ROSE—MEXICAN AND CENTRAL AMERICAN PLANTS. 321 
STERCULIACEAE. 
TWO NEW SPECIES OF AYENIA. 
Ayenia nelsoni Rose, sp. nov. 
Shrub 60 to 90 cm. high; branches densely hirsute; leaves lanceolate, 7 to 10 cm. 
long, densely soft stellate tomentose beneath, the pubescence not quite so soft or 
dense above; flowers ‘‘dark maroon red;’’? peduncles numerous in the leaf axils; 
buds acuminate; sepals 3 to 4mm. long, lanceolate, acuminate; blade of petal small, 
1 to 2 mm. long, deeply notched at base, the lobes obtuse; ovary densely lanate; 
style as long as ovary; stipe wanting. 
Collected by E. W. Nelson on roadside between San Ricardo and Ocozantla , Chiapas, 
August 18, 1895 (no. 2982). 
Resembling A. berlandieri, but with smaller flowers, more pubescent leaves, shorter 
stipes to the fruit, ete. 
Ayenia compacta Rose, sp. nov. 
A low compact shrub, 10 cm. or less high, much branched at base; young branches 
clothed with a short crisped pubescence; leaves small, 1 em. long, ovate, serrate, 
covered on both sides with small stellate hairs; peduncles solitary, axillary, naked, 
pubescent, 3 to 4 mm. long; fruit 4 mm. high, slightly pubescent and covered with 
short brown papillee; stipe very distinct, 2 mm. long. 
Collected, by Dr. E. Palmer near Santa Rosalia, Lower California, March 15, 1890 
(no. 268) and distributed as A. microphylla. It differs, however, from the last named 
species in the texture of the leaves, in the fruit, ete. 
A NEW MELOCHIA. 
Melochia arida Rose, sp. nov. 
Shrub 30 to 60 em. high; leaves ovate, obtuse, thickish, strongly nerved beneath, 
deeply furrowed above, 2 to 4 cm. long, short-petioled, densely stellate; flowers very 
fragrant, purplish, medium size; fruit oblong, 5-winged, nearly truncate at base, 
abruptly acuminate. Type collected by J. N. Rose in yards in the town of Guaymas, 
June 5, 1897 (no. 1205); also from the same station by Dr. E. Palmer. 
It was referred to M. tomentosa by Dr. Watson. 
This species differs from Dr. Watson’s M. speciosa from the same region in several 
striking respects including size of flowers and leaf and fruit characters. 
THEACEAE. 
THE MEXICAN SPECIES OF TAONABO.* 
I have followed the treatment as given by Ign. v. Szyszylowicz in 
Engler and Prantl’s Pflanzenfamilien in taking up the older name 
Taonabo for the somewhat more familiar one of Ternstroemia. 
Mr. Hemsley recognizes but 5 species of Ternstroemia from Mexico 
and Central America, all of which until recently have been wanting in 
the National Herbarium. Our recent large consignments of Mexican 
plants have not only supplied some of these species, but have added 
«Taonabo Aubl. Pl. Gui. 1: 569. pls, 227, 228. 1775. 
Ternstroemia Mutis; L. f. Syst. Veg. Suppl. 39. 1781. 
Type species of Ternstroemia 7. meridionalis Mutis; Taonabo based on two species 
T. dentata and T. punetata, 
17667—VvoL vir, pt 4—05 
