10 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
3. Polianthes sessilifiora (Ilemsl.) Rose. 
Lravoa sessiliflora Hemsl. Diag. Pl. Noy. 8:54. 1880. 
We have a duplicate type of this species in the National Herbarium. It is only 
known from the type collection made by Parry & Palmer in 1878. , 
4. Polianthes nelsoni Rose, sp. nov. . 
Bulbs oblong; bulb coats thin, sparingly nodose; stems about 4 dm. high, erect, 
glabrous; basal leaves several, linear, serrulate on the margins; stem leaves much 
reduced; flowers (in specimens seen) 2 to 5 pairs, sessile; bract subtending each pair 
of flowers narrowly ovate, long-acuminate; perianth tube about 5 em. long, strongly 
curved downward near the middle, very slender below, white; lobes short and rounded 
at apex; filament 5 mm. long, about one-half as long as the anthers, attached near 
the top of the tube; stigmas exserted. 
Specimens examined: 
Durango: Near Durango City, FE. W. Nelson, August 1, 1898 (no. 4630, type); on 
road between Guadalupe y Calvo and Paral, E. W. Nelson, September 11, 
1898 (no. 4972). 
5. Polianthes longifiora Rose, sp. nov. 
A tall plant, glabrous; flowers in 8 to 5 distant pairs; perianth 6 to 10 em. long, 
rather slender below, white or tinged with purple, curved above the middle, the 
mouth somewhat irregular; segments broad, oblong, 2. cm. long, obtuse; anthers 
slender, 10 to 12 mm. long, sessile. 
This species was found in great abundance during the later part of August, 1901, in 
the market at Guadalajara (Rose, no. 6290). It is brought in by the Indians from a 
great distance, and sold as ‘“nardo,’’ the Spanish name for the common tuberose. 
6. Polianthes pringlei Rose, sp. nov. 
Bulbs small, 2 em. long; stems 2 to 3 dm. high, erect, glabrous throughout; basal 
leaves about 6, linear, erect, 1 to 3 mm. wide; stem leaves 3, the upper ones much 
reduced; flowers (in specimens seen) 3 to 4 pairs, all sessile; perianth 4.5 to 6 em. 
long, becoming curved near the middle, 
white, sometimes drying purplish; seg- 
ments linear, the lower one more deeply 
cut, 10 to 15 mm. long, rounded at apex; 
filaments short, inserted near the top of 
YW the tube. 
Zap Jollected by Mr. C. G. Pringle on moist 
hills near Guadalajara, August 23, 1893 
(no. 5438, type), and obtained in the mar- 
ket place of Guadalajara, August 24, 1901 
. 
(no. 6291). 
a This is one of the species brought in by 
\) the Indians for sale under the name of 
YS) “nardo.’’ The flowers are very fragrant. 
The species ought to be introduced into 
QD cultivation, 
7. Polianthes tuberosa L. Sp. Pl. 1: 
316. 1753. FIGURE 3. 
Stems in clusters, 10 dm. high; basal 
leaves several, 3 to5 dm. long, 6 to 15mm. 
broad, bright green, reddish near the base; inflorescence a lax spike; corolla pure 
waxy white; tube 3m. long, bent only near the base; lobes oblong, 15 mm. long, 
obtuse; filaments inserted on the upper part of the corolla; tube shorter than lower 
part of the anthers. 
Description drawn from cultivated specimens, 
FiGc,.3.—Flowers of Polianthes tuberosa, natural 
size, 
