173 



PERIPTERA. 



The genus Periptera 1 lias recently been treated by both Schumann 

 and E. (1. Baker, our best authorities on this order, as only of sub- 

 generic importance. The discovery of a second species showing even 

 more marked difference from Anoda than the first strengthens the 

 reasons for considering Periptera as distinct from Anoda. 



The flowers are of the Malvaviscus and Hibiscus type, and in this 

 respect it differs more from Anoda than Anoda does from Sida. 



Bentham and Hooker, who merely list the genus among the doubtful 

 ones of the order, state that it is very similar to species of Abutilon. 



The previous history of the genus is that of the one known species. 

 It has been referred to three different genera 

 and published under six combinations. 



The history, in detail, is as follows : In 1813 

 it was named Sida rubra by Tenore, but not 

 described; in 1814 it was figured and de- 

 scribed by Sims as Sida periptera; in 1810 it 

 was named Anoda punicea by Lagasca, and 

 in 1821, by Kunth, A. incarnata. In 1<SL>4, 

 De (Jandolle identified the first three names, 

 (•(instructing for them the genus Periptera 

 and using the combination P. punicea; but 

 I)e (Jandolle also continued Kunth's name 

 under Anoda. This dual course was followed 

 by Don (in 1831) and Hemsley (in 1879). 



Dr. K. Schumann, in the Flora Brasiliana 

 (fasc. 109, p. 357), made Periptera a section 

 of Anoda, and has been followed by Mr. E. (i. 

 Baker (1892) and others. As I have stated above, it appears to me that 

 it deserves to be restored to generic rank. 



Mr. Baker has seen my specimens, and in the light of better material 

 agrees with me in the advisability of restoring Periptera. He says: 

 " I followed K. Schumann in reducing it to a section of Anoda. Of 

 course there are very obvious differential characters, the most notice- 

 able being the exserted staminal column." 



The two species, then, are as follows: 



Periptera periptera (Sims) Rose. Sida rubra Tenore, Cut. Ort. Nap. 96. 1813. 



Name only. Sida periptera Sims, Bot. Mag. 40: 1. 1644. 1814. Anoda punicea 



Lag. Nov. Gen. 21. 1816. Anoda incarnata II. B. K. Nov. Gen. ot Sp. 5 : 266. 



1821. Periptera punicea DC. Prodr. 459. 1824. Sida malvaviscus DC. Prodr. 



1:459. 1824. Figure 29. 



Collected by J. N. Rose in the mountains west of Bolanos, Jalisco, September 15 

 to 17, 1897 (No. 2945), and between Bolaiios and Guadalajara, September 21, 1897 

 (No. 3046). 



Fig, 29. — Periptera periptera. a, 

 Flower; b, Hinylo petal — both nat- 

 ural sizo. 



'DC. Prodr. 1:449. 1824. 



