ORCHIDS OF THE SIKKIM-HIMALAYA. 
densest towards the base of the raceme. Sepals sub-equal, broadly ovate, the dorsal 
acute, the lateral pair obtuse. Petals linear-oblong, sub-acute, spreading. ip much 
longer and broader than the sepals, with an oblong narrow mesochile ridged in the 
middle, two oblong blunt entire divergent lateral lobes, and а large. ob-reniform 
terminal lobe, the sinus shallow and wide making the apex broadly bilobulate, the edges 
entire. Hook. fil. Ie. Plantar., t. 1783; Fl. Br. Ind. V, 684. Malaxis obcordata, Reichb. 
fil. in Walp. Ann. VI, 216. 
Sikkim-Himalaya, at elevations of from 5,000 to 9,000 feet; Griffith, Hooker, 
Clarke and other collectors; Pantling No. 47. Khasia Hills, alt. 5,000 feet; Griffith, 
No. 5087. Naga Hills, on Japhoo, elev. 9,000 feet, Colomb. In flower in Sikkim from 
June to October. 
This species is very variable in habit. Some specimens have only a single leaf; 
some have short stems and five or six leaves crowded close together, while others have 
stems one and a half to three inches long with three or four distant leaves. The 
caulescent forms are occasionally viviparous, and the whole plant is usually more or 
less suffused with reddish-brown. We believe О. Trentleri, Hook. fil, to be a form 
of this. The same form was recognised by Reichenbach fil. asa variety of this under 
the name var. latifolia. The nectary, which in most species of Oheronia is in the form 
of a concavity near the base of the lip, is in this а tunnelled ridge on the mesochile, 
with a single very minute opening at the end next the stigma. This remarkable 
arrangement was discovered by Mr. Pantling after the examination of numerous living 
flowers. 'Тһе species is а very common one in Sikkim. 
Pirate 11.—Oberonia obcordata, Lindl. Three plants, of natural size. Fig. 1 front view of a 
flower, 2 floral bract opened out, 3 pollinia, complete, 4 profile of two pollinia; ali enlarged. 
18. OBERONIA MYRIANTHA, Lindl. Fol. Orchid., Oberonia, p. 4, 
Stems short, slightly tufted. Leaves ensiform, acuminate, falcate,: very unequal in 
size, from ‘75 to 10 in. long and “15 to “5 in. broad. Inflorescence much longer than 
the leaves, slender, much decurved; its peduncle terete, rather thickly clothed with 
slightly-spreading linear bracts; the  rechis of the raceme not thicker than the 
peduncle but several times as long; floral bract lanceolate, acuminate, coarsely erose- 
fimbriate, equalling the long-stalked ovary. Flowers of a warm brown colour, °*1 in 
long, very numerous, more or less whorled. Sepals ovate, entire. Petals oblong, entire, 
truncate, spreading or reflexed on the ovary like the sepals. Lip longer than the 
sepals and petals; the lateral lobes broadly oblong, sub-crenulate, blunt, sub-divergent but 
pointing forwards; the terminal lobe large, deeply cleft into two broadly oblong blunt 
lobules separated from each other by a triangular blunt or acute sinus; the upper 
surface of the lip with a few irregularly scattered watery blisters ultimately changing 
into scales, and also with a small shallow depression at the base just under the 
column. Capsules cylindric clavate, boldly ribbed, pediceiled. Hook. fil. Fl. Br. Ind. 
V, 679. 0. Sikkimensis, Lindl. Fol. Orch., Oberonia, 4. 0. acaulis, Griff. Notul. ІП, 
975; Шап, Notes 76, Хо. 1130; Ic. Pl. Asiat., t. 286, fig. 1, 
М. Sikkimensis, Reichb. fil. in Walp. Ann. VI, 212. | 
Vallevs of the Sikkim-Himalaya; at elevations of 3,000 to 4,000 feet; common: 
Pantling No. 195; in flower in Sikkim from October to December. Khasia Hills 
elevation 3,500 to 5,000 feet. Naga Hills, Clarke. E i 
Malaxis myriantha and 
