BIOLOGY
FIELDIANA: BOTANY
A Continuation of the
BOTANICAL SERIES
of
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
VOLUME 32
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
CHICAGO, U.S.A.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. A New Guatemalan Spigelia. By Dorothy N. Gibson 1
2. Three New Nicaraguan Epidendrums. By Alfonso H. Heller 7
3. Syagrus oleracea ( Mart. ) Becc. and Closely Related Taxa. By
S. F. Classman 13
4. Tropical American Plants, X. By Louis O. Williams 35
5. Two New Guatemalan Tournefortias. By Dorothy N. Gibson 65
6. A New Member of Morganella. By Patricio Ponce de Leon 69
7. A New Odontoglossum from Nicaragua. By Alfonso H. Heller 73
8. Studies in the Palm Genus Syagrus Mart. II. By S. F. Glassman 77
9. Revision of the Genus Vascellum ( Lycoperdaceae ) . By Patricio
Ponce de Leon 109
10. A Conspectus of the Palm Genus Butia Becc. By S. F. Glassman 127
11. Studies in American Plants, II. By Dorothy N. Gibson 173
12. Tropical American Plants, XI. By Louis O. Williams 179
13. The Juglandaceae of Guatemala. By Louis O. Williams and Antonio
Molina R 207
14. An Overlooked Genus of the Scrophulariaceae. By Louis O. Williams 211
15. A Synopsis of the Palm Genus Syagrus Mart. By S. F. Glassman 215
16. A New Hybrid in the Palm Genus Syagrus Mart. By S. F. Glassman 241
A NEW GUATEMALAN SPIGELIA
DOROTHY N. GIBSON
THREE NEW NICARAGUAN EPIDENDRUMS
ALFONSO H. HELLER
SYAGRUS OLERACEA (MART.) BECC.
AND CLOSELY RELATED TAXA
S. F. GLASSMAN
TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X
LOUIS 0. WILLIAMS
FIELDIANA: BOTANY
VOLUME 32, NUMBERS 1, 2, 3, 4
Published by
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
AUGUST 19, 1968
Tte Ubfiry of the
MAY 1 5 1972
A NEW GUATEMALAN SPIGELIA
DOROTHY N. GIBSON
Custodian of the Herbarium
Field Museum of Natural History
THREE NEW NICARAGUAN EPIDENDRUMS
ALFONSO H. HELLER
Associate, Field Museum of Natural History
SYAGRUS OLERACEA (MART.) BECC.
AND CLOSELY RELATED TAXA
S. F. GLASSMAN
Research Associate, Palms
Field Museum of Natural History
and
University of Illinois, Chicago Circle
TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X
LOUIS 0. WILLIAMS
Chief Curator, Botany
Field Museum of Natural History
FIELDIANA: BOTANY
VOLUME 32, NUMBERS 1, 2, 3, 4
Published by
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
AUGUST 19, 1968
CONTENTS
A New Guatemalan Spigelia by Dorothy N. Gibson 5
Three New Nicaraguan Epidendrums by Alfonso H. Heller 7
Syagrus oleracea (Mart.) Becc. and Closely Related Taxa by S. F. Glassman . 13
Tropical American Plants, X by Louis 0. Williams 35
FIELDIANA . BOTANY
Volume 32, No. 4 August 19, 1968 Publication 1055
Tropical American Plants, X
Louis O. WILLIAMS
CHIEF CURATOR, BOTANY
FIELD MUSEUM OP NATURAL HISTORY
This contribution covers principally studies of the Asclepiadaceae
made while preparing the manuscript for the "Flora of Guatemala."
The Guatemalan and adjacent Mexican highlands along with the low
country of Pete"n, British Honduras, and neighboring regions of the
Yucatan Peninsula are particularly rich in Asclepiadaceae and a center
of diversification in the family.
The Asclepiadaceae has not had the attention that it merits. It
often has been neglected in both the field and the herbarium as an
"impossible" family. It is a fascinating family of plants and would
well repay the student that takes it up.
I have been fortunate in having the entire collection of Mexican
and Guatemalan Asclepiadaceae from the Lundell Herbarium; the
collection of the United States National Herbarium and especially
the herbarium of Capt. John Donnell Smith deposited there have
been most useful; Dr. Peter Raven has sent all of Dennis Breedlove's
and his own excellent collections from southern Mexico and Guate-
mala for determination; Dr. Hugh Iltis has sent for determination the
collections made by himself and students from southern Mexico and
Guatemala; the New York Botanical Garden has made available the
specimens collected during recent expeditions to Central America by
Dr. George Proctor; all of the collections made in Central America
during recent years by Antonio Molina, myself, and our associates
were available for study; specimens from the Missouri Botanical
Garden studied by Dr. Robert E. Woodson were made available for
study; essential examinations of type material at Kew were made.
Finally, and with pleasure, I thank National Science Foundation
for the help that has made our field work in Guatemala and Central
America possible and productive during recent years. Field work
done by some of the correspondents mentioned above was sponsored
by National Science Foundation and the specimens resulting from it
freely made available for study.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 61-17730
35
36 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 32
ASCLEPIADACEAE
Cynanchum. — The preparation of the manuscript for the genus
Cynanchum for the "Flora of Guatemala" has taken relatively more
time than the number of species involved would seem to justify.
There are now nine species credited to the flora of Guatemala. It
was necessary in preparing the manuscript to study the material of
Central America and southern Mexico. The material north of the
Isthmus of Tehuan tepee was studied more superficially except as this
may extend into the Central American area. It seems likely that
names applied to species of Cynanchum from northern Mexico will
not replace those which we have used. The older names are largely
from south Mexico.
Woodson has written of this group (Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 28: 214.
1941) that "Within the tiny corollas, averaging only about 2 mm. in
length, are packed as many structural details and variations as within
the larger flowers of other genera. Once when I was complaining to
Dr. Standley of the eye and nerve strain necessary in dealing with
the group, he laughingly agreed that it should be studied by an algol-
ogist or a mycologist."
The group is a fascinating one and with a good microscope pre-
sents no special problems. A monograph of the group would make a
good doctoral problem.
Cynanchum filisepalum (Standl.) L. Wms. comb. nov. Meta-
stelma filisepalum Standl. Field Mus. Bot. 18: 956. 1938.
This distinctive and fairly rare species has been collected only in
Costa Rica.
Cynanchum glaberrimum (Woodson) L. Wms. comb. nov.
Metastelma glaberrimum Woodson, Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 24: 200.
1937.
Costa Rica (All specimens from Costa Rica in F, except as indi-
cated) : La Palma de San Ram6n, alt. 1,050 m., Dec. 22, 1926, Brenes
5238; south slope, Volcan de Barba, Prov. Heredia, alt. 1,950 m.,
May 22, 1965, Hatheway 1353; Las Concavas (Prov. Cartago), Au-
gust 1919, Lankester K107; on the side of Barba Volcano, 25 km. from
San Rafael, Prov. Heredia, alt. 1,930 m., August 14, 1964, Lent 215;
Guacalillo, Volcan Barba (Prov. Heredia), alt. 1,900 m., August 16,
1940, Le6n 24; region of Zarcero, Prov. Alajuela, Austin Smith A-8,
A157; Las Lajas de Zarcero, Prov. Alajuela, alt. 1,600 m., June 9,
1938, Austin Smith NY 7^3; La Briza de Zarcero, Prov. Alajuela,
WILLIAMS: TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X 37
alt. 2,200 m., July 19, 1938, Austin Smith NY 973; between Aserri
and Tarbaca, Prov. San Jose", alt. 1,200-1,700 m., Dec. 6, 1925,
Standley 41384 (US) ; Los Ayotes near Tilaran, Prov. Guanacaste,
alt. 600-700 m., Jan. 21, 1926, Standley & Valeria 45576 (US); Que-
brada Serena, southeast of Tilaran, Prov. Guanacaste, alt. 700 m.,
Jan. 27, 1926, Standley & Valeria 46139, 46164, 46190 (US) ; El Roble,
9,500 feet, May 16, 1928, Stork 2021; "El Rodes," Villa Colon, alt.
840 m., 7 octubre 1934, Valeria 957; Tapanti, alt. 1,200 m., July 6,
1936, Valeria 1442.
Panama: corolla glabrous, corona 3-pronged, a suffrutescent liana
in clearings, valley of upper Rio Chiriqui Viejo, vicinity of Monte Lirio,
alt. 1,300-1,900 m., June 27-July 13, 1935, Seibert 300 (type, MO).
This species is quite characteristic by reason of its small flowers
(1 mm. long or even less) and by the veins of the leaves that are fewer
than in most species and subparallel to the margins.
This species appears in the "Flora of Costa Rica" as Cynanchum
sepium (Dene.) Standl. but the description given there does not fit
this species. All the specimens in our herbarium had been named as
C. sepium.
Cynanchum longicoronatum L. Wms. sp. nov.
Herbae volubiles usque ad 1 m. vel ultrae, sparse pilosae, pubescencia uni-
fariam; folia lanceolata vel ovato-lanceolata, acuminata, apiculata, breviter petio-
lata, glabra vel ciliata; inflorescentia alterno-lateralis, subumbellata, folia multo
breviora; calyx quinquelobatum, lobi lineari-lanceolati, acuti; corolla campanulata,
lobi lanceolati, acuti, recurvati, intra pubescenti; lobi coronae lineari-lanceolatae,
longitudine gynostemium duplo superantes; gynostemium stipitatum.
