838 ORCHIDS OF THE SIKKIM-HIMALAYA. 
The flowers are pure white and are very beautiful. Morphologically they are of 
extreme interest because in them a theory of the structure of the flower of Ophrydece,* 
suggested with various degrees of distinctness in the different species of JZabenaria, is 
indicated with comparative clearness. ‘The superior (sterile) stigma stands quite separate 
from the other two (fertile) stigmas, and equally so from the anther-cells. It forms a 
large smooth concave erect termination to the column, while the two other stigmas form 
two elongate parallel processes overhanging the claw of the lip, conjoined by their edges 
in the lower half, but with their anterior halves free and curved downwards. At each 
side of and behind the infertile stigma lies a triangular anther-cell, bearing on its exterior 
surface the staminode which, on this theory, is regarded as the rudiment of its second 
cell. The tubes of the perfect cells pass horizontally outside and along the sides of the 
infertile stigma and project horizontally far beyond it, each containing a caudicle 
which bears on its extremity the viscid gland. This gland is quite unconnected with 
the walls of the tube. From these structural arrangements the following conclusions 
are by this theory deduced: (a) that in Diplomeris there are two anthers, one placed on 
each side of the posterior or infertile stigma; (0) that the staminode represents the second 
cell of each anther; (c) that the viscid glands of the pollinia are not, in the — 
flower, connected with the infertile stigma. 
PLATE 443.— Diplomeris hirsuta, Lindl. Four entire plants growing оп а inb of natural size. Fig. 1 
profile view of bract, ovary, base of lip (7) and spur, and the column showing the superior (infertile) 
stigma (ғ), perfect stigmas (8), anther-cells (ас) and their polliniar glands (p g), 2 front view of the base 
of the lip (/), imperfect stigma (ғ), perfect stigmas (s), polliniar glands (p g) and orifice of the spur (с), 
9 section of spur, 4 wp all enlarged. 
: : 90. Satyrium, Swartz. 
Terrestrial leafy erect herbs with undivided tubers. Leaves (in the Indian species) 
large, flaccidly membranous, with wide sheaths (orbicular in the S. Indian specimens). 
Flowers in dense spikes. Sepals and petals sub-similar, free, spreading or reflexed. Lip 
superior, (from the ovary not being twisted), adnate to the base of the column, erect, 
broad, hood-shaped, 2-spurred (in the Indian species) or 2-saccate. Column much arched, 
terete. Stigma single, large, convex or concave, borne on the upper lobe of the column. 
Anther-cells dorsal or lateral (lateral in the Indian species), tumid, sub-parallel, their tubes 
at a lower level than the stigma, pointing forward; pollinia two, the caudicles curved, 
oo in two large naked — connate) glands; eem moly African, — a few 
siatic. 
SATYRIUM NEPALENSE, Don Prodr. Fl. Nep. 26. 
Whole plant 20 to 30 in. high; tuber ellipsoidal, bearing stolons each with a small 
tuber at its end. Stem glabrous, sheathed near the base; upwards bearing two or three 
leaves and, above these, several sub-tubular, lanceolate-oblong, acute or acuminate bracts. 
Leaves somewhat fleshy, narrowly elliptic, sub-acute, the bases broad and sheathing; 
length 4 to 10 in., breadth 1:5 to 3:5 in. Spike 9 to 6 in. long. Flowers ‘3 in. in 
diam. at the кон, floral bract oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, deflexed, much longer than 
the flower and бард ovary. Sepals linear-oblong, obtuse, ciliolate, recurved. Petals 
narrower than the -sepals, entire, obtuse. Lip ‘superior, ee boites, — 
* See introduction, = 
