TROPICAL AMERICAN ORCHIDS 
wide, expanded into a broad transversely oblong pubescent 
apex; middle lobe much smaller, deltoid in outline with a 
retuse-truncate apex, finely long-hairy at the base, short- 
hairy above. Column characteristic of the genus, dilated 
above into a retuse and apiculate tip. 
Lepanthes exasperata closely resembles L. micraniha 
Ames, but differs strikingly in the shape and size of the leaves 
(even in fresh specimens) and in the relative width of the 
petal lobes. 
Costarica, Navarro, C. H. Lankester 689, 1923. (Type 
in Herb. Ames No. 28791.) 
Lepanthes ovata A. & S. sp. nov. Herba caespitosa. 
Radices fibratae, minute papillosae. Caules gracillimi, 
multivaginati. Folia ovato-lanceolata, acuminata, margine 
minute cartilagineo-denticulata. Racemi foliis breviores. 
Flos in sicco membranaceus. Sepala lateralia oblique semi- 
ovata, partim connata. Sepalum dorsale ovatum, paullo 
majus. Petala transverse bilobata, lobo posteriore majore. 
Labellum trilobatum; lobi laterales dolabriformes, carinati; 
lobus medius minutus. 
Plant caespitose, 14.5 cm. tall to the apex of the erect 
leaf. Stems monophyllous, 11-11.5 cm. long, very slender, 
with ten sheaths, inconspicuously angulate and very shortly 
pubescent on the angles. Sheaths infundibuliform, abruptly 
dilated into ovate mucronate ciliate laminae. Leaf ovate- 
lanceolate; petiole very short, 2 mm. long; blade about 3 cm. 
long, 1 cm. wide, acuminate and minutely 3-dentate at the 
tip, rounded at base, conspicuously marginate and finely car¬ 
tilaginous-denticulate on the entire margin except near the 
base. Inflorescences two, filiform, shorter than the leaf (one 
very short). Raceme long-pedunculate, densely 2-11-flow- 
ered. Flowers membranaceous in the dried specimen. Lat¬ 
eral sepals obliquely semiovate, connate for nearly half their 
length, about 3.5 mm. long, 3.5 mm. wide across the cuneate 
lower portion, acute, 2-nerved. Dorsal sepal ovate, acu¬ 
minate, acute, about 3.8 mm. long, 2.8 mm. wide below, 
3-nerved. Petals transversely ligulate-oblong, very oblique; 
posterior lobes larger than the anterior lobes, obliquely 
37 