Slender twining herbaceous plants, the stems perhaps a meter or more long
and mostly less than 1 mm. in diameter, sparsely pilose pubescent in single lines;
leaves lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate and apiculate, short petiolate,
glabrous but obscurely ciliate, the lateral nerves 7-10 pairs, 1.5-3 cm. long and
0.4-1.2 cm. broad, petiole short, puberulous, 2-4 mm. long; inflorescences borne
alternately from the axil of each pair of leaves, subumbellate, flowers 2-8, peduncle
0.5-1.5 cm. long, puberulous pedicels mostly about 1 mm. long; flowers white;
calyx divided to the base or nearly so, the lobes linear-lanceolate, acute, glabrous
or nearly so, about 1 mm. long; corolla campanulate, divided to near the base,
about 3.5 mm. long, the lobes lanceolate, acute, recurved, glabrous outside, puberu-
lent along the margins inside (not barbellate), the lobes about 2 mm. long and
1 mm. broad; corona about 2 mm. long, the lobes linear-lanceolate, about twice as
long as the gynostemium; gynostemium stipitate, about 1 mm. long; capsules
(immature) 2-3 cm. long, long rostrate, glabrous.
Mexico : vine, flowers white, steep slope with Quercus and Pinus,
3 miles south of Aguacatenango, along the road to Pinola Las Rosas,
38 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 32
municipio de Venustiano Carranza, Chiapas, alt. 5,600 feet, July 22,
1965, Breedlove 11211; vine, flowers white, slopes with Quercus and
Pinus, 17 miles east of La Trinitaria, along road to the Lagos de
Montebello, municipio de La Trinitaria, alt. 5,000 feet, July 26, 1965,
Breedlove 11324; vine, flowers white, steep slope with Quercus and
Pinus, 3 miles south of Aguacatenango along road to Pinola Las
Rosas, municipio de Venustiano Carranza, alt. 5,600 feet, October 13,
1965, Breedlove & Raven 13132; vine, flowers white, steep slope with
Quercus along Mexican Highway 190, 3 miles south of La Trinitaria,
municipio La Trinitaria, alt. 5,100 feet, October 14, 1965, Breed-
love & Raven 13199 (type F; DS).
Superficially like other of the Cynanchum § Metastelma species
of Central America and Mexico. This one has the longest corona
lobes of any species of the section Metastelma known to me, the
peduncles are rather long, both characters which point to a relation-
ship with C. stenomeres Standl. & Steyerm.
Cynanchum miserum L. Wms. sp. nov.
Herbae vel plantae suffruticosae volubiles. Caules graciles, striati, sparse
pubescenti vel glabri, paucifolii; folia lineari-lanceolata, acuto-apiculata vel acu-
minata, glabra; inflorescentia sessilis, pauciflora; calyx perbrevis, lobi lanceolato-
triangulari, acuti; corolla campanulata, glabra, lobi triangulari, obtusi, perbreves;
lobi coronae lanceolati, obtusi; gynostegium stipitatum.
Twining and often reed-like herbaceous or suffrutescent vines. Stems slender ,
striated at least when dry, internodes 2-4 cm. long, sparsely puberulent to glabrous
and somewhat vernicose, mostly 0.5-1 mm. in diameter; leaves sparse, soon decid-
uous, linear or linear-lanceolate, acute-apiculate to acuminate, with 2-3 pairs of
obscure lateral nerves, the lowest pair subparallel to the margin, glabrous or dor-
sally the mid-nerve puberulent, about 1-3 cm. long and 0.1-0.4 cm. broad; inflo-
rescence sessile (not pedunculate), few-flowered (1-5) fascicles at leafless nodes,
pedicels of the flowers mostly about 2 mm. long, glabrous or puberulous; calyx to
about 0.5 mm. long, the lobes lanceolate-triangular, acute, puberulous; corolla
campanulate, glabrous, about 1 mm. long, the lobes subtriangular, obtuse, about
0.3 mm. long; corona lobes lanceolate, obtuse, about 0.3 mm. long, overtopping the
gynostegium; gynostegium stipitate, about 0.5 mm. long; capsule slender, 4-5 cm.
long.
Mexico: vine, flowers white, steep slopes along the river of Chik
Ha, barrio of Yashanal, paraje of Matsab, municipio of Tenejapa,
Chiapas, alt. 5,500 feet, July 17, 1965, Breedlove 11118 (F, DS).
Guatemala: vine along small stream, hills north of finca Piamonte,
between finca Piamonte and summit of Volcan Santa Luisa, Dept.
El Progreso, alt. 2,400-3,333 m., Feb. 5, 1942, Steyermark 43476; be-
tween Yulhuitz and Maxbal, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Dept.
WILLIAMS: TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X 39
Huehuetenango, alt. 1,400-1,500 m., July 15, 1942, Steyermark 48688;
above la Libertad on Cerro Pueblo Viejo, Dept. Huehuetenango, alt.
1,900 m., August 20, 1942, Steyermark 51008; im Walde in Pansa-
mala, von einen Baum herabhangend, Dept. Alta Verapaz, 3800,
Juli 1887, Turckheim 1290 (type US; GH; F); Coban, Dept. Alta
Verapaz, alt. 1,500 m., August 1907, Turckheim II 1911 (US).
This species is easily distinguished among those from adjacent
Mexico and Central America by the sessile flower fascicles, which are
essentially subumbellate as in other members of section Metastelma,
but without a measurable peduncle; the flowers are very small and
the corolla lobes are but about one-third the length of the campanu-
late corolla. The leaves seem to be soon deciduous and older speci-
mens are leafless.
Cynanchum palustre (Pursh) Heller, Cat. N. Am. PL 6. 1898.
Ceropegia palustris Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 1: 184. 1814. Vincetoxicum
palustre Gray, Syn. Fl. N. Am. 21: 102. 1878.
British Honduras: climbing 2-3 feet high in saline swampy ground,
Manatee Lagoon, April 10, 1906, Peck 405 (GH).
The only record that I have seen for this species in Central Amer-
ica is the specimen cited above. The species is apparently occasional
in saline swamps in the southeastern United States and is reported
from West Indies. The species does not fit well into the genus Cynan-
chum but is better there than in any of the other genera of Central
America.
Cynanchum rubens L. Wms. sp. nov.
Herbae volubiles usque ad 1 m. vel ultrae, sparse pubescentes vel glabrae; folia
lineari-lanceolata vel lanceolata, acuminata, ciliolata, breviter petiolata; inflores-
centia subumbellata, 5-8-flora, flores rubescentes; calyx 5-lobatum, lobi ovato-
lanceolati, acuti; corolla rotata, lobi oblongo-ovati, acuti; corona carnosa, 5-lobata,
lobi subcochleati, rotundati; gynostegium generis.
Twining vines to a meter or perhaps longer. Stems slender, crisped pubescent
in lines or glabrous, 1-1.5 mm. in diameter; leaves linear-lanceolate or lanceolate,
acuminate, obscurely ciliolate, lateral nerves 4-5 pairs, obscure, 2-5 cm. long and
0.4-0.8 cm. broad, petiole short, puberulent, 1-5 mm. long; inflorescence axillary,
subumbellate, mostly 5-8-flowered, the peduncle short, about 2-3 mm. long, the
pedicels of the flowers 2-3 mm. long, obscurely puberulent; flowers maroon; calyx
lobes ovate-lanceolate, acute, puberulent, about 1 mm. long and half as broad;
corolla rotate, completely glabrous, about 2 mm. long, deeply lobate, the lobes
oblong-ovate, acute, about 1.3 mm. long and 1 mm. broad; corona fleshy, 5-lobate,
the lobes alternate with the corolla lobes, subcochleate, rounded, about 0.5 mm.
high; gynostegium about 1 mm. high.
40 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 32
Guatemala: twining slender vine, flowers maroon, in cypress for-
est, Santa Elena, Dept. Chimaltenango, alt. 2,400-2,700 m., July 27,
1933, Skutch 503 (type, US).
The species is easily distinguished by the fleshy corona with
rounded lobes shorter than the gynostegium, and the completely
glabrous corolla and maroon flowers. The type is the only speci-
men known.
Cynanchum schlechtendalii (Dene.) Standl. & Steyerm. Field
Mus. Bot. 23 : 226. 1947. Metastelma schlechtendalii Decaisne in DC.
Prodr. 8: 513. 1844. Metastelma decipiens Pittier, Contr. U. S. Nat.
Herb. 13: 97, .fa. 1910.
This species was originally described on a Schiede specimen from
Mexico, number 159, of which there is a phototype in Field Museum.
I believe that this is the commonest species of Cynanchum in south
Mexico and Guatemala, extending as far as El Salvador. Like most
other species -of -the genus it has had a number of names applied to it
on the material that is to be found in herbaria. I include here speci-
mens with narrowly oblong-lanceolate corolla lobes which are densely
barbellate within, the corona filaments are slightly longer than the
gynostegium, the leaves are mostly lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate and
are provided with obvious lateral nerves and are glabrous, the pe-
duncles are short and several-flowered. The species as I have treated
it may well be an aggregate.
A closely related species is C. chiapense (Gray) Standl. & Steyerm.
This species is most easily distinguished by the usually narrower
leaves that do not have obvious lateral veins. Cynanchum barbi-
gerum (Scheele) Shinners may well belong to this aggregate.
Cynanchum sepicola (Pittier) L. Wms. comb. nov. Metastelma
sepicola Pittier, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 13: 98, fig. 5. 1910.
The species is not closely related to any other species known to
me to occur in Central America. The ovate lobes of the corona and
the long columnar base of the gynostegium are outstanding. The
long pedunculate inflorescence occurs also in Cynanchum woodsoni-
anum L. Wms. The species is known only from Costa Rica.
