98 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
have been since reported, beginning with Brosimum aubletit Poepp. 
& Endl. and ending with Pératinera panamensis, which is described 
below. 
Reservations have to be made, however, with reference to the first 
of these two species. In fact, it is probable that it belongs neither 
to Brosimum nor to Piratinera, but perhaps to Helicostylis, since 
the female flowers are described as being “solitary in the axils of 
the leaves,” while the male flowers, which in the case of a Brosimum 
or a Piratinera would appear on the same receptacle, are said not 
to be known. The further description of the female flowers, as 
bearing two distinct uniovulate ovaries, and the assertion that the 
fruits are succulent, 2-seeded, and fleshy, far from solving the puzzle 
in one direction or the other, only make it more intricate. In such 
cases it would seem that the wisest thing to do is to lay aside the 
description and discount the species until more complete information 
has been secured. 
In 1891 Taubert described his Brostmum rubescens, from Brazil. 
The female flowers are said to be 2, laterally immersed, on each 
receptacle, the receptacle subglobose, the filaments very short; but 
we are left in doubt as to the presence or absence of a perianth in 
the male flowers.t. Brosimum acutifolium Huber,? a shrub from the 
Amazon basin, is also incompletely described, but we are told that 
there are 2 or 3 female flowers on each receptacle, which is sufficient 
to show that the plant is not really a Brosimum. 
In 1911 I discovered in the rain forest near Puerto Obaldia (San 
Blas Coast, Panama) a large tree which was taken at first for a 
Brosimum. A large number of dried specimens were made and one 
inflorescence placed in alcohol. On examining this material later 
two female flowers, manifested exteriorly by the bifid stigmas, were 
found on the specially preserved receptacle, while the softened dried 
material showed sometimes one, very often two, and in a few cases 
three ovaries, each containing one ovule. Each stamen is surrounded 
by a distinct yellow, cuff-shaped perianth, split on one side; the 
receptacle is relatively large, turbinate at the base, with a flat or 
convex flower-bearing surface. 
From the above it follows that, in opposition to Brosimum as 
defined by Swartz, we have another group of trees, in which the 
male flowers, also 1-staminate but less numerous, have (in one case 
at least) a distinct perianth, and the female flowers are 2 or more 
on each receptacle, this being turbinate at the base or subglobose. 
This I consider to be Aublet’s genus Piratinera, which can in no 
way be identified with Brosimum. 
* Bot. Jahrb. Engler 12: Beibl. 27: 4, 1891. 
*Bol. Mus. Goeldi 6: 66. 1910. 
