ORCHIDACEAE QUAEDAM AMERICANAE 
Guatemala, Department of Alta Verapaz, Cubilquitz, 
H. V. Tuerckheim (John Donnell Smith Distribution No. 
7994), May 1901. 350 meters altitude. (Type in Herb. 
Ames No. 6930.) 
Spiranthes aguacatensis Reichb.f. in Bonpl. 3 (1855) 
214. 
Spiranthes Brenesii Schltr. in Fedde Repert. 10 (1912) 
481. Brachystele aguacatensis Schltr. in Beihefte Bot. Cen- 
tralbl. 37, Abt. 2 (1920) 371. Brachystele Brenesii Schltr. 
in Beihefte Bot. Centralbl. 37, Abt. 2 (1920) 372. Gyro- 
stachys aguacatensis Ktze. Rev. Gen. 2 (1891) 664. 
This species was originally collected by Oersted “in 
monte Aguacate,” Costa Rica. It was described by Reichen- 
bach in 1855. The identity of the species has remained in 
doubt. In August, 1922, I examined Reichenbach’s material. 
The type is clarified by a series of crude analytical sketches. 
It resembles both in habit and in floral structure the Costa 
Rican specimens which Schlechter published as a new species 
in 1912 under the name Spiranthes Brenesii. In my studies 
I have been unable to detect substantial differences between 
Spiranthes Brenesii and Spiranthes aguacatensis. In a letter 
dated September 14, 1921, Schlechter wrote to me: “I am 
much afraid, now, that it [S. Brenesii] is identical withBrac/iy- 
stele aguacatensis (R. f.) Schltr.” 
Up to the present time I have failed to find justifica¬ 
tion for Schlechter’s new genus Brachystele. The characters 
relied on for segregation from Spiranthes are by-no means 
so dependable as it is reasonable to expect generic characters 
to be. To accept Brachystele is only justifiable, in my 
opinion, as a result of that impatience which is stimulated 
by contemplation of the apparent hodge-podge that Spiran¬ 
thes presents when taken in the broader and traditional 
sense. Spiranthes is a genus which baffles attempts to 
make clear-cut divisions that will unite like elements. Even 
such well-established groups as Stenorhynchus and Sarco- 
glottis are questionable segregates. Bentham and Hooker 
admitted four sections under Spiranthes in the Genera 
Plantarum, namely, Euspiranthes, Sauroglossum, Sarco- 
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