Cynanchum sepium (Dene.) Standl. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb.
23: 1177. 1924. Vincetoxicum sepium Decaisne in DC. Prodr. 8: 526.
1844.
WILLIAMS: TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X 41
There is available a phototype and a fragment of this species
(F 26998). It shows a good specimen but only one inflorescence
partially hidden by the stem of the plant. The leaves on this plant
are the only ones that I know for the area that have the two lowest
lateral veins paralleling the margin of the leaf almost to the middle,
and at the same time a pedunculate inflorescence. I have only two
specimens from Guatemala that seem to match the photograph,
Morales 1233 from the department of Chimaltenango, and Skutch 914
from the department of Quezaltenango.
Cynanchum trichophyllum L. Wms. sp. nov.
Herbae volubiles, piloso-pubescentes. Folia oblongo-lanceolata vel ovato-
lanceolata, acuminato-apiculata, baso obtuso vel rotundato; inflorescentiae alterno-
laterales, folia breviora vel subaequalia; calyx 5-lobatum, lobi lanceolato-oblongi,
obtusi; corolla subcampanulata, profunde divisa, lobi lineari-oblongi vel lineari-
lanceolati, obtusi, reflexi, intra barbellati; lobi coronae lineari-lanceolatae; gyno-
stegium stipitatum.
Slender plants often twining and forming dense mats over shrubs and trees,
stems to several meters long and mostly about 1 mm. in diameter, herbaceous or
at most suffrutescent; entire plant with soft, spreading pubescence; leaves oblong-
lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, acuminate-apiculate, obtuse or rounded at the base,
lateral nerves evident, mostly 5-8 pairs, sparsely to densely pilose pubescent on
both surfaces, (0.6-)l-3 cm. long and (0.2-)0.5-1 cm. broad, petioles slender,
mostly 2-4 mm. long; inflorescences, abundant, subumbellate, usually borne in alter-
nate axils of each succeeding pair of leaves, sometimes in both axils of a pair of
leaves, each bearing 4-10 flowers, from somewhat shorter to about as long as the
subtending leaves or rarely longer, peduncles 2-10 mm. long (mostly 5-6 mm.),
pedicels very slender, mostly about 2-3 mm. long; flowers white or cream color;
calyx deeply 5-lobed, pilose outside, the lobes at anthesis about 0.5-0.7 mm. long,
lanceolate-oblong, obtuse, eglandular within; corolla subcampanulate, divided al-
most to the base, 2.5-3 mm. long, the lobes about 2-2.5 mm. long and 0.6-0.8 mm.
broad, linear-oblong or linear-lanceolate, obtuse, tip reflexed, glabrous outside,
prominently barbellate at the tip inside with two lateral lines of pubescence extend-
ing to the base of the lobe, glabrous or glabrescent between these lines; corona
about 1 mm. long or less, the lobes linear-lanceolate, slightly exceeding the gyno-
stegium in length; gynostegium stipitate, about 1 mm. long; capsule 2.5-5 cm. long,
mostly about 4 cm., and about 4-5 mm. in diameter near the base, long apiculate,
densely pilose pubescent.
Honduras: flores blancas, bejuco sobre Opuntia sp. Colinas y sa-
banas abiertas cerca Rio Telica, camino a Montana Uval, departa-
mento de Olancho, alt. 550 m., November 20, 1963, Molina 13344.
(type F; EAP; LL; others).
Mexico: the following all from the state of Chiapas: Breedlove &
Raven 13270, 13314, 13531; Roe, Roe & Mori 997.
42 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 32
There is in addition the following material from the departments of
Morazan, El Paraiso, Olancho, and Comayagua in Central Honduras,
cited by collectors and numbers. There are undoubtedly many more
specimens in EAP which are not cited here: Edwards P-510; Molina
554, 714, 900, 1246, 1378, 5135, 13226, 13243, 13370, 18455, 18607;
Standley 247, 827, 1083, 2298, 13608, 13662, 13844, 18029, 18213,
26696; Williams & Molina 11149, 11157, 14719; Williams & Wil-
liams 18357; Valerio 1134, 1404, 1995.
This species is most closely related to Cynanchum schlechtendalii
from which it is most easily distinguished by the abundant indument
covering the plants.
The specimens cited will be found in herbaria under Cynanchum
schlechtendalii and C. sepium.
Cynanchum woodsonianum L. Wms. nom. nov. Metastelma
pedunculare Decaisne in DC. Prodr. 8: 514. 1844, not Cynanchum
peduncular e Lam. 1786.
Guatemala: Cuesta de Pinula, Hartweg 601 (Phototype F, no.
26944 from G, also fragment from type, F) ; Alameda, Dept. Chimal-
tenango, Sept. 30, 1937, Johnston 1022 (F); flowers greenish -white,
brushy slopes, Cuesta de Las Cafias above Antigua, Dept. Sacate-
p£quez, alt. about 1,950 m., Dec. 6, 1938, Standley 58915 (F); on
Quercus, same locality, Standley 58916 (F); twining over shrubs in
cloud forest, Volcan Quezaltepeque 3-4 miles northeast of Quezalte-
peque, alt. 1,500-2,000 m., Nov. 8, 1939, Steyermark 31492 (F).
This is one of the more distinct species in Guatemala and is easily
distinguished by the long pedunculate, few-flowered inflorescence.
Standley or Woodson had determined all the recent specimens as
Metastelma pedunculare Dene, but Standley changed his mind when he
prepared the preliminary manuscript for "Flora of Guatemala" and
annotated them all as Cynanchum schlechtendalii, except one and this
was annotated as C. sepium. The name Metastelma pedunculare was
placed in synonymy under C. schlechtendalii.
This small plant is renamed for Dr. Robert E. Woodson, who has
done so much to make the genera of American Asclepiadaceae under-
standable.
FISCHERIA DC. is a small genus with several species in South
America, represented in the West Indies by perhaps two species. In
Central America and Mexico there are two species, one certainly a
widespread one extending along the lowlands from Mexico to Argen-
WILLIAMS: TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X 43
tina and the other a highland species described below, related to a
highland species from Colombia.
The name Fischeria martiana Dene, is being used in "Flora of
Guatemala" for the lowland species. The use of this name seems
reasonable to me but it is possible that there may be an older name
for the taxon. There are, almost certainly, names published at the
same time by Decaisne in De Candolle's Prodomus that represent
the same taxon — F. rotundifolia Dene, is one.
The curious thing is that a highland species known from Costa
Rica, and easily distinguished superficially, was passed over by Stand -
ley as being the same as the lowland F. martiana (which he called
F. funebris) . The species seems to be more closely allied to F. viridis
Moldenke from Colombia and Venezuela than to F. martiana.
Fischeria brachycalyx L. Wms. sp. nov.
Herbae vel lianae suffruticosae, volubiles, usque ad 7 m. vel ultrae et caules
usque ad 1 cm. diam., scopatae. Folia longe petiolata, anguste ovata vel oblan-
ceolato-ovata, acuminata, basi obtusi vel cordato-auriculata, dense piloso-pubes-
centia; inflorescentia folia subaequalia, subumbellata, 8-10-flora; calyx pubescens,
5-lobata, lobi breves, lanceolati vel latiori, acuti, dense villosi; corolla rotata, pro-
funde 5-lobata, lobi ovati vel lanceolato-ovati, obtusi, piloso-pubescenti; appen-
dices antherorum cornei.
Scandent herbs or suffruticose vines to 7 meters high, the stems to 1 cm. or
perhaps more in diameter, terminal portions densely hirsute pubescent with spread-
ing septate hairs and with subglandular muriculate protruberance on the surface
of the stem; leaves long petiolate, narrowly ovate to oblanceolate-ovate, acuminate,
obtuse and shallowly cordate-auriculate at the base, densely pubescent on both
sides with short pilose, septate hairs, with 4-7 pairs of lateral nerves, prominent
below and joined with many reticulate tertiary nerves, the blade 9-15 cm. long and
3.5-7 cm. broad, the petioles slender, spreading pilose pubescent, 2-4 cm. long;
inflorescences borne alternately from the leaf axils, about as long as the subtending
leaves, subumbellate, with about 8-10 flowers, the pedicels when mature to about
3 cm. long, spreading, pilose; flowers pale green, to about 2 cm. in diameter when
fresh; calyx short, divided to the base, the 5 lobes lanceolate or broader, acute,
densely pilose dorsally with shorter hairs underneath, about 5-6 mm. long and
2 mm. broad; corolla rotate, deeply 5-lobed, about 14-16 mm. broad, the lobes
ovate or lanceolate-ovate, obtuse, slightly constricted toward the apex, pilose pu-
bescent, less so below, 5-7 mm. long and 5 mm. broad, faucal appendage thick
and fleshy, the margin fimbriated, obscurely 5-lobate, the lobes toward the sini of
the corolla; anthers with prominent dorsal appendage, the appendage corneous
and about 1 mm. long; gynostegium typical of the genus; ovary densely pubescent;
follicles unknown.
Costa Rica: La Palma de San Ramon, 26 agosto 1928, Brenes
6296; "El Silencio" de Tilaran, 31 mayo 1932, Brenes 15671; Las
44 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 32
Palma de San Ram6n, agosto 3-10, 1935, Quiros 174', scandent suf-
fruticose vine, stems covered with stiff hairs, to 7 meters high the
terminal part of stem pendent, edge of woodland in semi-shade, Carib-
bean watershed cloud forest, La Pena de Zarcero, Canton de Alfaro
Ruiz, Province of Alajuela, alt. 1,350 meters, September 19, 1938,
Austin Smith H1211 (type, F); El Retiro, Santa Cruz de Turrialba,
alt. 1,400 m., Enero 1941, Valeria 1327.
