355 Coram onY/oalth Avenue, Boston, Mass. May 6th, 1923. 
Dear Mr. Powell: 
Just a Pew lines to tell you that X have worked 
nearly all day on your Pleurothallis 2,02. Owing to the fact that 
Schlechter's P. ohirigensis is as yet missing from the Powell set 
I did not realise that the name was preempted until I began to get 
down to brass tanks, how for the story: 202 is to be knoY/n as P. 
alpina sp. nov. in allusion to the high altitud e at which you found 
the plants. The nearest affinity is P. sioaria Lindl. from the island 
of Trinidad. It is painfully close to Linciley's species but differs 
sufficiently to be recognised as a geographical d parture that may 
well be kept distinct until we have a more thorough knowledge of 
the intermediates. At least I intend to describe the plant and until 
we learn more about it I think you may safely regard it as a distinct 
thing. The additional specimens in your field collection simply 
substantiate the differences that I think exist. 
The fact that such a close match is found in Trinidad 
will give you some idea of the extreme care we must iise in our deter¬ 
minations. -Ve cannot take for granted that endemism is our friend in 
our attempts to got at the bottom of things. 
I am sorry to cause you trouble, but, until one 
has searched the records pretty well it is six to one that a name 
which seems perfectly safe will oe found already in use when we 
approach the genus Plourothullis. 
I am still of the opinion that the little orchids 
are getting away from you. 
Yours faithfullym 
. OJL/Wk cvJta ru '^ 
0. fc on** c 
A e^Aol tc C- CVV^' 
0 o^v\ a jx/isOi c 
\ . C 
■|vn 
SjuM, . 
cfcout tJL>. 
Ac 
^ . 0 cx. oL o^j. cr^xA, 
dL^A. ci-CX 
