ORCHIDACEAE QUAEDAM AMERICANAE 
This species was originally published with a most in¬ 
adequate description and has remained obscure. Although 
the type specimen was preserved by Richard together with a 
colored sketch, no trace of it has been discoverable in the 
Richard Herbarium at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. 
Recently, in an examination of the Reichenbachian Her¬ 
barium at Vienna, I found both the original specimen and 
the colored drawing. With the aid of this material it has 
been possible to identify a Mexican specimen distributed 
many years ago by C. A. Purpus under the number 3616. 
From this specimen and from Richard’s material the above 
description was prepared. 
The type specimen was collected in Oaxaca. The flowers 
were described as “ jaune-orange, labelle blanc jaune. Colom 
verte & violette.” 
Mexico, State of Puebla, Vicinity of San Luis Tul- 
titlanapa, near Oaxaca, C. A. Purpus 3616, June 1908. 
(Herb. Ames No. 22531.) 
Epidendrum Steinbachii Ames sp. nov. Caules alti, 
rigidi, ramosissimi, dense foliosi. Flores in racemis brevibus 
dispositi. Sepala ligulata. Petala lineari-spathulata. La- 
bellum ellipticum, bicallosum. Columna gracilis. 
In general habit similar to Epidendrum soratae Reichb. f. 
Roots fibrous, smooth, branched. Stems 5 (-10) dm. high, 
about 5 mm. thick near the base, copiously branched; 
branches 2 cm. apart, 2-6 cm. long, obliquely ascending, 
divaricately branched near the end, rather closely beset 
with rigid leaves. Leaves 1.2-3 cm. long, 2-3.5 mm. wide, 
narrowly oblong, deciduous from subcylindrical sheaths, 
distichous, about 6 mm. apart, sulcate above, carinate beneath, 
the terminal one of each branch equalling or exceeding the 
raceme. Racemes terminal, 3-4-flowered, about 1 cm. long. 
Pedicel with the ovary 4 mm. long. Floral bracts about 2 mm. 
long, oblong, tapering to a subacute apex. Flowers yellowish, 
column stained with purple. Lateral sepals 6 mm. long, 
asymmetrically oblanceolate-apiculate from a broad base, 
carinate near the upper margin, strongly concave at the tip. 
Dorsal sepal 6 mm. long, oblong-ligulate, subacute, 3-nerved. 
20 
