CENTRAL AMERICAN ORCHIDS 
duncle with the shortly branched inflorescence about 15 cm. 
long, conspicuously two-winged, below the inflorescence 
provided with a large sheathing conduplicate bract which 
is 3 cm. long. Inflorescence branched, with the branches 
about 2 cm. long. Bracts of the inflorescence 5-9 mm. long, 
conduplicate, subimbricated, glumaceous when dry, many- 
nerved, some of them apparently sterile. Pedicel with the 
ovary about 12 mm. long, slender, smooth. Lateral sepals 
13 mm. long, 2.5 mm. wide near the middle, fleshy, nervose, 
asymmetrically spatulate from a narrow base, obtuse. 
Dorsal sepal 13 mm. long, about 3 mm. wide above the 
middle, spatulate, obtuse, fleshy. Petals 12 mm. long, 
hardly 1 mm. wide, linear, 1-nerved, spreading. Labellum 
adherent for more than half its length to the column, free 
portion about 6 mm. long, 4 mm. wide near the base, sub¬ 
rotund, obscurely lobed near the base, in dried specimens 
exhibiting a central ridge which extends nearly to the tip, 
bicallose in front of the summit of the column, the calli 
erect, complanate, and rounded. Column 11 mm. long, di¬ 
lated above, constricted below the stigma into a slender 
base; androclinium obscurely lobed. Pollinia four. 
The conspicuously two-winged peduncle and the sub¬ 
imbricating glumaceous bracts of the inflorescence separate 
this species clearly from its nearest allies. Unfortunately the 
only specimen obtained is fragmentary. It seems to repre¬ 
sent the upper part of a leafy stem. The flower suggests 
afTinity with Epidendrum floribundum H. B. K., from which 
it is distinguishable by the simple labellum, contracted in¬ 
florescence, and large glumaceous bracts. 
Costa Rica, Cascajal, C. H. Lankester 63. Sepals 
greenish, petals white. 5500 feet altitude. (Type in 
Herb. Kew.) 
Plate 3. Drawn from the type, three-fourths life size. 
1, habit. 2, flower ( x 1 34 ). 3, labellum and column ( x 3). 
4, labellum ( x 3). 
Epidendrum peraltense Ames sp. nov. Radices valde 
carnosae, albidae. Pseudobulbi magni, pyriformes, tri- 
phylli. Folia ligulata, coriacea, apicem racemi subaequantia. 
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