CENTRAL AMERICAN ORCHIDS 
A near ally of Epidendrum chloroleucum Hook., from 
which it differs conspicuously in the suborbicular obtuse 
middle lobe of the labellum. In dried specimens the middle 
lobe is provided with one or more purplish stripes. 
Panama, Foothills east of Panama, C. W. Powell 271. 
Flowers in January and February. Sea level. (Type in 
Herb. Ames No. 23749.) 
Epidendrum crescentilobum Ames sp. nov. Caules 
caespitosi, elongati, foliosi, vaginis foliorum obtecti. Folia 
subcoriacea, oblongo-lanceolata, subobtusa vel acuta, in 
sicco nervosa. Racemus laxiflorus, cylindraceus. Bracteae 
inflorescentiae triangulares, acutae. Pedicelli graciles. 
Flores roseo-purpurei. Sepala lateralia oblonga, usque ad 
basim leviter attenuata, acuta, apice incrassata. Sepalum 
dorsale simile. Petala spathulata, obscure apiculata. La¬ 
bellum trilobatum; lobis lateralibus oblongis, obtusis, di- 
varicatis; lobo medio subcrescentiformi, antice retuso- 
apiculato; isthmus labelli abbreviatus, quadratus. Callus 
in disco inter lobos laterales. Columna crassiuscula, apice 
plus minusve bilobata, lobis denticulatis. 
Plants 3 dm. high, more or less. Stems about 2 mm. 
thick, caespitose, leafy, concealed by the closely appressed 
cylindrical warty bases of the leaves, terminating in a cylin¬ 
drical raceme of rose-purple flowers. Leaves subcoriaceous, 
about 5 cm. long, 1 cm. wide near the base, oblong-lanceo¬ 
late, acute or subobtuse, about 1 cm. apart, the lower ones 
soon deciduous. Raceme 7-8 cm. long, 4 cm. in diameter, 
bearing from ten to twenty or more flowers, the rachis more 
or less verruculose or muricate. Bracts of the inflorescence 
3-5 mm. long, strongly concave, triangular, acute, much 
shorter than the slender pedicels, rigid. Pedicels with the 
ovary up to 1.5 cm. long, smooth. Lateral sepals 6-8 mm. 
long, up to 3 mm. wide, oblong, acute, gradually narrowed 
toward the base, thickened at the apex. Dorsal sepal 
similar. Petals 6-8 mm. long, 3 mm. wide near the ob¬ 
scurely apiculate apex, spatulate from a very narrow base. 
Labellum adnate to the column, including the adnate portion 
8 mm. long, conspicuously 3-lobed, with the terminal lobe 
37 
