DIOSCOREACEA, 359 
Souta Mexico, Jalapa 3000 feet (Galeotti, 5459), region of Orizaba (Bourgeau, 
3109). Hb. Kew. 
We at first described Bourgeau’s specimens as a new species; but, in spite of little. 
deviations from the description given by Schlechtendal, we think they must belong to 
D. pallens, because that is the only one apparently having the remarkably angular 
wavy racemes. The female is unknown to us, and undescribed by Schlechtendal. 
EXPLANATION OF TAB. XCII. 
B. A branch of the male plant of Dioscorea pallens, natural size. Fig. 8, a flower and portion of 
the rhachis; 4, a stamen; 5, a staminode: all enlarged. 
17. Dioscorea polygonoides, Humb. et Bonpl. (Descript. amplif.) 
Glaberrima, caulibus gracilibus, foliis tenuiter membranaceis, floribus masculinis minutis in spicas 
elongatas filiformes glomeratis, staminibus fertilibus 8, antherarum loculis distincte discretis, 
capsula suborbiculari, seminibus semicircularibus. 
Herba vel frutex volubilis, omnino glaber, caulibus gracilibus teretibus striatulis. Folia alterna, 
longe petiolata, tenuiter membranacea, 7—9-nervia, nervis extimis furcatis, late ovato-cordatis, 
2—5-pollicaria, caudato-acuminata ; petiolus gracilis. Flores masculini minuti (sepe vix limeam 
diametro) in spicas filiformes glomerati; spice simplices vel a basi tantum ramose, solitarize 
vel plurz, 3—-9-pollicares, glomerulis sparsis; perianthium fere a basi 6-partitum; segmenta 
ovato-orbicularia; stamina fertilia 3, segmentis breviora, antheris distincte discretis, sterilia 
(staminodia) minuta vel interdum nulla (?). Flores femineit laxiuscule spicati; perianthiu 
segmenta ovato-orbicularia; staminodia parva; stylo in columnam centralem perianthio 
breviorem connati, stigmatibus bifidis deflectis. Capsula pergamentacea, suborbicularis, 
circiter 13 lineas longa’ et 11 lineas lata; semina semicircularia undique alata, alterum infra 
alterum supra medium loculi affixum.—Humd. et Bonpl. in Willd. Sp. Pl. iv. p. 795; Kunth, 
Enum. Pl. v. p. 382? 
Nicaragua, Isle of Omotepé (Lévy, 174); Panama, Empire railway-station (8. Hayes, 
304).—CotomBiA, Guiana, Brazit. Hb. Kew. 
18. Dioscorea propinqua, Hemsley, n. sp. 
Glaberrima, foliis 7-nerviis gradatim acuminatis, spicis femineis simplicibus quam folia paullo 
longioribus, capsula subsessili oblongo-orbiculari subcoriacea, seminibus oblongis undique 
alatis. 
Herba vel frutexr volubilis, fructiferus omnino glaberrimus, caulibus gracilibus. Folia alterna, 
longiuscule petiolata, membranacea, 7-nervia, nervis extimis furcatis, ovato-cordata, 3-5-polli- 
caria, gradatim acuminata, acuta, subtus venis primariis distantibus prominulis. Flores 
femingéi..... Capsule in spicas confertas foliis paullo longiores disposite, subcoriacez, 
oblongo-orbiculares, circiter 12 lineas longe et 9 late, alis marginatis; semina oblonga, . 
undique (sed facie interiore angustissime) alata, alterum supra alterum infra medium loculi 
affixum. 
South Mexico, valley of Cordova (Bourgeau, 1488). Hb. Kew. 
At first we were disposed to regard this as the female of D. sparviflora, but the leaves 
are only 7-nerved and taper gradually upward into a sharp point. 
[Helmia racemosa, Klotzsch in Otto & Dietr. Allg. Gart. Zeit. xix. p. 393, from 
Central America, is quite unknown to us. | 
