208 



For a number of years past this species has been cultivated in Washington, both 

 in the greenhouses and in the gardens. In the greenhouses it grows luxuriantly 

 under the benches. The foliage is of a glossy bright green, and in all eases the 

 flowers have been white, usually appearing singly. 



For a full discussion of this species and its relationships with T. leiandra see Rose 

 in volume 3 of this publication, pages 322, 323. 



Treleasea leiandra (Torr.) Rose, nom. nov. Tradescantia leiandra Torr. Bot. Mex. 

 Hound. 224. 1859. 



Roots slender, fibrous-thickened ; stems erect, somewhat branching, slender, gla- 

 brous, somewhat naked above; leaves distinct, narrowly lanceolate, 7.5 to 12.5 

 (perhaps more) cm. long, 12 mm. wide, sharply acute, with margins not scabrous; 

 margin of sheath glabrous or nearly so; involucral leaves 2, ovate, acuminate, 2.5 to 

 3.5 cm. long, very unlike the lower leaves; umbel sessile, many -flowered; pedicels 

 and sepals densely villose; filaments smooth; capsule oval, somewhat 3-lobed, stipi- 

 tate; cells 3, 2-seeded; seeds 1 mm. in diameter, slightly rugose. 



Collected by Bigelow in mountains and moist rocky places at Puerto do Paysano, 

 Tex., September 18, 1854 (?) (No. 1500), and by V. Havard at Capote Creek, Texas, 

 September, 1883 (No. 79). 



Treleasea tumida (Lindley) Hose, nom. nov. Tradescantia tumida Lindiey, Bot. Reg. 

 26: t. 4!. 1810. Tradescantia virginiana tumida Clark, in DC. Monogr. I'han. 

 3:291. 1881. 



The figure cited above, although very unsatisfactory, seems to represent the same 

 species as I collected on the western border of the Mexican table-lands. It has the 

 same reddish (lowers borne in dense axillary clusters, and the petalsrfaper down into 

 claws (here represented as united). The leaves are also described as purple beneath. 

 This illustration of Lindley's was made from a plant which tlowered in the garden 

 of the Horticultural Society in 1839. 



Nothing more of the history of the plant is given than that it came from Mexico. 

 It is not unlikely that this plant was sent in by Hartweg from the same region from 

 which mine came. In 1830 and 1838 he visited Bolanos and the neighboring region 

 and was sending many plants home to the Horticultural Society, by whom he had 

 been sent to Mexico. I should state, however, that 1 have looked through Hartweg's 

 lists of plants, which he said were growing in the gardens, without finding any 

 mention of a Tradescantia. 



The following redescription of this species is based upon my own specimens, both 

 herbarium and living: 



Stem from tuberous-thickened roots, rather low, very succulent, often very 

 compact; leaves oblong, 12 to 18 cm. long, acute, more or less pubescent; flowers 

 borne in dense axillary and terminal clusters; pedicels about 10 mm. long, gla- 

 brous; sepals glabrous or nearly so, oblong, 8 mm. long; petals pink; stamens 

 slightly hairy; capsule b tip it ate, reflexed; hairy at tip. 



This species seems to be common in damp, sheltered places in the western table- 

 land regions of Mexico, especially in canyons and along cliffs. It was first brought 

 in by Mr. Goldman, and afterwards collected by myself. 



Collected by J. N. Rose at San Juan Capistrano, Zacatecas, August 23, 1897 (No. 

 2486); near Monte Escobedo, Zacatecas, August 27 (No. 2060), and at Bolanos, Sep- 

 tember It) to 19 (No. 2890). 



Specimens are now growing in the Uotanical Garden at Washington. This species 

 is so common in the table-laud region of Mexico that it seems strange that it is not 

 in the recent collections from Mexico. 



Clark's reference of this species as a variety of T. virginiana and statement that it 

 can hardly bo distinguished from var. Jiexuosa (T.pilosa) can not be entertained. 



