ORCHIDACEAE QUAEDAM AMERICANAE 
Bot. Centralbl. 37, Abt. 2 (1920) 428. Gyrostachys hemi- 
chrea Kize. Rev. Gen. 2 (1891) 664. 
Although there are slight differences in the labellum 
as represented by the sketches of Spiranthes hemichrea in 
Lindley’s Herbarium at Kew and of Spiranthes pulchra in 
Schlechter’s Herbarium at Berlin, these differences are, I 
believe, attributable to normal variation. In his original 
description Schlechter referred to his material as being 
comparable to Spiranthes sceptrum Reichb. f., a species of 
which I have failed to find a published record. If Spiranthes 
sceptrodes Reichb. f. was intended, this would indicate 
alliance with Sarcoglottis. Schlechter in his monograph 
of the Spiranthinae referred S. pulchra to a new genus, Deire- 
gyne, and suggested relationship with Spiranthes hemichrea. 
From my studies it seems best to regard Spiranthes pulchra 
as conspecific with Sarcoglottis hemichrea. Among the dif¬ 
ferences emphasized by Schlechter are the more copiously 
flowered racemes and stouter habit of Spiranthes pulchra, 
yet with Lindley’s type of 5. hemichrea there is a note in 
quotation marks, probably taken from Skinner’s account 
of the species, which is as follows, “Spikes sometimes much 
larger.” 
Sarcoglottis orbiculata Ames sp. nov. Herba ter- 
restris, foliis rosulatis, suborbicularibus vel orbicularibus. 
Scapus erectus, vaginatus vaginis arete appressis acutis. 
Racemus densiflorus. Bracteae inflorescentiae permagnae, 
lanceolatae, acutae. Ovarium glanduloso-pubescens. Se- 
pala lateralia mentum formantia, ascendentia demum deflexa, 
curvata, subacuta. Sepalum dorsale cum petalis galeam 
formans. Labellum basi sagittatum, auriculis elongatis; 
lamina longe panduriformis, apice in lobum ovatum expansa. 
Gynostemium elongatum. 
Plant about 30 cm. high, stout, with orbicular or sub- 
orbicular obtuse basal leaves and a short raceme of large 
flowers. Leaves 8-10 cm. long including the short petiole, 
up to 6.7 cm. wide, apparently rosulate. Peduncle with 
pubescent internodes, sheathed by several closely oppressed 
bracts which are cylindrical at base and free above, acute. 
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