PLATE 582. 



Zeuxine ooohleaeis, Schltr. (Orchids of S. Africa, Bolus, Vol. I, t. 58.) 



Nat. Order, Orohide^. 



A terb with a sometimes creeping rhizome and thick brown hairy roots,_ for 

 the rest quite glabrous. Stem erect, terete, leafy, scaly at base, 5-30 cm. high ; 

 Leaves erect, spreading, linear-lanceolate, acute, amplexicaul and sheathing at 

 base, netted veined when dry, 2 to 4 times longer than the internodes, 2-5 cm. 

 long. Spike oblong or narrow ovate, densely many flowered, 1, 5-2, 5 cm, long, 

 bracts acuminate, longer than the flowers. Flowers somewhat bent downwards, 

 about 2, 5-3 mill, long, sepals connivent, ovate-lanceolate, subobtuse, the odd one 

 more concave and slightly gibbous at the base. Petals semi-ovate, the exterior 

 margin undulate; lip somewhat fleshy, spoon-shaped, inflated at base, rather 

 widened at apex, margins incurved, undulate and irregularly crenulate, furnished 

 at the base within with 2 parallel linear ridges. Anthers rounded ; rostellum 

 bipartite, the segments subulate acuminate; poUinia pear-shaped, stipes strap- 

 shaped, dilated towards the apex ; gland very small. 



Habitat: Natal. Marshy sandy soil near the sea shore, near mouth of 

 Umgeni River, SchlecMer 3001, 3002; same locality Wood 5321. Drawn from one 

 mature and one small specimen from same locality obtained in July, 1911. 

 Wood 11922. 



The above excellent description was written by the late Dr. Bolus, and was 

 published with figure in " Orchids of South Africa," Vol. 1 , t. 58, and in a note 

 he says : " Colour of sepals and petals white, the lip golden yellow. One of Mr. 

 " Schlechter's numerous discoveries, the more interesting as the representative of a 

 '* genus new to South Africa, and only the third species of the Tribe Neottieae 

 " known within our limits. The author states that it resembles Z. sulcata, Lindley 

 " (from India and China) but in habit only, while its flowers recall those of some 

 " Spiranthes." 



In the drawings of the details of the flower Dr. Bolus gives two figures of the 

 pollen masses and their gland, the first one being " as drawn by Mr. Schlechter, 

 the other as seemed to me their probable position." In the drawing here given 

 fig. 9 represents the pollen masses and their gland as drawn by Miss Franks from 

 a good fresh specimen, and it will be seen on comparison that it differs from both 

 of the figures as drawn by Dr. Bolus, Mr., now Dr. Schlechter's drawing being 

 nearly though not quite correct. The hairs on the roots "as described by Dr. Bolus 

 and shown in his drawing have not been observed in any specimen seen by us. 



Fig. 1, flower and bract; 2, odd sepal and petals; 3, same opened ; 4, lateral 

 sepals; 5, labellum; 6, ovary, labellum and column; 7, column, side viewj 8, sam^ 

 front view ; 9, pollen masses j all enlarged, 



