A DAY AT CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 137 



foot linear upcurved. Another quadrate rounded at the top 

 front edge truncate straight. Pollinia four unequal oval flat- 

 tened with a small oval disc. Stigma deep oval ; rostellum 

 small. 



A curious little plant, which bears no very distinct rela- 

 tion to any other species I know, but is probably an ally 

 of 5. leopardinus, Par., or at all events belongs to the section 

 which includes this plant. 



Saccolabium Archytas. nsp. 



Stems short usually crowded in large masses with very 

 many roots. Leaves lorate few. bright green, apices unequal- 

 ly bilobed, with blunt lobes, six inches long, by one broad. 

 Racemes pendulous covered with small flowers, four to six 

 inches long with a rather slender angled green rachis. Bracts 

 short ovate acute. Flowers hardly \ inch across, opening a 

 few at a time, ovary and pedicel \ inch long white, terete. 

 Dorsal sepal narrow oblong obtuse boat-shaped, laterals obcu- 

 neate subtriangular. Petals spathulate with a broad obtuse 

 apex, shorter than the sepals. All white. Lip small with side- 

 lobes large, and rounded white with violet spots, midlobe ab- 

 sent. Spur large straight dependent blunt. Column base 

 narrow, above dilated, white with a violet face. Anther ovate 

 acute in front, yellow. Pollen masses two globose pale yel- 

 low, pedicel linear rather broad, disc ovate. Capsule slender 

 elongate three inches long, ribs not much elevated. 



This is a pretty little plant although the flowere are so 

 small. It is remarkable for the subtriangular sepals and the 

 lip being reduced almost to a spur with the lateral lobes flank- 

 ing the mouth. 



Summary. 



The fauna and flora is typically Malayan as might be ex- 

 pected from the position of the island, and is evidently pri- 

 marily derived from the coasts of Java which is the nearest 

 land. Perhaps when the southern regions of Java are better 

 worked out we shall find some of the peculiar Christmas 

 Island species occurring there. 



