4 
AMES. 
protuberance near the base. Spur 5 to 6 mm long, slender, not 
at all inflated. Stigmatic processes wanting or very much 
reduced. 
Luzon, Subprovince of Benguet, Pauai, Major E. A. Mearns, Bur. Sci. 
US 13, July, 1907; Mount Pulog, R. C. McGregor, Bur. Sci. 8815, 8835, in 
grass lands near the summit, July 3 and 4, 1909. H. Mearnsii is similar 
in its leafage and general appearance to H. clavellata (Michx.) Spreng., 
although totally dissimilar in the details of the inflorescence. The gyno- 
stemium of the flowers examined was so pressed out of shape that it was 
impossible to describe it with fullness. 
Habenaria ponerostachys Reichb. f. in Bonplandia 3: 213; Kranzlin in 
Engler’s Jahrb. 16: 179; Gen. et Sp. Orch. 1: 385. 
This species was described by Reichenbach in 1855 from material collected 
in the Philippines by Hugh Cuming (no. 2095). The next reference to 
the species was made by Kranzlin in Engler’s “Jahrbiicher” and subsequently 
in “Genera et Species Orchidacearum.” In the Herbarium of the British 
Museum of Natural History there is one of Cuming’s specimens from the 
Philippines (no. 2095) which it is reasonable to suppose represents H. 
ponerostachys, but in several details it is not in agreement with Reichen- 
bach’s description. Kranzlin’s description, on the other hand, is quite 
satisfactory. In Engler’s “Jahrbiicher,” Kranzlin states that Reichenbach 
drew up his description from a depauperate specimen preserved in the 
Boissier Herbarium. In April, 1910, Mr. Merrill secured specimens from 
the Island of Negros which are almost a perfect match for the specimen 
of Cuming 2095, preserved in the British Museum of Natural Histoi'y. 
These, I believe, are clearly referable to H. ponerostachys. 
Description: Plant 2 to 5 dm tall, very slender, with several 
sheathing, obtuse or acute bracts below the leaves. Leaves clus- 
tered 7 to 14 cm above the stout fleshy roots, lanceolate to ovate- 
lanceolate, acute, shortly aristate, 3 to 9 cm long, 1.6 to 2.7 cm 
wide. Spicate raceme 6 to 25 cm long, very slender, many- 
flowered. Bracts lanceolate, erect, acute, 5 to 10 mm long, about 
equaling the matured capsules. Lateral sepals elliptic, 2.5 to 3 
mm long, about 1.5 mm wide. Upper sepal ovate, about equal 
to the laterals. Petals asymmetrically ovate, blunt, 1-nerved, 3 
mm long, 2 mm wide, simple, lahellum 3-lobed, similar to that 
of Peristylus tentaculatus J. J. Smith, 3 mm long to tip of middle 
lobe. Lateral lobes linear, longer thSn the middle one, abruptly 
curved at the tip, 2 mm long. Middle lobe gradually tapering 
to the obtuse tip, 1.5 mm long, about 1 mm wide. Spur longer 
than the lip, slender at base, dilated toward the tip, about 5 
mm long. 
Negros, Canlaon Volcano, Elmer D. Merrill 7022, April, 1910. Terres- 
trial, ,on forested ridges, about 1500 m above sea level, flowers greenish- 
white. 
