TROPICAL AMERICAN ORCHIDS 
treatment of the latter species, says: “Die Art ist nahe 
verwandt mit P. Funkiana (A. Rich. & Gal.) Schltr. (Spi- 
ranthes Funkiana A.Rich. & Gal.), hat aber grossere Bliithen 
in dichterer Traube, gewimperte Petalen und ein spitzeres 
Mentum.” Regarding the first and last discrepancies, 
photographic evidence refutes the statements, while the 
“dichterer Traube” and “gewimperte Petalen” are evident 
in Pelexia Pringlei. A distance of a little over one hundred 
miles separates the stations of these Mexican and Guate¬ 
malan plants. 
From all available records, therefore, it appears that 
Pelexia Pringlei Fernald and P. guatemalensis Schltr. are 
conspecific with P.Funckiana (A. Rich. & Gal.) Schltr. 
Spiranthes subpandurata A. & S. sp. nov. Herba ter- 
restris, aphylla. Radices fasciculatae, magnae, tomentosae. 
Caulis vaginis numerosis imbricantibus obtectus. Spica 
terminalis, superne densa. Flores albidi. Sepala ligulata, 
acuta, basi ipsa connata. Petala linearia, apice valde obliquo. 
Labellum anguste pandurato-lanceolatum, acutum, mar- 
gine basali bicallosum. Columna generis. 
Plant slender, leafless, about 17.5 cm. tall (the upper 
part of the erect spike very immature and hence contracted). 
Roots large, fleshy, fasciculate, 3.5-6 cm. long, up to 5.5 
mm. in diameter, tomentose. Peduncle below the inllores- 
cence about 10.7 cm. long, invested and mostly concealed by 
eight imbricating loose sheaths the lower portion of which 
is tubular and scarious and the free portion acuminate, the 
lowermost and largest sheath 2.5 cm. long. Inflorescence 
6.4 cm. long, about 1.3 cm. in diameter, very loosely flow¬ 
ered below, dense above. Rachis glandular-pubescent. Floral 
bracts, lowermost exceeding the flower; upper ones sub¬ 
equaling the flower or shorter. Ovary nearly sessile, very 
shortly glandular-pubescent. Perianth segments strongly re¬ 
curved above like those of Spiranthes lucayana (Britton) 
Cogn. Lateral sepals obliquely ligulate, abruptly acute, 
lightly connate at the oblique base and connate with the dor¬ 
sal sepal; free portion 4.2 mm. long on the posterior margin 
and a little longer on the anterior, 1.2 mm. wide at the base. 
4 
