8 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
been permitted to see them. They show clearly that Z. pumila is not congeneric 
with the type species of Neotreleasea, but that its relationships are more nearly with 
true Zebrina. The two have in common a terminal cluster of flowers subtended by 
a two-leaved spathe, a narrow tubular corolla, and widely separated anther cells, ete. 
AMARYLLIDACEAE. 
REVISION OF POLIANTHES WITH NEW SPECIES.’ 
Polianthes tuberosa has heen cultivated for more than four hundred 
years, but its real home is unknown. It has been assigned both to 
Asia and America. Its allies are all Mexican, although it does not 
seem to have had its origin in any of the wild species known to the 
writer, unless it be 2. gracilis. It has been reported from the higher 
Andes of South America, and if really not Mexican is probably of 
South American origin. 
Bravoa geminifiora is quite unlike /?. tuberosa in its short, red, 
cylindrical perianth tube, and were these species the only ones to be 
considered, Bravoa might well be kept distinct from Polianthes. With 
the material on hand I can not find any character or group of characters 
which will justify doing this. The best character which I find to base a 
separation of these supposed genera upon is the elongation and bend- 
ing of the tube, but this would throw 72? fuberosa and P. gemini flora 
into the same group. While I have been very reluctant to combine 
these two genera, whose distinctness so far as Iam aware has never 
yet been questioned, I think that their separation hitherto has been 
partly due to lack of knowledge of the so-called species of Bravoa, 
Even Dr. J. G. Baker, whose excellent handbook is indispensable to 
every student of this group, has not clearly distinguished Bravoa, 
He describes 4 species which now belong to 3 genera, but which, if 
Bravoa is retained, must be distributed among as many genera as 
species. As I understand the genus Polianthes it is composed of 11 
or 12 species. 
KEY TO SPECIES. 
Perianth tube elongated (3 to 6 em. long), bent near the middle. 
Mouth of tube regular; lobes nearly equal. 
Leaves broad, 10 to 15 min. long; perianth & cm. or more broad... .. 1. P. palustris. 
Leaves narrow, 8 to 5mm. broad; perianth tube 3 to 4.6 cin, long. 
Bracts broadly ovate, acute or shortly acuminate, stigmas included. 
Flowers longer than the next, becoming purplish. ...--..-----2. P. durangensis. 
Flowers larger than the last, white........2.-..-..--..------.0. DP. sessiliflora. 
Bracts narrowly ovate, long-acuminate; stigmas evserted .........--- 4. P. nelsoni. 
Mouth of tube irregular; lobes unequal. 
Perianth 6 to 10 em. long; anthers sessile... . 00.20 eee e ee eee eee 5. P. longiflora. 
Perianth 5 cm, or less long; anthers not sessile. ....--+---.++-------- 6. P. pringler. 
“Polianthes L. Sp. Pl. 1: 316. 1753. 
Bravos Lex. in Llave. & Lex. Noy. Veg. Desc. 1: 6, 1824. 
Type of Polianthes, P. tuberosa L. loc. cit.; of Bravoa, B. geminiflora Lex. loe. cit. 