The species is easily distinguished from Fischeria martiana which
is the only other species of the genus known in Mexico and Central
America, by the very short calyx lobes, smaller flowers, and by de-
tails of the corona and gynostegium. This species is a mountain
species, the known localities all about 1,000 meters while F. martiana
is found along or near the Atlantic lowlands from Mexico to Argen-
tina. Fischeria viridis Moldenke and F. colombiana Schltr. are both
mountain species from Colombia and Venezuela to which the present
species is somewhat related.
GONOLOBUS, like some other genera of the Asclepiadaceae that
have their center of distribution in Mexico, becomes less common in
Guatemala and almost disappears from the flora before the southern
extremity of the interisthmian region is reached. There are 20 spe-
cies of Gonolobus in the account for the "Flora of Guatemala" and
only two of these extend into Mexico beyond the Isthmus of Tehuan-
tepec. There are six species found in the Mexican state of Chiapas,
including those described below, which are not known to extend into
Guatemala although some of them are to be expected. Southward
from Guatemala to Panama there have been described 14 species of
Gonolobus. There are some 85 species of Gonolobus known from Mexico
and Central America. The 26 species known from the Chiapas -
Guatemalan area, indicate again that the region is one of high en-
demism in Asclepiadaceae.
Gonolobus breedlovei L. Wms. sp. nov.
Lianae herbaceae vel suffruticosae. Folia lanceolato-cordata vel oblongo-
cordata acuminata utrinque pubescentes. Petioli gracili, lamina subaequales; in-
florescentia cymosa folia subaequalis; lobi calyces lineari-lanceolati acuti; lobi
corollae lineari-lanceolati acuminati; corona exterior inconspicua; corona interior
carnosa lobi rotundati; folliculus ignotus.
Herbaceous or suffrutescent vines, the stems with spreading pubescence of
multicellular hairs. Leaves lanceolate-cordate to oblong-cordate, acuminate,
sparsely strigose pubescent on both surfaces, perhaps glabrescent with age, 6-9 cm.
long and 2.5-5 cm. broad, the slender sparsely pubescent petioles 4-7 cm. long;
inflorescences 4-10-flowered subumbellate cymes about as long as the subtending
WILLIAMS: TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X 45
leaf, the glabrescent peduncles 4-6 cm. long, the pedicels 4 cm. long or less; calyx
lobes linear-lanceolate, acute, sparsely pubescent, 3-5 mm. long and about 1.5 mm.
broad at the base; corolla green, glabrous or obscurely puberulent outside with a
short inconspicuous tube about 1 mm. long, the lobes linear-lanceolate, attenuate
acuminate, spreading at an thesis, about 15 mm. long and 4 mm. broad at the base,
one margin of each lobe subsphacellate; faucal corona inconspicuous, lobulate;
inner corona fleshy, 5-lobate, the lobes rounded and opposite the corolla lobes;
dorsal appendages of the anthers entire, rounded; fruits unknown.
Mexico: flowers green, vine; steep slopes at El Sumidero, 22 km.
north of Tuxtla Gutierrez, Municipio of Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas,
alt. 4,500 feet, July 4, 1966, Breedlove 1U12 (type F; DS).
Gonolobus breedlovei forms the third member of a small group of
Gonolobus in which the corolla lobes are very long and slender. The
other two members of the group are Gonolobus versicolor Woodson
and Gonolobus longipetiolatus Woodson, both known only from Gua-
temala. Gonolobus breedlovei is more closely related to the latter but
may be distinguished by several characters: the calyx lobes are
broader and shorter; the corolla lobes are longer and more attenu-
ate; the leaves are deeply cordate at the base, not merely truncate;
the inflorescences are nearly as long as the leaves instead of about
half as long.
It is a pleasure to name this attractive vine for its discoverer who
has collected a great many fine specimens from southern Mexico and
adjacent Guatemala.
Gonolobus donnellsmithianus L. Wms. sp. nov.
Lianae herbaceae vel suffruticosae. Folia elliptica vel elliptico-oblonga, acu-
minata, basem acuta vel leviter truncata, utrinque pilosa, petioli breves, erecto-
pilosi; inflorescentia subumbellata pedunculus brevis; calyx extus pubescens, lobi
triangulari-lanceolati vel lanceolati, acuti; corolla extus sparse pubescens, lobi lin-
eari-oblongi, obtusi, cucullati, intus glabri; corona erecta, apicem obscure lobata
et ciliata.
A herbaceous or suffrutescent vine with stems spreading pilose pubescent.
Leaves elliptic or elliptic-oblong, acuminate, acute to obscurely truncate at the
base, sparsely fulvous pilose on both surfaces, the blade (2-)6-10 cm. long and
(l-)2.5-4 cm. broad, the petioles of a pair slightly unequal, spreading pilose-pubes-
cent, about 4-14 mm. long; inflorescence a subumbellate cyme 6-10-flowered, the
peduncle about 1 cm. long, the pedicels to 1.5 cm. long, puberulent; calyx pubes-
cent dorsally, divided nearly to the base, the lobes triangular-lanceolate or lan-
ceolate, acute, 2-3 mm. long; corolla sparsely pubescent dorsally, deeply lobate,
the lobes linear-oblong, obtuse, cucullate, glabrous within, about 5 mm. long and
2 mm. broad; faucal corona about 1 mm. high, obscurely lobate and ciliate pubes-
cent at the apex, sides and base glabrous; staminal appendages furcate, the branches
slender and arcuate; fruit unknown.
FIG. 1. Gonolobus donnellsmithianus. A, habit, X 1A- B, flower in natural
position showing petals, corona and gynostegium, X 4. C, calyx and ovaries
(stigma removed), X 5.
46
WILLIAMS: TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X 47
Guatemala: vine, corolla greenish, on El Caribal trail, about
500 m. S.W. of Lacandon in Acahual, department of Pete"n, Febru-
ary 8, 1962, Contreras 3364 (type LL; artist's sketch F).
This species is related to Gonolobus xanthotrichus Brandegee. It
is distinguished by the smaller flowers in which the inner face of the
corolla is glabrous, the f aucal corona with the margin obscurely lobate
and ciliate at the apex.
There are five closely related species in the Chiapas-Guatemalan
region, all having a prominent faucal corona which is erect. These
species are G. chiapensis, G. calycosus, G. stenosepalus, G. xantho-
trichus, and the species described here. Gonolobus lasiostemma also
has a prominent faucal corona but is not closely related to this group.
This species commemorates Captain John Donnell-Smith who
pioneered in the study of the Central American flora.
Gonolobus edulis Hemsl. Biol. Cent. Am. Bot. 2: 331. 1882.
Vincetoxicum edule Standl. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 23: 1680. 1926.
Hemsley described this species based upon two specimens, one a
Friedrichthal specimen from Guatemala and the other Endres 213
from Costa Rica. There is no indication of which of these two speci-
mens had best be selected as type although I should perhaps choose
Endres 213. Miss S. M. King at Kew has made analytical drawings
of the "syntypes" and I believe them to be the same species. This
species is as yet unknown from Guatemala except by the Friedrichs-
thal specimen bearing a Guatemalan label.
Friedrichsthal collected in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Guate-
mala (and perhaps later in Yucatan) . To the best of my knowledge
all of Friedrichthal's specimens were distributed with a uniform label
indicating that they were collected in Guatemala. Most of the speci-
mens probably came from Nicaragua and Costa Rica. There are
quite a number of Friedrichthal's collections ascribed to Guatemala
that are found no nearer than Costa Rica, Gonolobus edulis seems to
be one of these.
Gonolobus roeanus L. Wms. sp. nov.
Lianae herbaceae ramosae caulibus sparce hirsutae. Folia longe petiolata cor-
data vel oblongo-cordata acuata vel acuminata, laete pubescentia, petioli graciles
puberulenti; inflorescentia subumbellata pedunculata pauci-pluri-flora; calyx gla-
brus, lobi lineari vel lineari-lanceolati acuti; corolla subrotata vel lobi reflexi, lobi
oblongi vel oblongo-ovati obtusi; corona corollae carnosa ciliata; corona interior
carnosa lobata vel leviter fimbriata; folliculi ignoti.
48 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 32
Branched vines with sparsely hirsute stems. Leaves long petiolate, the blades
cordate or oblong-cordate, acute or somewhat acuminate, sparsely and obscurely
short pubescent on both surfaces, nerves conspicuous, about 5 pairs with secondary
reticulate nerves, mature leaves 4-6 cm. long and 2-3 cm. broad, petioles slender,
puberulent, 2-4 cm. long; inflorescences subumbellate, axillary, pedunculate, few-
several-flowered, peduncles 1-2 cm. long, pedicels 0.5-1.5 cm. long; flowers pale
brown, small; calyx glabrous or nearly so, divided to the base, lobes linear or linear-
lanceolate, acute, about 5-nerved, 2.5-3 mm. long and 0.5-0.7 mm. broad; corolla
puberulent outside, glabrous within except corona, deeply lobed, subrotate or lobes
reflexed, 10-12 mm. broad, lobes oblong or oblong-ovate, obtuse, reticulate veined,
about 4 mm. long and 2 mm. broad; faucal corona fleshy, erect, margin ciliate,
about 0.5 mm. high; inner corona surrounding gynostegium, carnose, lobate or
somewhat fimbriate, glabrous, shorter than the gynostegium; gynostegium about
1 mm. high; follicles unknown.
