Aplostellis.] 
orchidEjE. (S. Moore.) 
341 
pulverulent. — A small erect fibrous-rooted leafless berb. Flowers 
solitary, terminal. Distrib. The genus is monotypic and, as far as 
known, restricted to Mauritius. 
1. A. ambigua, Rich. Orch. Maur. 41. Scape slender, 2-3 in. high, 
with a single linear bract near the middle. Sepals and petals linear- 
lanceolate, apparently about \ in. long. Labellum about the same 
length, broadly oblong, the terminal margin truncate, incised. Column 
rather more than half as long as the labellum; stigma obcordate. Are- 
thusa simplex, Thouars , Orch. Afr. t. 24. Haplostellis truncata. Lindl. 
Gen . and Sp. Orch. 411. 
Mauritius, forests towards centre of the island, Bojer. No specimen seen 
by me. Endemic. 
11. OBERONIA, Lindl. 
Sepals spreading, usually equal to each other, free. Petals smaller 
than the sepals, but similar to them. Lip free from the column, 
generally lobed, hollowed at base. Column very short, with a pro- 
minent stigma; anther 2-celled; pollen- masses 4, collateral. — Caules- 
cent or scapigerous herbs without pseudobulbs. Leaves distichous. 
Flowers minute, in long dense ascending or pendulous racemes, green 
or yellow. Distrib. The genus has its head-quarters in tropical Asia ; 
it extends over the Indian Archipelago, and is represented by two 
species in Eastern Australia and by three or four in Polynesia. 
1. O. brevifolia, Lindl. Gen. and Sp. Orch. 16 ; Fol. Orch. No. 36. 
Stem leafy, 1-3 in. long. Leaves closely imbricate, ovate or oblong. 
Bacemes generally about as long as the stem, slender, usually droop- 
ing ; bracts lanceolate, acuminate, serrulate, loosely investing the 
pedicel and ovary, about -Jj inch long. Sepals broadly ovate. Petals 
linear. Labellum slightly embracing the column, hollowed at base, 
usually 2-lobed at apex. Capsule ovoid, with three prominent ribs 
and as many alternating riblets, inch long. Brongn. Voy. Coguille , 
t. 40 B. Cymbidium equitans, Thouars , Orch. Afr. t. 92. Pleurothaliis 
disticha, Rich. Orch. Maur. 55, t. 8,f. 1. 
Mauritius, on the bark of trees in the interior of forests, Bojer ! Bouton ! etc. 
Rodriguez? Balfour l (specimens without flowers). Also Bourbon and Madagascar. 
12. LIPARIS, Rich. 
Sepals and petals free, spreading or reflexed, the petals usually nar- 
rower than the sepals. Labellum adnate to the base of the column, 
ascending, horizontal or recurved, entire, usually tubercled. Column 
elongated, bent forwards, winged above; anther 2-celled; pollen- 
masses 4, in two pairs. — Plants growing in earth or on rocks or trees, 
with or without pseudobulbs. Leaves few together, usually broad and 
membranous, or loDg, narrow and fleshy. Flowers inconspicuous, in 
terminal racemes. Distrib. A large genus, found chiefly in tropical 
