Tas. 8699. 
PILEA For@ettr. 
Venezuela. 
Urricacear, Tribe Urticear. 
Pie, Lindl.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 384, 
Pilea Forgeti, N. E. Br.; species nova ex affinitate P. semidentatae, Wedd., 
sed humilior, et ab ea foliis obtusioribus crenato-déntatis pulchre coloratis 
et cymis masculis dense capitato-corymbiformibus differt. 
Herba dioica, 10-15 cm. alta, basi ramosa. Caules 4-5 (siccati 2) mm. crassi, 
tenuiter adpresse pubescentes, rubri. Folia opposita, aequalia vel 
inaequalia; petiolus 0°6-1°5 cm. longus, tenuiter adpresse-pubescens, 
ruber ; lamina 2-10 em. longa, 1-2-2°8 em. lata, elliptica ad elongato- 
lanceolata, obtusa vel subacuta, basi obtusa vel leviter cordata, erenato- 
dentata, trinervia, supra glabra, rubro-brunnea, vittis tribus viridibus 
notata, subtus secus nervos adpresse pubescens ceterum glabra, purpurea 
venis viridibus. Stipulae 1-2 cm. longae, 5-6 mm. latae, ovato-lanceolatae, 
obtusae, glabrae, virides, costa rubra. Cymae oppositae ; masculae dense 
capitato-corymbiformes, 3-4 cm. diametro, pedunculo 6-7 cm. longo rubro 
laxe pubescente suffultae; foemineae inconspicuae, petiolos subaequantes, 
1-1°5 cm. diametro, floribus densissime congestis, pedunculo 3-4 mm. 
longo suffultae. Flores masculi albi; sepala 4, subaequalia, 3 mm. longa, 
1°5-2°5 mm. lata, basi concavo-cucullata, superne vel dorso aliformia ; 
stamina 4, alba; flores femini minuti, fuseo-virides ; sepala 3, inaequalia, 
0°5-0°75 mm. longa, unum late obovato-obtusum, duo lanceolata subacuta 
oat ft ovarium compresso-ellipsoideum ; stigma sessile, capitatum. 
— ti. 4. DROWN, 
The Urticaceous genus Pilea includes over two hundred 
species dispersed throughout the tropics of both hemi- 
spheres. Of these the best known is the tiny P. muscosa, 
Lindl., the ‘ gunpowder plant,’ so-called from the cloud 
of pollen discharged from the anthers when the plant is 
shaken—a common South American species which has 
become introduced into India, and even into Australia 
where alone no native Pilea occurs. Very few species 
are in cultivation, the only ones to be met with in 
collections so far being P. grandis, Wedd., a native of 
Jamaica, with large green, dentate leaves in shape 
recalling those of a Coleus, and P. Spruceana, Wedd., 
a native of Peru, with ovate dark bronze-green foliage. 
To these have now to be added the attractive foliage 
_ Fesruary, 1917. 
