TROPICAL AMERICAN ORCHIDS 
at the summit, with a subtending leaf on a sheathing base, 
6-8 cm. apart, produced in succession as the stems elongate. 
Above each newly formed pseudobulb the stem is concealed 
by the closely oppressed bracts from among which the 
flowers are produced. Leaves of the pseudobulbs 2-4.5 cm. 
long, about 1 cm. wide, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, bilobed at the 
tip, with an apicule between the lobes, the lamina of the sub¬ 
tending leaf equaling or exceeding the pseudobulb, the im¬ 
mature leaves of the growing tip of the stem smaller and 
distichous, crowded. Peduncle 1-flowered, 7 mm. long, 
slender, the upper bract subtending the pedicel. Bracts 
about 8 mm. long, conduplicate, shortly tubular at the base, 
ovate-lanceolate, prominently nerved. Pedicel 7 mm. long, 
almost concealed by the subtending bract. Lateral sepals 
11 mm. long, up to 4 mm. wide, oblong-lanceolate, acute, 
5-nerved, forming a distinct mentum with the foot of the 
column. Dorsal sepal 12 mm. long, about 3 mm. wide below 
the middle, oblong-lanceolate, acute, somewhat carinate at 
the tip on the outer surface. Petals 11 mm. long, 3 mm. 
wide, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, 4-nerved (the fourth nerve 
sometimes indistinct). Labellum 9.5 mm. long, 3-lobed; 
lateral lobes minute, about 2 mm. long, semiovate, subacute, 
obliquely erect, porrect; middle lobe 8 mm. long, about 4.5 
mm. wide when spread out, strongly convex, with the margin 
deflexed or almost revolute, sulcate along the middle, 
5-nerved, with a heavy callus at the base in front of the 
lateral lobes. Column slender, arched, produced into a 
conspicuous foot. 
From the material which constitutes the type, it is evi¬ 
dent that after a pseudobulb is formed the stem grows on, 
and from among imbricating bracts produces a number of 
flowers borne singly on short peduncles. After the flowering 
season the growing tip of the stem, which always bears 
several distichous leaves, elongates, and at length gives rise 
to a new pseudobulb, when the vegetative history of the 
plant repeats itself. 
Allied to Maxillaria microphijton Schltr., but with 
broader leaves, larger flowers, and a different labellum. 
Ornilhidium panmlum Schltr. is also closely allied. 0. par- 
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