454 



CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



Panama: In dark forests near the village of San Lorenzo, Veraguas, Seemann; 

 Panama (Herb. Fac. Sci. Monspel.). 



Costa Rica: Upper forests at El Rodeo de Pacaca, alt. about 1,000 meters, Pit- 

 tier, male flowers only, December, 1892 (Instituto ffs. geog. Costa Rica, no. 1634). 



Guatemala: Teocinte (Sta. Rosa) alt. about 830 meters, Heyde & Lux, male flowera 

 only, December, 1892 (Donnell Smith distribution, no. 4315). 



It is by no means certain that the tree met with in Costa Rica and Guatemala rep- 

 resents the species described first by Seemann from San Lorenzo de Chiriqui. If 

 this proves to be really the case, then Seemann's description will be shown to be very 

 inaccurate. 



Rheedia magnifolia Pittier, sp. nov. 



A forest tree 15 to 20 meters high. Trunk 35 to 40 cm. in diameter. Crown elongate. 

 Floriferous branchlets thick, laterally compressed, longitudinally striate-grooved when 

 dry. 



Leaves very large, thick and coriaceous. Petiole thick, 1.5 to 2 cm. long, with a 

 broad, bulging foveola on the axillary side of the base. Leaf blade ovate-elliptic, 

 rounded at base, shortly acuminate at tip, 35 to 40 cm. long, 15 to 20 cm. broad, dark 

 green above, brownish-glaucous and finely puncticulate beneath. Main nerve very 



prominent and with an acute edge on 

 the lower side, the lateral ones parallel, 

 anastomosed transversely, 6 to 12 mm. 

 distant, all merging into a marginal 

 vein. 



Male flowers in fascicles of 2 or 3 (?) 

 in the axils of fallen leaves. Pedicels 

 3 cm. long. Sepals 2, ovate-rounded, 

 5 mm. broad and long, connate. Petals 

 4, ovate, narrowing at base into a short 

 claw, rounded at tip, 11 to 12 mm. 

 long, 7 to 10 mm. broad, pale yellow. 

 Stamens numerous (about 30), inserted 

 at the base of a central disk; filaments 

 rather thick, nearly 4mm. long, anthers 

 small (about 0.5 mm. long and broad), 

 basifix. Disk about 4.5 mm. in diam- 

 eter, hemispherical with a muriculate surface. Female flowers not known. 



" Fruits ovoid, about 6 cm. long and 4.5 cm. in diameter, with a smooth, yellow 

 skin. Seeds large, surrounded by an acidulous sweet pulp, edible and quite palat- 

 able" (MS. notes). 



Type in the U. S. National Herbarium, no. 578033, collected in forests above Rio 

 Hondo near Matina at an altitude of 400 meters, August, 1901, by H. Pittier. Male 

 flowers and fruits only. Same in Instituto ffs, geog. Costa Rica, no. 16165. 



This species differs from any of the group Eurheedia by its enormous leaves, much 

 larger and broader than in R. macrophylla, and broader than in R. longifolia, and also 

 by the size of its male flowers, the few-flowered inflorescences, and the dimensions 

 of the fruits. On account of its fruit, the taste of which is agreeable and refreshing, 

 this species is indicated for cultivation and improvement in warm, humid climates. 

 Rheedia intermedia Pittier, sp. nov. Figure 81. 



A tree. Branchlets subterete or depressed. Internodes 3 to 11 cm. long. 

 Leaves rather largo, when newly spread of a deep reddish color. Petioles about 2 cm. 

 long, rather thick, broadly canaliculate above and with an acute edge below. Leaf 

 blades elliptic-acuminate, cuneate-rounded at base, 15 to 23 cm. long, 5 to 7 cm. broad; 

 main nerve prominent on both faces and with a sharp edge beneath; primary veins 



Fig. 81.— Rheedia intermedia, flower and details, a, 

 Hermaphrodite or female flower; 6, sepal; ei and 

 c 1 the exterior, c 3 and c* the interior petals; d, sta- 

 mens; e, ovary and disk; /, vertical section of same. 

 Scale ;i. 