Guatemala: vine growing among shrubs, flowers pale brown, in
dense partially disturbed tropical evergreen forest on deep layer of
volcanic ash and cinders along Pacific escarpment, 3 km. south of
Alotenango on highway 14, Dept. Sacate"pequez (14°25' N;90°41'W),
alt. 1,500 m., August 1-2, 1965, Keith Roe, Eunice Roe, Scott Mori
813 (typeF; WIS).
This species is very closely allied to Gonolobus niger (Cav.) R. Br.
It may be easily distinguished by the ciliate faucal corona, brown and
not deep purple ("black") flowers; narrower and longer calyx lobes.
This species brings to attention, as have others which have been
"found" during the course of these studies for preparation of an ac-
count for "Flora of Guatemala," that most Asclepiadaceae have been
avoided as a plague. Once collected, some sort of name was put onto
the specimen and then conveniently forgotten.
Gonolobus stramineus L. Wms. sp. nov.
Lianae herbaceae vel suffruticosae crines straminei muniti. Folia oblongo-
lanceolata vel ovato-lanceolata, acuminata, piloso pubescens, petioli pilosi; inflcres-
centia pauciflora, pedunculus brevis; lobi calycis ovati vel lanceolato-ovati ciliati
obtusi vel acuti; lobi corollae oblongo-ovati obtusi leviter cucullati glabri; corona
erecta glabra intus ciliato pubescens; fructus ignotus.
Herbaceous or suffrutescent vines having a greenish-yellow caste due to abun-
dant segmented pilose pubescence, stems erect pilose pubescent. Leaves oblong-
lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, long acuminate, yellowish pilose pubescent below,
less so above, with 5-7 pairs of lateral nerves, 7-16 cm. long and 2-6.5 cm. broad,
petioles spreading pilose, short, 1.5-2.5 cm. long; inflorescence few-flowered (1-4),
borne on short peduncles 5-10 mm. long, pedicels 1-2 cm. long; calyx sparsely
pubescent dorsally, divided to the base; calyx lobes ovate or lanceolate-ovate,
obtuse or acute, ciliate, 8-10 mm. long and 4-5 mm. broad, provided with a small
mammillate gland in each sinus; corolla divided almost to the base, glabrous on
both surfaces, the lobes oblong-ovate, obtuse, somewhat cucullate, 8-10 mm. long
WILLIAMS: TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X 49
and 4-5 mm. broad; faucal corona tubular, erect, about 3 mm. high and 3.5 mm.
in diameter, glabrous outside, downy pubescent inside at the apex; anther append-
age fleshy, bilobate; fruit unknown.
Mexico: Carelas near Motozintla, Chiapas, alt. 2,176 m., 27 abril
1945, Matuda 15518 (type F; LL).
The specimen in Lundell Herbarium bears the number 5518 which
Prof. Matuda later changed to 15518. The collection is the same.
There are now six closely allied species in the group of Gonolobus
to which this belongs, all of them in Chiapas and Guatemala, one
extending as far as Nicaragua. They are characterized by a rather
prominent, erect and tubular faucal corona which may be as short as
1 mm. but more often higher. The original one of the group was set
apart by Baillon (Hist. PI. 10: 287. 1891) as Trichostelma.
Most closely related to G. calycosus (Donn.-Sm.) Woodson but
easily distinguished by the smaller calyx and corolla with differently
shaped lobes.
Gonolobus uniflorus HBK. Nov. Gen. & Sp. PL 3: 207, t. 238.
1819. Vincetoxicum uniflorum Standl. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 23:
1192. 1924.
There are a number of names that apply to plants that are very
closely related to G. uniflorus or which are synonymous with it. A
monographic study will show whether they are to be placed together
or how many of them are to be maintained as separate species.
Among the closely related taxa are Gonolobus macranthus Kunze,
G. erianthus Dene., G. luridus Dene., G. nemorosus Dene., and per-
haps others. Much of the Mexican and Guatemalan material we
have separated as G. leianthus Donn.-Sm. which would seem to be
a quite distinct species.
Gonolobus xanthotrichus Brandegee, Zoe 5: 251. 1908. Tri-
chostelma oblongifolius Donn.-Sm. Bot. Gaz. 48: 296. 1909. Vince-
toxicum xanthotrichum Standl. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 23: 1193.
1924. Gonolobus oblongifolius Woodson, Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 28:
243. 1941.
This species is now known to occur in Mexico and Guatemala.
Donnell-Smith's description of Trichostelma oblongifolius was written
from inadequate material but comparison of a fragment from the
type with a specimen of an isotype of Gonolobus xanthotrichus proves
them to be the same.
50 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 32
MARSDENIA R. Br. is to be found in the warmer regions of both
hemispheres. There are fewer than 30 species in tropical North
America of which 15 have been found in Guatemala.
Marsdenia bourgeana (Baill.) Rothe in Engler, Bot. Jahrb. 52:
408. 1915. Pseudomarsdenia bourgeana Baill. Hist. PL 10: 268. 1890.
Marsdenia gymnemoides Rothe, I.e. 409. Marsdenia gilgiana Rothe,
I.e. 410.
Authentic material of all three of the species combined above is
at hand in Field Museum. It leaves little doubt that these are to
be considered as a single species, as they will be in the next part of
the "Flora of Guatemala." The species is most closely allied to
M. mexicana Dene.
Marsdenia cuneata L. Wms. sp. nov.
Lianae suffruticosae glabrae. Folia oblanceolata, acuta vel acuminata, glabra,
basi cuneati, petioli brevi, basi stipulati; inflorescentia axillaris fasciculata, pauci-
multiflora; calyx usque ad basem divisus, lobi ovati vel oblongo-ovati, obtusi, cili-
ato-fimbriati; corolla campanulata, usque ad medium divisa, lobi suborbiculari,
intus obscure pubescens; gynostegium stipitatum; folliculi ignoti.
Suffruticose vines, the stems glabrous, with few lenticular lenticels. Leaves of
a pair subequal, lighter in color below, oblanceolate, acute or acuminate, cuneate
to the base, glabrous, the blades 8-14 cm. long and 2-3 cm. broad, the lateral veins
inconspicuous, petioles to 1.5 cm. long, each provided with 2 narrowly triangular
stipules at the base, these about 0.7 mm. long, interpetiolar lines evident; inflores-
cences axillary, fascicular, several-many-flowered, peduncles very short or none,
pedicels puberulent, 2-4 mm. long; calyx divided to the base, the lobes ovate or
oblong-ovate, obtuse, ciliate-fimbriate, 2-3 mm. long, provided with a small horn-
shaped callus in each sinus; corolla purple, glabrous outside, campanulate, divided
to about the middle, 4-5 mm. long, the lobes suborbicular, 2-2.5 mm. long and as
broad, obscurely pubescent on inner surface; gynostegium stipitate, about 1.5 mm.
long faucal corona obscurely lobate, fleshy, anthers terminated with an inflexed
ovate membrane about 0.5 mm. long; follicles unknown.
Guatemala: vine, corolla lobes deep dull purple, leaves deep green
above, pale green beneath, above canyon of Paso del Boqueron along
Rio Trapichillo below La Libertad, Dept. Huehuetenango, alt. 1,200-
1,300 m., Aug. 21, 1942, Steyermark 51206 (type F).
Most closely related to M. blepharodes Standl. & Steyerm., a spe-
cies also native of the highlands of western Guatemala that has
three or four pairs of quite conspicuous nerves on the under surface
of the leaf while the present species (with more coriaceous leaves)
has no obvious lateral nerves. The calyx lobes are strigillose outside,
merely ciliate in the present species; the cuneate base of the leaf in
WILLIAMS: TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X 51
this extends onto the petiole almost to its attachment while in M.
blepharodes there is a long unwinged petiole.
Marsdenia maculata Hook. f. Bot. Mag. 73: t. ^299. 1847, was
placed by Rothe, in his revision of the genus, as a synonym of M.
macrophylla (Humb. & Bon pi.) Fourn. The plants determined by
Rothe with that name perhaps belong to three or more species.
Hooker's M . maculata seems to be one of these and is represented
certainly by specimens from the Atlantic region of Mexico and Cen-
tral America. A single specimen with flowers is known from Guate-
mala, in the department of Pete"n, Lundell 16062.
Marsdenia pinetorum Standl. & L. Wms. sp. nov.
Lianae herbaceae vel suffruticosae, graciles. Folia anguste oblongo-lanceolata,
acuta, glabra, basi obtusi vel truncati, petioli gracili glabri; inflorescentia axillaris,
cyma pauciflora; lobi calyces oblongo-ovati, obtusi; corolla rotata vel late campan-
ulata, lobi oblong-ovati, obtusi, glabri vel intus puberuli; folliculi ignoti.
Herbaceous or suffrutescent vines, the stems slender, pubescent but soon gla-
brate. Leaves narrowly oblong-lanceolate, acute, obtuse to truncate at the base,
glabrous, veins 6-10 pairs, most conspicuous below on the lighter surface, the blade
3-8 cm. long and 1-3.5 cm. broad, the petioles slender, glabrous, those of a pair sub-
equal, mostly less than 1 cm. long; inflorescence a few-flowered axillary cyme borne
on a peduncle half as long as the subtending leaf, the peduncle crisped pubescent
in lines, pedicels slender, pubescent, to about 1 cm. long; calyx divided nearly to
the base, the lobes oblong-ovate, obtuse, with minute elongated glands within,
ciliolate or not, about 1 mm. long; corolla rotate or broadly campanulate, deeply
lobate, glabrous outside, about 3 mm. long, the lobes oblong-ovate, obtuse, about
2.5 mm. long and 2 mm. broad at the base, glabrous or obscurely puberulent within;
gynostegium about 1 mm. high, corona somewhat thickened; folicles unknown.
