132 The Philippine Journal of Science me 



under Vitis and Cissus. After considerable study of the Philip- 

 pine forms, and such Indo-Malayan representatives of the 

 genera Vitis; Cissus, Cayratia, and Tetrastigma as are avail- 

 able here, I have very definitely concluded that Gagnepain's 

 position regarding the validity of Cayratia as a distinct genus 

 is entirely justifiable, and that it is just as distinct from Vitis 

 and Cissus as are, for instance, Tetrastigma, Ampelopsis, and 

 Ampelocissus. 



As to the validity of the name Cayratia, however, there is 

 a distinct cause for disagreement, at least if we accept literally 

 the rules of nomenclature promulgated by the last two interna- 

 tional botanical congresses. The oldest generic name for the 

 group is Columella Lour., published in 1790, and typified by 

 Columella pedata Lour. (Vitis pedata Wall., Cissus pedata Lam., 

 Cayratia pedata Juss.), which extends from India and Ceylon 

 to Indo-China and Java. It is distinctly unfortunate, however, 

 that the adoption of Columella of Loureiro must invalidate 

 Columellia Ruiz & Pavon, 1794, a genus that has been universally 

 recognized since its publication, and which typifies the family 

 Columelliaceae. However, this case is not covered by the lists 

 of nomina conservanda adopted by the Vienna and the Brussels 

 Botanical Congresses, and a strict interpretation of the rules 

 adopted by those congresses will necessitate the adoption of 

 Loureiro's generic name Columella in place of Jussieu's name 

 Cayratia. In order that this case may be brought to the atten- 

 tion of future congresses, and that Columella of Loureiro may 

 definitely be abandoned in favor of Cayratia, which should be 

 included in the list of nomina conservanda if any generic name is 

 so included, I purposely take up the generic name Columella, 

 and transfer to it the Philippine species known to me at this 

 time. 



COLUMELLA GENICULATA (Blume) comb. nov. 

 Cissus geniculata Blume Bijdr. (1825) 184. 

 Cayratia geniculata Gagnep. in Not. Syst. 1 (1911) 345. 



This species extends from Indo-China to the Sunda Islands. To it I 

 refer the following Philippine material: Luzon, Province of Nueva Vis- 

 caya, Merrill 219, Bur. Sci. 82 J 9 Ramos: Province of Batangas, Cuzner 25: 

 Province of Pampanga, Bolster 22: Province of Laguna, Alberto s. n., 

 For. Bur. 21310 Foxworthy & Catalan, Gates 5751, Bur. Sci. 1U975 Ramos: 

 Province of Bulacan, Bur. Sci. 21721 Ramos: Province of Pangasinan, 

 Bur. Sci. 183 10 Otanes. 



The material here referred to Columella geniculata is characterized by 

 being rather softly pubescent, with long petioles, rather long petiolules 

 and inflorescences, the latter about one-half as long as the petioles. The 

 material agrees closely with the published descriptions, and Planchon has 



