STANDLEY—-MEXICAN AND CENTRAL AMERICAN FICUS. 27 
Nelson 2562 (N, G). Between Pochutla and Plunia, alt. 150 to 750 meters, 
March, 1895, Nelson 2462 (N,G). Huanchilla, Nochixtlan, alt. 2,000 meters, 
June, 1901, Conzatii & Gonzdles 1205 (G). Cerro San Antonio, alt. 1,600 
meters, October, 1906, Conzatti 1592 (F). Guatulco, Liebmann (G, type 
collection of Urostigma turbinatum). 
Veracruz: Orizaba, Botteri 425 (G); July, 1857, Mohr & Botteri 425 (N). Zacua- 
pan, March, 1912, Purpus 6625 (N, G, F, C). Maloapam, Liebmann (G). 
Papantla to Zamora, March, 1898, Goldman 92 (G). Wartenberg, 1858, 
Ervendberg 332 (G). 
TaBasco: San Juan Bautista, June, 1889, Rovirosa 513 (N). 
GuatemaLa: Between Salamé and Rabinal, May, 1904, Cook & Doyle 281 (N). 
Salama, June, 1904, Cook 267 (N). Cubilquitz, Department of Alta Verapaz, 
alt. 350 meters, May, 1901, von Tiirckheim (J. D. Smith, no. 7981) (N, G); 
August, 1900, von Tiirekheim (J. D, Smith, no. 7774) (N, G). Cenaguilla, 
Department of Santa Rosa, alt. 1,300 meters, November, 1892, Heyde & Lux 
(J. D. Smith, no. 4402) (N, G). Joyabaj, May, 1906, Cook 21 (N). Near 
Guatemala City, July, 1860, Hayes (G). Hills along the southern shore of 
Lake Amatitlan, alt. 1,350 meters, April, 1905, Pittier 110 (N). 
Ex Satvapor: Without definite locality, Renson 71 (N). 
Nicaracua: Without definite locality, Wright (N, G). 
Costa Rica: San José, alt. 1,000 meters, November, 1901, Pittier 16217 (N); 
November, 1910, Tonduz d&: Jiménez 17539 (N). San Francisco de Guada- 
lupe, alt. 1,200 meters, August, 1897, Tonduz 11299 (N). Portail de la 
Hacienda Belmira, prés Santa Marfa de Dota, alt. 1,450 meters, January, 
1898, Tonduz 11650 (N). San Pedro, prés San Ramén, alt. 1,300 meters, 
April, 1913, Tonduz 17655 (N). Entre San Pedro et le Tremedal, prés San 
tamon, alt. 1,200 to 1,300 meters, April, 1913, Tonduz 17674 (N, F). Cartago, 
alt. 1,275 meters, April, 1894, J. D. Smith 4936 (N); October, 1887, Cooper 
(J. D. Smith, no. 5947B) (N). Aguacaliente, May, 1890, Pittier 2517 (N). 
Panama: El Boquete, Chiriquf, alt. 1,000 to 1,300 meters, March, 1911, Pittier 
2923 (N), 2889 (N). 
Ficus padifolia is one of the most abundant and widely dispersed of the North 
American strangler figs. The young plant at first climbs the trunk of some tree, 
often a palm, by attaching its long, slender ropelike stems to the host plant by means 
of aerial roots. In time the fig develops a large trunk and crown and surrounds and 
kills the host tree. With age it forms a very broad crown, from the branches of which 
aerial roots descend and enter the ground, thus developing new trunks and forming a 
tree of the familiar banyan type of Asia and Africa. The trees at maturity are very 
handsome, The receptacles are edible. 
Ficus padifolia is known by various local names: Sonora, ‘‘nacapuli” (Palmer); 
Colima, ‘‘camichfn” (Palmer), or ‘‘comuchin” (Langlassé); Oaxaca, ‘‘palo de coco” 
(Liebmann); Costa Rica, ‘“‘higuito” (Orsted); Tabasco, ‘‘amatillo” or “capulin 
grande” (Rovirosa). 
As is to be expected from its wide range, this species exhibits great variation, more 
in fact than any other Central American species. This is indicated by the large 
number of synonyms cited above. Witha small series of specimens it would be pos- 
sible to differentiate several ‘‘species,’’ but with the numerous collections at hand all 
the characters heretofore relied upon for differentiation break down. There is wide 
variation in leaf form and two types of leaves can be distinguished: one in which the 
blade is ovate, coriaceous, prominently 3-nerved at the base, with a very acute 
apex, becoming pale yellowish green when dry; the other with mostly lance-oblong 
blades, which are thinner, obscurely nerved, bright green or dark when dry, with an 
obtuse apex. The first form is chiefly western in its distribution and the second 
southern. Intermediate forms are found, however, and with the leaf characters there 
