TROPICAL AMERICAN ORCHIDS 
three inconspicuous distant infundibuliform sheaths. Rachis 
1.5-8 cm. long, suberect to arcuate, densely four to many- 
flowered, gently fractiflex, glabrous. Floral bracts dis¬ 
tichous, infundibuliform, deeply keeled on the back. Flowers 
large for the genus. Sepals spreading, densely papillose on the 
inner surface except near the base, fleshy, with the margins 
somewhat revolute. Lateral sepals lanceolate, lightly fal¬ 
cate, very oblique at the base, connate below the middle, the 
basal part membranaceous and saccate, 1.6-1.9 cm. long, 
4.2-4.6 mm. wide above the connate portion, 3-nerved, with 
the median nerve strongly carinate on the outside and ex¬ 
tended into a mucro. Dorsal sepal similar, lanceolate, dor- 
sally carinate, 1.6-1.9 cm. long, 5.5-6 mm. wide below the 
middle, 5-nerved, concave at base. Petals minute, ligulate- 
falcate, slightly broader near the apex, 3.5-4 mm. long, 1 
mm. or less wide, rounded and papillose-thickened at the apex 
on the outer surface and concave inside, obliquely 1-nerved, 
mucronate. Labellum very small, in natural position twice 
deflected (once very abruptly near the base, and again, less 
abruptly, above the middle), when expanded ligulate-oblong, 
truncate and lightly retuse at the apex, narrowed in the 
middle and broadest at the base, about 5.1 mm. long when 
expanded, 2 mm. wide at base; a pair of keels leave the mar¬ 
gin about 2 mm. from the base and gently converge, ter¬ 
minating near the apex. Column curved, slender, about 
5 mm. long to the apex, with a broad membranaceous wing 
which is denticulate on the upper margin and sharply 
lacerate-dentate at the apex; column-foot short, stout, 
fleshy, incurved, mostly free. 
Pleurothallis spectabilis is closely allied to P. platyrachis 
Rolfe, but differs in the more numerous scarlet flowers, trun- 
cate-retuse lip, and dentate column-wing. In habit it resem¬ 
bles P. diuturna Schltr., but has larger and different flowers. 
It is apparently a near ally of P. Pfavii Reichb. f., but is dis¬ 
tinguished by its smaller leaves, 5-nerved dorsal sepal, carinate 
floral bracts, retuse labellum, and by the color of the flowers. 
Panama, Province of Veraguas, Santa Fe, C. W. Powell 
382, February 1924. 1500 feet altitude. “Grows in medium 
sun. Flowers scarlet.” (Type in Herb. Ames No. 28139.) 
