555 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Maas, 
December 1 8 th, 1925* 
My dear Lahkestur: 
A package of mailing-tubes came in yesterday 
afternoon, I have not attempted to locate the Sobralia, because 
flowers > without herbarium material of the vegetative parts, are 
wholly inadequate. In this genua the surface of the stem, for 
example, is important, and one cannot describe a new species 
from incomplete specimens, I hope you have made herbarium rec¬ 
ords of everything sent and that I may have these records when 
they are reedy. Your note promises the Sobralia. Shat makes me 
very happy. 
There are one or two interesting remarks to 
make; Among the Pleurothallis specimens there are two which gave 
me real pleasure• These represent species of which the types are 
in the .few collection, execrable specimens of herbarium techni¬ 
que. .583 i» AS X f L L Ames; 530 is £. orescentilabia 
.!• es. I am overjoyed to have these, as my records consist en¬ 
tirely of ^drawings made from the types. Please dry specimens 
for me. If you dip the vegetative parts in boiling water, they 
will be come pliable and when put in press will dry out. quick¬ 
ly. Although illustrations of these species are reaay for pub¬ 
lication, 1 intend to make additional records from the liquid 
material. 
I would bless you if you will experiment with 
.anabilia. A clear photograph would be a wonderful aid in 
the herbarium. I would suggest drying the flowers before placing 
them in press. Perhaps it would be well to try drying them in 
hot band, and then after removing them, if they were exposed to 
atmospheric moisture, they might dry in the press without break— 
ing up. Flowers in alcohol would make possible a thorough study 
of several points which are now obscure. This species, as you 
know, 1 b extr mely rare in herbaria. 
Sohlechter adds 7 new genera and 249 species to 
ohe orchid flora of Costa Eieal I have compared the recent novel¬ 
ties that you have sent in (the nucleus of Sehed. Oroh. 7), with 
Schlechter f s proposals and c.umot match them with anything he has 
described from Da Palma, San Jeronimo, and Tableo. For example, 
Schlechter does not report JoiapaLdiAJis Helchb. f. among 
bne species sent to him by Werckle, Brenes, Brade or others. I'liat 
this means, is a question that may well give rise to deep inter¬ 
est. 
I realize that error is an insidious trespasser 
and that absolute accuracy where personal opinions are uppermost, 
is quite unattainable, but I begin to fear that Schlechter is 
really very careless1 I reported to you that your 405 and 503 » 
were sSaDJjxvM mo£QJ)M±QXi Schltr, Among Werckle r s specimens I 
have a plant that Schlechter has determined as P.rnithidium narvfc- 
2m Schltr, This is a spot mathch for your 505, Penring that 1 
