TROPICAL AMERICAN ORCHIDS 
similar, slightly larger, 5-nerved. Petals minute, cuneate- 
semiorbicular, concave, 1.5 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, much 
thickened above, 5-nerved. Labellum typical of the genus, 
1.1-1.5 mm. long, about 1.8 mm. wide, semiorbicular in 
outline, very fleshy, appearing hemispherical in natural 
position, with a flattened excavated anterior face, sides 
erect, a fleshy subbilobed thickening across the middle. 
Column minute, abruptly dilated and 3-lobed above. 
The nearest allies of Stelis carnosiflora appear to be 
S. curvata Schltr., S. Bourgeavii Schltr., and S. Purpusii 
Schltr.; from all three it differs in its fleshy flowers, very 
broad sepals, large floral bracts, and 5-nerved petals. 
Costa Rica, Navarrito, C. H. Lankester s. n., December 
1923. “Sepals green at margin, rest dull purplish.” (Type 
in Herb. Ames No. 28775.) 
Stelis elliptica A. & S. sp. nov. Herba foliis latis in- 
signis, parva. Radices numerosae, filiformes. Caules 
breves, graciles, vaginis tubulatis omnino obtecti. Folia 
elliptica, acuta, petiolata, submembranacea. Inflorescentiae 
folia superantes; racemi laxi. Flores perparvi. Sepala late 
ovata, intus pubescentia. Petala minuta, flabellato-reni- 
formia. Labellum quadrato-ovatum, medio callo permagno 
completo. 
Plant small, 14-15 cm. tall. Rhizome creeping (short 
and broken off in our specimen). Roots numerous, fibrous, 
filiform, flexuous, glabrous. Secondary stems approximate, 
monophyllous, slender, entirely concealed by two or three 
loose tubular scarious sheaths, 2.4-5.3 cm. long, 1-jointed 
below the middle. Leaf narrowly elliptic, 3.5-6 cm. long, 
1.15-2 cm. wide across the middle, sharply acute at the 
apex, gradually narrowed into an indistinct petiole which is 
up to 2 cm. long, submembranaceous in the dried specimen, 
many-nerved, with the mid-nerve carinate beneath. Inflo¬ 
rescences one or two, commonly exceeding the erect petioled 
leaf, 8.9-9.8 cm. or less long, very slender, more or less 
arcuate, clothed at the base with several minute imbricating 
tubular sheaths and above with two distant infundibuliform 
sheaths. Raceme very loose, 6-8-flowered. Floral bracts 
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