Honduras: vine in shrubs in pine-oak forest near Hoya Grande,
drainage of Rio Yeguare, longitude 87° W., latitude 14° N. Dept.
Morazan, alt. 1,500 m., Aug. 17, 1947, Williams & Molina 13272
(typeF;EAP).
Perhaps most closely related to the Guatemalan M. steyermarkii
from which it is distinguished by the small flowers with the smallest
calyx of any Central American species. The deeply-lobed corolla
almost glabrous within is distinctive, as is the lack of dorsal flaps on
the anthers.
Marsdenia tubularis L. Wms. sp. nov.
Lianae suffruticosae pubicaulibus. Folia ovata vel ovato-cordata, acuminata
vel obtusa dense pubescentes; inflorescentiae axillares cymosae folia semilongae
52 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 32
multiflorae; calyx usque ad basem divisum, lobi lineari-lanceolati, acuti; corolla
tubulosa, lobi angusti-oblongi obtusi; folliculi ignoti.
Woody vines, the stems puberulent, becoming glabrous with age, terminal
stems to 5 mm. in diameter. Leaves ovate to ovate-cordate, acuminate to obtuse,
with 5-6 pairs of lateral nerves, densely short crisped pubescent on both sides, the
blades when mature 6-12 cm. long and 5-9 cm. broad, the petioles slender, about
2-3 cm. long; inflorescences axillary, compound cymes half as long as the subtend-
ing leaves, many-flowered; calyx divided to the base, the lobes linear-lanceolate,
acute, substrigose dorsally, about 3.5 mm. long and 1 mm. broad at the base; co-
rolla tubular, sparsely pubescent outside, the tube about 5 mm. long and the nar-
rowly oblong obtuse lobes about 3 mm. long and 1 mm. broad; gynostegium about
3 mm. long; follicles unknown.
Mexico: vine by the river, Temascal tepee, Dist. Temascal tepee,
Mexico, alt. 1,780 m., July 27, 1932, Hinton 1129 (type F) ; vine in
wet barranco, Luvianos, District Temascaltepec, Mexico, May 25,
1933, Hinton 3972 (F).
Allied to the Marsdenia mexicana Dene. — M. bourgeana (Baill.)
Rothe group, but easily distinguished from all the Mexican and
Central American species of the genus by the tubular corolla.
MATELEA Aubl. The genus Matelea in Mexico and Central
America as given by Woodson in his "perspective" is the most hetero-
geneous of the tropical North American Asclepiads. Woodson re-
duced a rather large number of genera to this one, some of which
there is perhaps good reason to retain. A careful generic study of the
Asclepiads in our flora is still needed.
In the course of the work with the kinds of Matelea in Guatemala
quite a few undescribed species were found. These are described in
this paper. I feel that these have accumulated because many bota-
nists are reluctant to study this supposedly difficult family, but in
reality one that is fascinating.
Matelea abbreviata Standl. & L. Wms. sp. nov.
Lianae suffruticosae. Folia lanceolata vel oblongo-lanceolata, breviter acumi-
nata, basem obtusa, glabra, petioli breves; inflorescentia abbreviata, uni-(vel bi-)
flora; calyx usque a basem lobatum, lobi lati ovati, acuti; corolla rotata, leviter
reticulata, lobi late triangulari-ovati, acuti; corona corollae carnosa, 5-lobata;
stigma 5-angulatum; folliculi ignoti.
Woody vines, the stems slender soon becoming corky and suffrutescent, gla-
brous or glabrescent. Leaves lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, shortly acuminate,
mostly obtuse to the base, glabrous, with (usually) 5 small digitiform corneous
glands at the juncture with the petiole, (3-)5-7 cm. long and 1-3 cm. broad, the
petioles short, slender, puberulous or not, mostly 5-8 mm. long; inflorescence axil-
lary or extra axillary, abbreviated, l-(or perhaps rarely more)-flowered, peduncles
WILLIAMS: TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X 53
about 2 mm. long, pedicels about 3 mm. long, obscurely puberulent; calyx lobate
to the base, glabrous, the lobes broadly ovate, acute, about 1-1.5 mm. long and
nearly as broad; corolla rotate, glabrous, about 15 mm. across, divided to about the
middle or a little more, lobes broadly triangular-ovate, acute, each about 10-nerved,
those at the margins obviously reticulate, 5 mm. long and as broad or slightly
broader; faucal corona fleshy, divided into five parts, each part obtusely bilobate
and with two depressions with stigma depressed; gynostegium very short; follicles
unknown.
Honduras: flores amarillas, bejuco sobre arbustos, colinas secas
abajo de Suyapa entre Villa San Roque y Tegucigalpa, Depto. Mora-
zan, alt. 1,200 m., Agosto 1, 1950, Molina 2778 (type F; EAP);
wooded quebrada, large woody vine, Villa San Roque, vicinity of
Suyapa, alt. 1,100-1,200 m., Aug. 1, 1950, Standley 26260 (F; EAP).
This species appears to belong in subgenus Matelea but is easily
distinguished from the other species of the subgenus by the glabrous
leaves merely obtuse at the base and borne on short petioles. The
abbreviated inflorescence of one or at most two flowers is distinctive.
Matelea marsdenioides Standl. & L. Wms. sp. nov.
Lianae herbaceae vel suffruticosae, caules et foliis hirsuto-pubescentis. Folia
oblongo-ovata vel ovata, acuminata, dense hirsuto-pubescens; inflorescentia corym-
bosa, multiflora; calyx usque ad basem divisus, lobi lineari-lanceolati, acuminatis-
simi; corolla subcampanulata, profunde lobata, lobi lanceolati, acuti vel obtusi;
corona in medio gynostegii nata, lacerato-digitata, folliculi ignoti.
Herbaceous or suffrutescent vines with stems and leaves spreading hirsute
pubescent. Leaves oblong-ovate to ovate, acuminate, densely spreading hirsute
on both sides, with about 5 pairs of lateral nerves, blade 5-11 cm. long and 2.5-
5 cm. broad when mature, petioles hirsute, 2-5 cm. long, with about 5 small digiti-
form glands at juncture with blade; inflorescence an extra axillary compound
corymb about as long as the adjacent leaf, many-flowered, densely hispid; flowers
whitish; calyx divided to the base, densely hispid without, glabrous within, with
a digitiform gland in each sinus within, the lobes linear-lanceolate, long acuminate,
4-5 mm. long and 0.7-1 mm. broad; corolla subcampanulate, glabrous outside,
arachnoid pubescent at the base within, deeply lobate, about 7 mm. long, lobes
lanceolate, acute or obtuse, 5-6 mm. long and 2-2.5 mm. broad; corona borne at
the middle of the gynostegium, lacerate-digitate, exceeding the gynostegium; gyno-
stegium stipitate, about 1.5 mm. long; follicles unknown.
Honduras: flores blancas, bejuco sobre arbustos, matorrales hume-
dos de la Quebrada Suyapa, aldea Suyapa. Noreste de Tegucigalpa,
Depto. Morazan, alt. 1,100 m., Agosto 10, 1949, Molina 2561; flores
blanco-gris, bejuco, matorrales humedos de Quebrada Suyapa, Depto.
Morazan, alt. 1,200 m., Agosto 19, 1950, Molina 3209 (type F; EAP) ;
corolla whitish within, veined with green, woody vine over small tree,
wooded stream bank, vicinity of Suyapa, alt. 1,000-1,200 m., Au-
gust 19, 1950, Standley 26477.
54 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 32
This species is most closely allied to Matelea gonoloboides (Rob. &
Greenm.) Woodson and belongs in the subgenus Ibatia of Woodson's
perspective of the genera of Asclepiads (Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 28:
222. 1941). It is easily distinguished from the other species of the
subgenus by the rather open many-flowered inflorescence, similar to
that in Marsdenia bourgeana (Baill.) Rothe.
We distributed these specimens some years ago as an unde-
scribed Marsdenia.
Matelea molinarum L. Wms. sp. nov.
Lianae herbaceae, caules hirsuti. Folia ovata, cordata, breviter acuminata
sparce hirsuta et puberulenta; petioli graciles, hirsuti; inflorescentia cyma sub-
umbelliformis, pauciflora; calyx lobi late lanceolati, acuminati, extus hirsuti intus
glabri; corolla rotata vel lobi reflexi, carnosa, lobi late ovati vel suborbiculari;
corona corollae erecta, carnosa; folliculi subfusiformes spinis ornatis.
Vines of unknown length, the stems spreading hirsute, up to about 4 mm. in
diameter. Leaves ovate, cordate, short acuminate, 4-10 cm. long and 2.5-7 cm.
broad, sparsely fulvous hirsute on both surfaces, especially on the nerves, and with
abundant very short puberulence, petioles slender, spreading hirsute pubescent,
3-4 cm. long; inflorescence axillary or near leaf axils, a few-flowered subumbellate
cyme, abundantly hirsute, peduncles 2-4 cm. long, the pedicels 1-3 cm. long;
flowers small, green; calyx deeply lobed, long hirsute pubescent outside, glabrous
within, lobes broadly lanceolate, acuminate, about 7 mm. long and 3 mm. broad;
corolla rotate, or the lobes reflexed, fleshy, about 1.2-1.5 cm. across, glabrous with-
in, provided with a tuft of hirsute pubescence near the apex outside and with
minute subglabular pubescence, lobes broadly ovate or suborbicular, about 6 mm.
long and 5 mm. broad; faucal corona erect, fleshy, the margin with many small um-
bonate processes, about 1 mm. high; gynostegium stipitate; follicles subfusiform,
10-12 cm. long and 3 cm. in diameter, covered with fleshy spines 1 cm. or less long.
