1. Habenaria alata Hooker, Exotic Flora 3 (1826) t. 169. Habenaria stricta A. Richard & Galeotti in Ann. Habenaria platantheroides Schlechter in Beihefte The Honduranian specimen which I have referred to Habenaria alata Hook. differs from the type in having a simple labellum without a trace of basal protuberances or lobes. In this regard it resembles the Mexican H. stricta A. Rich. & Gal. and the Costa Rican species for which Schlechter proposed the name H.platantheroides. In recent studies of the Middle American Habenarias I have become convinced that in the recognition of segregates from H. alata the form of the labellum has been relied on too much and specific rank assigned to plants hardly entitled to recognition as varieties, H. stricta and H.platantheroides being in this category. Unfortunately the identity of H.strictais revealed only through analytical drawings preserved in the herbarium of the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. The dried specimen has disappeared and in its absence the analytical drawings are the only evidence on which to in 5 2 3 terpret the original description and to form a conception of the species. Habenaria alata is widespread and polymorphic. It is common in the West Indies and has appeared again and again in collections received from Mexico, Guatemala, Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama and South America. The narrowly lanceolate, obliquely ascending leaves; the conspicuously winged ovary with the edges of the wings minutely papillose, and the more or less connivent sepals with minutely papillose margins, are constant characters. The labellum, however, is variable. Commonly it has a triangular protuberance on each side near the base. Sometimes these protuberances are so strongly developed that they give to the labellum a three-lobed appearance, but frequently they are so much reduced that they become inconspicuous or obsolete. Lacking other substantial differences, the absence from the labellum of lateral protuberances is a trivial characteristic by which to segregate species. DEPARTMENT OF COMAYAGUA, North of Siguatepeque. Terrestrial in open pine forest at 3,400 feet altitude. October 6, 1932. Edwards 280. ILLUSTRATION: 1, flower drawn with the aid of the camera lucida, enlarged about two times. 2, flower drawn with the lateral sepals spread apart. 3, labellum, spur and column, drawn with the aid of the camera lucida, enlarged about four times. 4, a section taken from the margin of a sepal to show papillose character. 5, petal about four times life-size. Drawn July 1934 from flowers of Edwards 280 by BLANCHE AMES. 2. Habenaria clypeata Lindley, Gen. & Sp. Orch. Pl. (1835) 311. Habenaria lactiflora A. Richard & Galeotti in Ann. The specimens referred to H.clypeata are perplexing because several of them approach the type of H. lactiflora. The lateral segments of the labellum are basal or sometimes, together with the mid-lobe or middle segment, separated from the base of the labellum by a well-devel EXPLANATION OF ILLUSTRATION HABENARIA CLYPEATA Lindl. Flower enlarged, about twice natural size, drawn from flowers of Edwards 184 preserved in alcohol. The labellum with its conspicuous claw below the lateral segments represents the variant formerly referred to H. lactiflora. HABENARIA CRASSICORNIS Lindl. Plant natural size, drawn from a dried specimen of Edwards 206. Flower enlarged, about twice natural size, drawn from a flower of Edwards 477 preserved in alcohol. HABENARIA EUSTACHYA Reichbf. Flower enlarged, about twice natural size, drawn from a flower of Edwards 592 preserved in alcohol. HABENARIA NOVEMFIDA Lindl. Flower enlarged, about twice natural size, drawn from a flower of Edwards 488 preserved in alcohol. HABENARIA ODONTOPETALA Reichbf. Flower enlarged, about twice natural size, drawn from a flower of Edwards 483 preserved in alcohol. HABENARIA REPENS Nutt. Two flowers enlarged, about twice natural size, drawn from flowers of Edwards 386 preserved in alcohol. HABENARIA SETIFERA Lindl. Plant natural size. Flower about one third larger than natural size, drawn from a flower of Edwards 203 preserved in alcohol. Drawn July 1934 by BLANCHE AMES |