314 H. Pittier. 
3-partitus, loculis 2—4-spermis indehiscentibus. Semina parva, obo- 
voideo-complanata. — Arbor excelsa, ligno molli, albo, libro tenaciter 
fibroso. Folia alterna, 3-nervia, remote serrata, stipulata.  [nflores- 
centia eymosa, pauciflora, axillaris vel terminalis; flores albo-purpuras- 
centes. 
Species unica in Isthmo interamericano obtecta. 
Goethalsia is closely related to Colona!), an eastern Asiatic genus, the 
type of which, C. serratifolia Cav. is endemic in the Philippine Islands. 
The genera have in common the general structure of the flowers, the 
four 2-seriate ovules in each cell, and the division of the fruit into 
several separate coccules. In Goethalsia, however, the petals have less 
than half the length of the sepals and bes;des they are unguiculate, 
gibbose or pitted, and the beautiful discoid basal gland of Colona is 
replaced by a peculiar glandular coating of the clawlet. In the fruit, 
the form of which is also somewhat distinct, we have always 3 coccules 
and these contain not 1, but mostly 4 seeds each, the reduced number 
of 2 having been found in a few cases only. These differential cha- 
racters, and the two widely separate areas of geographical distribution, 
seem to be sufficient to establish the generic status of our Isthmian tree, 
even though the fundamental distinction, as derived from the comparative 
structure of the embryo, still remains doubtful. 
This new genus is named in honor of Col. George W. Goethals, 
as a tribute of admiration for his stupendous work as builder of the 
Canal of Panama, and in recognition of his kindly aid to the furtherance 
of the Isthmian Biological Survey. 
4. Goethalsia isthmica Pittier, spec. nov. 
Ramulis teretibus, verrueulosis griseis plus minusve villosis; foliis 
petiolo breve tereti purpuraceo-villoso, stipulis linearibus obtusis minute 
tomentosis, lamina ovata vel ovato-lanceolata, basi subacuta vel rotun- 
data, apice acuminata margine remote serrata, supra sparse stellato- 
punctata, subtus albido-tomentosa; sepalis late linearibus basi rotundatis 
apice obtusis, extus villosis vel longe adpresse pilosis, intus purpuras- 
centibus, quam petalis duplo longioribus; petalis unguiculatis ovato-acu- 
minatis, intus ad basin laminae villosis; gynophoro villoso-tomentoso; 
staminibus quam petalis brevioribus; ovario dense tomentoso; fructu 
plus minusve globoso, extrinsecus corrugato, cocculis late alatis, apice 
emarginatis, glabris. 
Arbor circa 15 m alta, basi 0,35 —40 cm diametiens. Stipulae 3 mm 
longae; petiolus 0,8—1,8 cm longus; lamina 9-18 cm longa, 2,5—7 em 
lata. Pedunculi ca. 7 mm, pedicelli fere 8 mm longi. Sepala 12,5 mm 
longa, 2,5—3 mm lata, obscure 8-nerviis. Petala plus minusve 5 mm 
longa, 1,7—2 mm lata. Gynophorum 1,7 mm longum, apice 2,2 mm 
') Colona Cav, is used here in place of Columbia Pers. because the 
substitution of names made by Persoon does not appear to be justified, the 
first one being just as good as the latter. 
