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BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN VENEZUELA - I 177
Type in herb. Chi. Nat. Hist. Mus., no. 1203776, southeasternfacing
slopes along Cano Negro (tributary of Cano Iguapo), Cerro
Duida, Territorio Federal Amazonas, alt. 305-1095 m., August 25-26,
1944, Julian A. Steyermark 57966.
This species appears to be allied to the Brazilian Erythrodes
commelinoides (Rodr.) Ames, but differs in its narrower leaves and
much smaller flowers with differently proportioned lip. In vegetative
appearance it .
suggests aratanhensis (Rodr.) Ames and E. multifoliata
C. Schweinf., but the perianth is very different.
Stelis (1 is par C. Schweinfurth, sp. nov.
Herba epiphytica, pro genere mediocris, rhizomatosa. Rhizoma
gracile, vaginis arctis tubulatis omnino juventute velatum. Caules
secundarii numerosi, rari vel approximati, apice unifoliati. Folium
conspicue petiolatum; lamina oblongo-elliptica, acuta, infra cuneata.
Inflorescentiae saepissime solitariae vel duae, diffusae vel suberectae,
folium subaequantes vel duplo superantes, supra dense
multiflorae. Flores perparvi, glabri. Sepala valde inaequalia, trinervia.
Sepalum dorsale late ovatum vel rotundato-ovatum. Sepala
lateralia similia, multo minora, valde obliqua. P eta la minuta, suborb
iculari-rhorabica, cum parte anteriore late rotundata et incrassata.
Labellum subaequale, valde incrassatum, semiorbiculari-ovatum
antice visum, transverse cuneato-trapeziforme superne visum. Columna
generis
.
Plant epiphytic, medium-sized for the genus, producing an elongate
rhizome. Roots fibrous, filiform, glabrous, scattered. Rhizome
slender, irregularly flexuous, entirely concealed by close tubular
sheaths which waste away in course of development. Secondary
stems numerous, scattering (about 2.5 cm. apart) to approximate,
making an acute angle with the rhizome, up to 7.2 cm. long (commonly
much less), unifoliate at the apex, entirely or mostly concealed by
two to four close tubular evanescent sheaths. Leaf erect or erectspreading,
distinctly petioled; lamina oblong-elliptic, acute with a
minutely tridenticulate apex, cuneate below, coriaceous, about 4-7.5
cm. long, 9-17 mm. wide; petiole slender, about 2 cm. or more long.
Inflorescences commonly solitary or two (rarely remnants of a third
one appears), diffuse to suberect, subequaling to twice surpassing
the leaf, subdensely to densely many-flowered and racemose above,
rather loosely flowered toward the base. Floral bracts minute, infundibuliform,
acute. Flowers very small, glabrous, deep purple or
dull lavender with mulberry-purple lip. Sepals markedly unequal,
3-nerved, connate below. Dorsal sepal broadly ovate or round-ovate,
obtuse to subacute, about 3 mm. long and nearly as wide below.
Lateral sepals very obliquely round-ovate, about 2 mm. long and
wide below. Petals minute, suborbicular-rhombic, with the anterior
portion broadly rounded and fleshy-thickened, about 0.5 mm. long and
1 mm. wide. Lip subequal to the petals, very fleshy, with a transverse
thickening across the middle and a small conical tubercle near
the base, semiorbicular- ovate when viewed from the front, trans-