DIOSCORIACEZ, 361 
racemes are very much longer than the leaves. It may, however, prove to be a 
glabrous condition of the same species. 
22. Dioscorea spiculiflora, Hemsley, n.sp. (Tab. XCII. A.) 
Glaberrima, caulibus gracillimis, foliis subhastato-cordatis, floribus masculinis spiculatis, spiculis 
densifloris in racemos elongatos dispositis, perianthio fere a basi 6-partito, staminibus fertilibus 
6, antheris subsessilibus. 
Herba vel frutex volubilis, prorsus glaberrimus, caulibus gracillimis teretibus. Folia alterna, longe 
petiolata, membranacea, 7-nervia, nervo utroque extimo furcato, subhastato-cordata, 2-4- 
pollicaria, acuminata, basi interdum fere truncata, opaca; petiolus gracilis, lamina paullo 
brevior. Flores masculini vix lineam diametro, spiculati; spicule subsessiles, 2-3 lineas 
long, 5-10-flore, in racemos graciles laxiusculos dispositee; racemi solitarii vel plures, 
simplices vel basi 1-2-furcati, usque ad 9 poll. longi; perianthium fere a basi 6-partitum ; 
segmenta crassa ovato-orbicularia; stamina fertilia 6, anthere subsessiles. Flores feminet 
South Mexico, Yucatan (Linden, 236). Hb. Kew. 
The male inflorescence of this species resembles that of some of the Old-World 
species, having opposite lobed leaves. 
EXPLANATION OF TAB. XCITI. A. 
A flower-bearing branch of the male of Dioscorea spiculiflora, natural size. Fig. 1, a spikelet of 
male flowers; 2, a single male flower: both enlarged. 
23. Dioscorea tenuiflora, Schl. in Linnea, xvii. p. 608; Kunth, Enum. v 
p. 411. 
Souta Mexico. 
24. Dioscorea urophylla, Hemsley, n. sp. 
Glaberrima, foliis orbicularibus vel cordato-orbicularibus longe caudato-acuminatis, floribus mascu- 
linis spicatis, spicis a basi ramosis, perianthii segmentis oblongis, staminibus 6 subeequalibus. 
Herba vel frutex scandens vel volubilis, omnino glaberrimus. Folia alterna, longe petiolata, sub- 
membranacea, 7-nervia, nervis extimis alte furcatis, orbicularia vel cordato-orbicularia, longe 
caudato-acuminata, 3-6-pollicaria, lineolis pellucidis conspicuis conspersa, simul brunneo- 
punctulata ; petiolus gracilis. Flores masculini 14-2 lineas diametro, spicati; spice densius- 
cule, alterniflorze, a basi ramosz vel interdum simplices, 4—6-pollicares, graciles; bractez 
parve, late ovate, acuminate ; perianthii 6-partiti segmenta oblonga, obtusa, supra medium 
recurva ; stamina 6, subequalia, perianthio paullo breviora; filamenta perianthio basi adnata ; 
ovarii rudimentum sat magnum. (Flores feminei ignoti.) 
Panama GS. Hayes, 190). Hb. Kew. 
The Mexican and Central-American species of Dioscorea, as far as we have been able 
to examine them, present the following modifications in the andrcecium :— 
I. Stamina sex in columnam connata, omnia perfecta. 
D, sapindordes. 
II. Stamina sex libera vel perianthio adnata, omnia perfecta; antheree filamentis multo breviores. 
D. sparsiflora, D. floribunda, D. urophyila et D. cymosula. 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Bot. Vol. TII., February 1884. 3a 