Guatemala: flores verdes, bejuco sobre el matorral del bosque
mixto de Chamal. Margenes del Rio Coban, Depto. Alta Verapaz,
alt. 1,200 m., Mayo 13, 1963, Molina & Molina 12167 (type, F;
EAP) ; small vine, corolla snuff-brown, damp limestone forest along
Pete"n highway, between Campur and Soyoc6, alt. 1,100 m., April 9,
1941, Standley 91707 (F); vine, corolla lobes reflexed, dull orange,
calyx lobes spreading, greenish, top of stigma white, above Finca
San Rafael, Cerro Jolomtac, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, alt. 900-
1,200 m., July 22, 1942, Steyermark 1>911>9 (F).
This species seems to be quite closely related to M. nigrescens
(Schlecht.) Woodson but is easily distinguished superficially by the
glabrous inner face of the corolla as well as by other detail. Dr.
Woodson had named the Steyermark specimen as M. nigrescens and
the Standley specimen as M . pseudobarbata (Pittier) Woodson. The
WILLIAMS: TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X 55
Molinas' specimen will be found in herbaria under M . guatemalensis
(K. Schum.) Woodson.
Matelea picturata (Hemsl.) Woodson in Ann. Mo. Bot. Card.
28: 233. 1941. Gonolobus picturatus Hemsl. in Godman & Salvin,
Biol. Cent. Am. Bot. 2: 332, t. 56, ff. B, 5, 6. 1882.
Guatemala: Cerro de Zunil, Salvin; Volcan Sta. Maria, Steyer-
mark 33810.
The determination of the Steyermark specimen is based upon the
excellent plate cited above. The locality is certainly not more than
a few kilometers from where the Salvins collected the original speci-
men. Dr. Woodson has determined the specimen as M. pittieri
(Standl.) Woodson and an examination of the type of that indicates
that it is very close to M. picturata and possibly a synonym of it.
Matelea pleistantha (Donn.-Sm.) L. Wms. comb, nov. Macro-
scepis pleistantha Donn.-Sm. Bot. Gaz. 20: 543. 1895; Macroscepis
congestiflora Donn.-Sm. I.e. 25: 149. 1898; Matelea congestiflora Wood-
son, Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 28: 224. 1941.
The two species described by Capt. Donnell-Smith are based upon
the same collection, Heyde & Lux 6350, collected near Mataques-
cuintla, department of Santa Rosa.
Most of the material of this species from Central America has
been determined as Matelea obovata (HBK.) Woodson, a relatively
rare Mexican species that seems not to extend into Central America.
Matelea pleistantha, as I understand it, extends from southern Mexico
to Costa Rica. However, it is possible that there is more than one
species involved. This will require monographic study to ascertain.
Matelea pusilliflora L. Wms. sp. nov.
Liana volubilis, herbacea vel suffruticosa, ramosissima. Folia breviter petio-
lata, glabra, lanceolata, acuta vel acuminata, basi truncata vel subcordata; petioli
graciles; inflorescentia axillaris, 1-2-flora, subsessilis; calyx usque ad basem divisus,
glabrus, lobi ovato-lanceolati, acuti; corolla rotata, glabra, lobi orbiculares obtusi;
corona carnosa intus quinqueumbonata; folliculi ignoti.
Slender, glabrous, much branched, herbaceous or suffrutescent vines, stems
becoming 2-edged and finally corky, internodes on old stems short, mostly about
8 cm. long, those on lateral flowering branches mostly 2-3 cm. long. Leaves short
petiolate, glabrous or nearly so, lanceolate, acute or acuminate, truncate to sub-
cordate at the base, lateral nerves 3-5 prominent pairs, these mostly not opposite,
2.5-5 cm. long and 0.8-2.2 cm. broad, petioles slender, 2-10 mm. long, obscurely
56 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 32
puberulent, with 3-5 digitiform calluses at its juncture with the blade; inflores-
cence axillary, 1-2-flowered, nearly sessile, peduncle 1-2 mm. long, pedicel 1-2 mm.
long; flowers smallest of the genus, green with petals white tipped; calyx lobed to
near the base, glabrous lobes ovate-lanceolate, acute, 1.5-2 mm. long; corolla ro-
tate, glabrous, prominently veined, 5-6 mm. broad, lobate to about the middle, the
lobes orbicular, obtuse, about 2 mm. long and as broad, the apex usually white;
corona fleshy, low with thin margin, 5-umbonate within; gynostegium about 1 mm.
broad, the stigma depressed; fruits unknown.
British Honduras: "mosquito whist," vine, flowers green; in high
ridge, near creek, near San Antonio, Toledo District, December 14,
1945, Gentle 5461 (LL); "mosquito whist," coarse whitish color vine,
flowers green, in cohune ridge, between Condemn Branch and Mof-
fredye Lagoon, Toledo District, September 16, 1948, Gentle 6050
(typeLL).
Guatemala: vine, flowers green with petals white tipped; in ra-
monal around sawmill. Tikal, Dept. Pet£n, Oct. 19, 1959, Contreras
299 (LL); vine, flowers green, on ruins in platanar, Tikal, Dept.
Pete"n, Oct. 27, 1959, Contreras 326 (LL).
This is the smallest flowered of all the Mateleas having a rotate
corolla; it is easily distinguished by the nearly sessile 1-2-flowered
inflorescences, the small leaves and short internodes on secondary
branches.
Matelea quirosii (Standl.) Woodson, Ann. Mo. Bot. Card. 28:
224. 1941. Cynanchum rotatum Sesse" & Mocino, Fl. Mex. ed. 2: 70.
1894, non Velloso, 1825. Labidostelma guatemalense Schltr. Bull.
Herb. Boiss. II, 6: 843. 1906, not Matelea guatemalensis Woodson,
1941. Vincetoxicum quirosii Standl. Field Mus. Bot. 18: 959. 1938.
This species, so far as I know, was first collected in Mexico by
Sess£ & Mocino. A specimen of their collection, number 1298, is in
Field Museum and may well be authentic material. The species was
next described from Guatemala as a new genus by Schlechter, — there
is an adequate fragment of the type specimen of this in Field Museum.
It was next described by Standley as a species of Vincetoxicum, of
which we have the not-very-good type specimen. This series of au-
thentic specimens as well as a number of additional ones from Mexico
and Central America indicate that the species occurs at rather low
elevations from southern Mexico to Costa Rica. It has not been
reported from Panama but may be expected along the Pacific.
The illustration shows clearly the very complicated corona and
gynostegium of the species. The photograph is from a herbarium
specimen collected in Mexico by Roe, Roe and Mori, number 494.
WILLIAMS: TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X 57
FIG. 2. Matelea quirosii. Photograph of flower on herbarium specimen (Roe,
Roe & Mori -49.4) > X 3, showing highly evolved gynostegium.
Matelea sylvicola L. Wms. sp. nov.
Lianae herbaceae, caulibus graciles. Folia oblongo-ovata, abrupter acumi-
nata, basi leviter cordata, glabra; iinflorescentia pauciflora, subumbelliformis;
flores grandes; calyx lobi lanceolati, acuminati; corolla rotata pilosa, lobi lanceo-
lati, acuti vel acuminati; corona carnosa 10-lobata umbonibus quinquebus ornatis;
folliculi ignoti.
Herbaceous vines of unknown size, the stems slender, glabrous or with obscure
pubescence in lines, internodes to about 20 cm. long. Leaves oblong-ovate,
abruptly long acuminate, shallowly cordate at the base, completely glabrous, 7-
12 cm. long and 3-5.5 cm. broad, the petiole 3-4 cm. long, bearing at its apex on
base of leaf about 5 small digitiform glands; inflorescence axillary, few-flowered,
subumbelliform, peduncles 6-8 cm. long, pedicels slender and to about 3 cm. long,
both obscurely puberulent; flowers relatively large, about 4 cm. in diameter; calyx
6-8 mm. long, divided nearly to the base, the lobes lanceolate, acuminate, puberu-
lent outside, corolla rotate, divided nearly to the base, obscurely puberulent out-
side, inside prominently pilose toward the center and puberulent, lobes narrowly
lanceolate, acute or acuminate, about 15 mm. long and about 6 mm. broad at the
base; corona fleshy, low, about 10-lobate with principal internal lobes opposite
sinuses of corolla; stigma 2-3 mm. broad, depressed, white; follicles unknown.
58 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 32
Guatemala: im Walde in Pansamala, Alta Verapaz, alt. 4,000 ft.,
August, 1887, Turckheim 680 (type F).
It is curious that this species was not described by Donnell-Smith
or Standley since it was passed by both of them as Gonolobtis pictura-
tus Hemsl. or Matalea picturata (Hemsl.) Woodson, a quite different
species which is beautifully illustrated in Biologia Centrali-Ameri-
cana. The species does belong in subgenus Heliostemma (Woodson,
Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 28: 233. 1941) and is most closely allied to
Matelea pilosa (Benth.) Woodson, a Mexican species. Superficially,
it is easily distinguished by the much larger glabrous leaves, the
smaller and narrow calyx lobes, the "bosses" on the corona are not
digitate.
