1896.] G. King & R. Panilmg— New Orchids from Sikkim. 121 



very slightly produced base of the column ; whereas in Bulhophyllum 

 it is jointed to the produced foot of the column and is more or less 

 mobile. In spite therefore of the great authority of Mr. Bentharn 

 and Sir Joseph Hooker, we venture to restore the genus lone as it was 

 understood by Lindley. 



ERTA, Lindl. 



Eria CLAUSA, n, spec. Rhizome '15 in. thick, jointed, smooth, with 

 a few short membranous sheaths. Pseudo-bulbs about 2 in. apart, 1'25 

 to 1-5 long and 75 in. in diam, ovoid-ellipsoid, blunt at the apex, the 

 bases clothed with the fibrous remains of sheaths. Leaves membranous, 

 in pairs, narrowly lanceolate, tapering to each end, sessile, 4 to 6 in. 

 long and '8 to 1 in. broad. Scapes rather shorter than the leaves, one 

 or two from the summit of the pseudo-bulb, each enveloped for more 

 than half its length by a narrow convolute sheath ; raceme stout, erect ; 

 flower bracts nearly obsolete, and represented by slightly thickened 

 rings at the bases of the stalked ovaries. Flotvers from 15 to 20, about 

 •3 in. long, slightly shorter than the ovaries, the buds often not ex- 

 panding. Sepals and petals oblong, blunt. Lip oblong, with two rounded 

 oblique lateral lobes near the apex, the short caruncled rounded 

 midlobe with 5 to 7 vertical lines, the edges entire, the disc with 3 

 parallel raised slightly sinuous vertical lines. Column long ; rostellum 

 flattened against t]j.e back of the clinandrium. Stigma small, with two 

 sub-globular convexities inside its lower margin. 



Sikkim ; not uncommon at elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 feet ; flower-' 

 ing during February and March. 



This species is closely allied to JE. vittata Lindl,, but is a much 

 smaller plant. The flowers of both are, however, alike in form and colour- 

 ation, with the exception that the lip of this has lateral lobes while 

 in E. vittata the lip is entire ; a-nd that the lip of this has 3 elevated ver- 

 tical lines on its surface, whereas the lip in E. vittata has 5 crenulate 

 wavy ridges. The time of flowering of the 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 being remov- 

 ed from its normal position and pressed against the body of the clinan- 

 drium, thus permitting the pollinia to come into direct contact with the 

 stigma. 



CALANTHE, R. Br. 



Calanthe Whiteana, n. spec. Leaves linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 

 much narrowed towards the sessile base, 2 to 3 feet long, and 1*5 in. 

 J. II 16 



