PDF - University Library

BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN VENEZUELA - I 167
ORCHIDACEAE 1 2
Pogonia stricta C. Schweinfurth, sp. nov.
Herba terrestris, gracilis. Caulis sparsim ramosus, cum ramis
strictis paucifloris, sine foliis sed minute bracteatus. Racemi bi-vel
quadriflori. Flores lateraliter visi arcuati. Sepala carnosa. Sepalum
dorsale fomicacum, longitudinaliter concavum, lanceolateoblongum.
Sepala lateralia arcuato-falcata, caetera similia. Petala
elliptic o-oblonga, leviter falcata, quam sepala paulo breviora sed
latiora. Labellum tubulari-involutum, simplex, lance olato-oblongum,
obtusum; discus basi minute bicallosum, cum fascia lata carnosa
minute multipapillosa per medium. Columna apice dilatala, ala
conspicua term in a ta.
Plant terrestrial, very slender, at least 23 cm. high (up to the apex
of the raceme) in the only complete plant present. Stem with 1 to
several strict and more or less remote branches, produced below into
an irregularly flexuous villous portion, leafless, provided remotely
with minute appressed, triangular-ovate and acute or narrowly
triangular-lanceolate and acuminate bracts which are 10 mm. or less
long; branches short, 2- to 4-flowered, rarely up to 7.8 cm. long.
Floral bracts strict, triangular-ovate, deeply concave, acuminate.
Flowers small, narrowly campanulate and arcuate when seen from the
side in natural position. Sepals fleshy, longitudinally concave,
greenish yellow. Dorsal sepal fornicate, lanceolate-oblong, acute,
apiculate, up to about 20 mm. long and 4 mm. wide when expanded,
dorsally lightly carinate. Lateral sepals oblique and falcate,
lanceolate-oblong, acute, about 20 mm. long and 4.8 mm. wide,
dorsally carinate. Petals similar to the lateral sepals, ellipticoblong,
falcate, acute, up to 18 mm. long and 5 mm. wide, 3-nerved
(or 5-nerved in the middle), with minutely irregular margins, creamy
yellow. Lip tubular-involute in natural position, simple, lanceolateoblong,
obtuse, up to about 16.3 mm. long and 6.2 mm. wide below
when expanded, with the lateral margins toward the apex minutely
erose and crisped-undulate; disc minutely bicallose at base, with a
broad central oblong-lanceolate acuminate fleshy band (entirely
covered by crowded papillose keels) extending from the base nearly
to the apex. Column small, from a slender base rather abruptly
dilated above, terminating in a prominent triangular blunt wing which
is lacerate on each side below, about 8 mm. or less high at the
back (Fig. 25).
Type in herb. Chi. Nat. Hist. Mus., no. 1203783, isotype in Herb.
Ames, no. 64865, Brocchinia-Stegolepis-Heliamphora swamp on
southwest-facing shoulder, Ptari-tepui, state of Bolivar, alt. 2200 m.,
November 2, 1944, Julian A. Steyermark 59786, "lateral sepals with
pale greenish in center, lip creamy white with rose-lavender or
magenta".
1 2
By Charles Schweinfurth