122 ORCHIDS OF THE SIKKIM-HIMALAYA. 
time of flowering of tlie two species is the same, and they are found in similar situations. 
In many cases the flowers of this do not open; nevertheless the ovaries set seeds, and 
capsules form and ripen, self-fertilization being effected by the rostellum disappearing 
from its normal position and being pressed against the back of the clinandrium, thus 
permitting the pollinia to come into direct contact with the stigma. 
Prate 167.—Eria elausa, King and Pantling. A plant; of natural sise. Fig. 1 stalked ovary and 
fully developed flower-bud, 2 part of ovary, column with its foot, and the lip, seen from the side, 3 
lip, 4 summit of column taken from a mature but unopened bud showing the anther and stigma, б 
the same with the anther removed, showing the rostellum (r) flattened against the ‘back of the 
clinandrium, 6 the same as No. 4 but from an older bud, showing the pollinia in process of absorption 
by the stigma; a// enlarged. 
10, Era rracrans, Reichb. fil. in Bot. Zeit. XXII, 415. 
Rhizome woody, covered with sheaths; pseudo-bulbs about an inch apart, 2 to 3 
in. long, ellipsoid, bearing several large membranous sheaths. eaves in pairs, thickly 
membranous, many-nerved, elliptic-oblong, the apex acuminate, tapering at the base into 
a short petiole; length 8 to 12 in., breadth 1:25 to 1:75 in. Raceme longer than the 
leaves, decurved, rather lax, the rachis more or less pubescent, the peduncle with a few 
lanceolate bracts. Flowers numerous, about 1 in. across; floral bract lanceolate, pubescent, 
longer than the stalked pubescent ovary. Sepals sub-equal, lanceolate, acuminate, pubescent 
externally; spreading, their apices reflexed. Petals like the sepals but smaller, falcate, 
glabrous, spreading but not reflexed, Jip narrowly oblong, 3-lobed, deflexed about the 
middle; the lateral lobes short, broad, sub-faleate, obtuse; the terminal lobe narrowly 
oblong, acute, its upper surface with five crisped narrow ridges. Column short, rather 
broad, shorter than its curved foot. Pollinia reniform, attached in fours to two small 
membranes. Hook. fil. Fl. Br. Ind. V, 794. 
Sikkim, in the bottoms of warm valleys; Pantling, No. 91; in flower during J uly 
and August. Tenasserim ; at Moulmein, Falconer, Parish 
The flowers are white throughout except for some red spots on the apex of the 
column and on the side lobes of the lip; they are very fragrant. The species has not 
hitherto been recorded from Sikkim; its nearest allies are E. barbata, Reichb. fil. and 
the Philippine 2. stellata. 
Prare 168.--Eria fragrans, Reichb. fl. А plant; of natural size, Fig. 1 front view of a flower, 
2 floral bract, apex of ovary, column and lip, seen from the side, 3 lip, 4 column with its foot, the 
anther in "е 5 lower surface of empty anther, 6 pollinia, side and front views; all — 
11. Esra CONFUSA, Hook. fil. Ic. Plant., t. 1850; Fl. Br. Ing. V, 796. 
|  Pseudo-bulba clongate-clavate, furrowed, imbricately sheathed at the base and with 
two or three large sheaths 4 to 6 in. long scattered along their surfaces. Leaves 
‘three or more, thickly membranous, oblong-lanceolate, tapering to the base; length 
` 4 to 5 im. breadth “6 to -8 in.  Racemes from the axils of the sheaths silos the 
‘eaves, 2 to 3 in. long, their rachises puberulous, Flowers *4 in. across; floral bract 
large, ovate, glabrous, longer than the puberulous long-stalked ovary, deflexed. “Dorsal 
elliptic, blunt; the lateral pair broadly ovate, blunt, spreading, all 5-nerved. Petals 
ower than the denial нем 5-nerved. Lip 3-lobed; the lateral lobes broad, rounded; 
curved; the dise with three ridges, the lateral ones short and 