Matelea urceolata (Karst.) L. Wms. comb. nov. Macroscepis
urceolata Karsten, Fl. Col. 2: 115, t. 161. 1866.
Costa Rica: Carrillos de Poas, Prov. Alajuela, Nov. 16, 1939,
Quiros 884"
This Costa Rica specimen matches almost exactly the superb
plate in Karsten's Florae Columbiae. Inadequate specimens indicate
that the species may reach to Nicaragua and Honduras.
Matelea stellulifera Standl. & L. Wms. (Ceiba 1: 245. 1951), from
Costa Rica, is very near if not the same as M. urceolata.
Matelea urophylla L. Wms. sp. nov.
Lianae herbaceae vel suffruticosae, hirsutae. Caules pubescentia fulva, hispida
ornata; folia ovato-lanceolata, longe caudato-acuminata, basi cordata, utrinque
hispida; inflorescentia brevis, 1-pauciflora; calyx usque ad basim divisa, lobi ovato-
lanceolata, acuminata, extus hispida; corolla rotata puberulenta, lobi ovati, ob-
tusi; corona annularis, margo minute segmentatus; folliculi ignoti.
Herbaceous or perhaps suffrutescent hirsute vines. Stems terete, hispid with
fulvous hairs, becoming glabrous, about 2 mm. in diameter at growing ends; leaves
ovate-lanceolate, long caudate-acuminate, shallowly cordate at the base, densely
hirsute pubescent with long fulvous segmented hairs, especially so along the mid-
vein dorsally, blade 9-11 cm. long and 4-5 cm. broad, petioles with spreading hir-
sute pubescence, mostly about 2 cm. long, inflorescence short, 1-few-flowered, the
peduncle up to 1 cm. long, the pedicels shorter; calyx divided to the base, densely
hirsute outside, glabrous within, the lobes ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, about
5 mm. long and 2 mm. broad; corolla rotate, conspicuously puberulent on both
sides, lobed beyond the middle, up to 3 cm. across, lobes ovate, obtuse, about
10 mm. long and 8 mm. broad; corona annular, free at the margin but strongly
adnate to the corolla, minutely divided into segment (bead-like); stigma pentag-
onal, the gynostegium about 3 mm. across; follicles unknown.
WILLIAMS: TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X 59
Honduras: flores cafe"-violaceo, bejuco, bosque lluvioso de Mon-
tana de Cusuco, Cordillera de Idalfonso, Depto. Cortes, alt. 1,500-
2,000 m., May 26, 1956, Molina 7239 (type F; EAP).
A member of the subgenus Matelea quite distinctive in its rotate
flower with annular corona with a "beaded" margin. The fulvous
pubescence on leaves with a long (up to 1.5 cm.) apical tail will help
to distinguish the species.
Matelea velutina (Schlecht.) Woodson in Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard.
28: 234. 1941. Gonolobus velutinus Schlecht. Linnaea 8: 521. 1883.
Vincetoxicum velutinum Standl. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 23: 1189.
1924. V. gentlei Lundell & Standl. Field Mus. Bot. 17: 269. 1937.
Matelea gentlei Woodson, I.e.
This species, as it will be treated in the "Flora of Guatemala," is
a quite variable one. It is apparently widely distributed in south
Mexico, Guatemala, and British Honduras and extends from rather
low elevations to nearly 2,000 meters. There is considerable varia-
tion in the size of flowers; the calyx lobes vary from quite small ones
in some of the material from British Honduras (±3-4 mm. long and
obtuse) to ones that are twice as large and even somewhat acute.
Monographic study of this complex may prove that there are really
two species involved but I do not find a point at which the smaller
flowered ones can be distinguished from the ones that have larger
flowers for there seems to be an almost complete series.
SARCOSTEMMA. A monographic treatment of "The American
Species of Sarcostemma R. Br." by Dr. Richard W. Holm is one of
the few modern studies in the Asclepiadaceae (Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard.
37:477-560. 1950).
Sarcostemma bellum Standl. & L. Wms. Ceiba 1: 90. 1950.
Dr. Holm has reduced this species to S. bilobum Hook. & Arn.
ex char., in his monograph of the genus. The type of the species is
said to be in Field Museum Herbarium but it is not there. It may
have been in a shipment of specimens that was lost. Molina 161+3
collected at the same time and place as Standley 14.81 1+ is available
and indicates that the reduction may not be justified.
Sarcostemma refractum (Donn.-Sm.) L. Wms. comb. Nov.
Philibertia refracta Donn.-Sm. Bot. Gaz. 18: 207. 1893.
60 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 32
Mexico: municipio of Tenejapa, Chiapas, alt. 2,300 m., July 13,
1965, Breedlove 10891 (F; DS); same general locality, 1,680 m.,
July 17, 1965, Breedlove 11659 (F, DS).
Guatemala: Santiago, Sacatepe'quez, Rosalio Gomez 787 (US;
photo F); San Mateo Ixtatan, Huehuetenango, alt. 1,800 m., Au-
gust 7, 1965, Breedlove 11659 (F; DS); mountain slopes south of
Nebaj, Quiche", alt. 2,000 m., July 19, 1964, Proctor 25175 (LL);
Rio de las Violetas, north of Nebaj, Quiche", alt. ±1,800 m., August 2,
1964, Proctor 25388 (LL).
Holm in his monograph of the American species of Sarcostemma
placed Philibertia refracta Donn.-Sm. as a synonym of Sarcostemma
bilobum, I think incorrectly. Sarcostemma bilobum subsp. bilobum is a
species of the lowlands of southern Mexico and Central America,
with broadly ovate-cordate to orbicular leaves having the basal lobes
convergent; the lobes of the corolla not ciliate and lanceolate to nar-
rowly ovate; the corona ring prominent and about 1 mm. high; the
vesicles quite obtuse and widest above the middle. Sarcostemma re-
fractum is a species of the highlands of Guatemala and adjacent
Mexico and has oblong-lanceolate to oblong-ovate leaves shallowly
cordate at the base and with the lobes diverging; the lobes of the
corolla are ovate, prominently ciliate with crisped hairs, especially
on one margin; the corona ring is inconspicuous and less than 0.5 mm.
high; the vesicles are differently shaped, widest near the apex and
diverging.
MARCGRAVIACEAE
Norantea sessilis L. Wms. sp. nov.
Planta viminea suffruticosa epiphytica. Folia coriacea, elliptica vel late ellip-
tica, acuta, apiculata, nerviis lateralibus usque ad 25, petioli perbrevis; inflores-
centia spicata, multiflora; flores parvi sessiles; lobi calycis suborbiculares imbricati
cucullati; petala oblongo-ovata obtusa prope basem connata; bracteae unguicu-
latae et saccatae.
Epiphytic woody vines. Stems glabrous, 4-5 mm. in diameter; leaves coria-
ceous, elliptic to broadly elliptic, acute and apiculate, 7-9 cm. long and 2.5-3.7 cm.
broad, with about 25 pairs of inconspicuous lateral nerves, petiole short, about
2 mm. long, with 2 inconspicuous glands dorsally above the junctures of the peti-
ole; inflorescence spicate, with many small flowers borne in loose spirals and each
in the axis of a saccate bract, the bracts soon deciduous; flowers small, sessile, the
calyx lobes suborbicular, imbricated, cucullate, about 1 mm. long and as broad,
about 5 to 7 in number; corolla with 5 oblong-ovate obtuse petals connate at the
base, about 2 mm. long and 1.5 mm. broad; floral bracts inserted below fertile
flowers unguiculate at the base and formed into a saccate hood above, the claw
about 5-8 mm. long and the saccate hood to 15 mm. long; stamens mostly eight,
WILLIAMS: TROPICAL AMERICAN PLANTS, X 61
inserted on the base of the petals and with the filaments adnate, shorter than the
petals; stigma sessile.
Nicaragua: high -climbing woody vine, nectaries becoming dark
red at anthesis, ca. 3.1 km. N. of base camp; — Base Camp 3.6 km.
S.E. Cerro San Isidro, Rio Cama, Rio Escondido, lat. 12° 05'-12° 15'
(N), long. 83°45'-84°20' W, alt. 0-65 m., March 27, 1966, Proctor,
Jones & Facey 27267 (type F; NY).
There have been five species of Norantea described from Central
America, and possibly a sixth from Panama described as a Ruyschia.
Norantea anomala HBK. was described from "inter tropicos Ameri-
canae." Doubtless a Nicaraguan specimen was seen along with
South American material. The present species seems to be most
closely allied to N. anomala HBK. but based on the illustration
(HBK. Nova Gen. et Sp. PL 7: 218, t. 547 bis. 1825) would seem to
be amply distinct. The leaves of our species have a very short petiole,
almost none, are smaller and differently shaped, the inflorescence
contains no sterile flowers, details of the flowers are quite different.
The spicate inflorescence is unusual in the family as are also the
fertile flowers borne in the axils of the fleshy, saccate, floral bracts.
RUBIACEAE
Chione costaricensis Standl. Field Mus. Bot. 22: 111. 1940.
Nicaragua: small tree 6.5 m., Cerro San Isidro, Rio Kama, Rio
Escondido, Dept. Bluefields, alt. 0-65 m., March 26, 1966, Proctor,
Jones & Facey 27260 (F; NY).
The genus is new to Nicaragua. The Costa Rican type came from
an altitude of 825 m. while the present one is from near sea level. The
flowers of this specimen have a six-lobate corolla and six anthers.
Publications 1052, 1053, 1054, and 1055