PHILIPPINE URTICACEAE. 5O1 
four, with its simple pistillate perianth, absence of involucre, and its few 
species distributed over a wide area, these more difficult to limit specifically 
even than the horde belonging to Hlatostema: but the receptacle points 
in the opposite direction. On the other hand, it would be no great 
transition for the condensed cyme of Hlatostematoides to pass into the 
receptacle of Procris, or the looser cyme of Pellionia, the pistillate perianth, 
intermediate between that of Procris and of Pellionia might develop in 
either direction; from any point of view, VJatostema is the most distinct, 
but the most probable origin would be through Procris. Should the 
common ancestor of all four be now extinct or still to be discovered, then 
it is more probable that Hlatostematoides lies between it and Pellignia. 
The staminate flowers, as distinguished from the inflorescence, afford 
no characters: an unfortunate statement in the Pflanzenfamilien,*? 
referred to by Hallier, that those of Pellionia are “3teilig,” does not 
assist. It may well have been a typographical error: at any rate, it is 
not true. 
While the present discussion is based chiefly upon Philippine species 
and the descriptions of those of other countries, the courtesy of the 
Director of Agriculture, Buitenzorg, has enabled me to examine speci- 
mens of 5 of the 6 Bornean species to which reference has been made. 
The type of Hlatostematoides is Elatostema manillense Wedd. 
KEY TO THE PHILIPPINE SPECIES OF ELATOSTEMATOIDES, 
Staminate inflorescences sessile or shortly pedunculate. 
Strongest nerve of at least the narrower side of leaves inserted well above base. 
Leaves large, at least 12 cm long............ beep tia 1. EB. manillense 
Leaves small, not exceeding 10 em.............-.------------- Sines eaies 2. E. mindanaense 
Strongest leaf-nerves basal or subbasal. 
Leaves 2.5 to. Ofr Wide .....n2..:ccahagitbecttesese atop on nncene ce ecennentaneen=encaroeming 3. H. laxum 
Leaves not exceeding 2 cm in width........-...-.-----------------neseeeeeeeeeees 4. B. rigidum 
Staminate inflorescences on long slender peduncles.............------.-------- 5. E. gracilipes 
1. Elatostematoides manillense (Wedd.) comb. nov. 
Elatostema manillense Wedd. in Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. IV 1 (1854) 189. 
Elatostema rostratum var. manillense Wedd, in DC, Prodr. 16* (1869) 179. 
Luzon, Province of Cagayan, Pamplona, Bur, Sci. 7495 Ramos: Province of 
Tayabas, Cuming 786; Infanta, Bur. Sei. 9345 Robinson, PoLtLLo, San Francisco, 
Bur. Sci. 6942, 6943 Robinson. PANAyY, Dumarao, Merrill 6710. MINDANAO, Prov- 
ince of Misamis, Bliss River, for. Bur. 4698 Mearns & Hutchinson: Subprovince 
of Butuan, Waloe, Merrill 7283. It is hardly too much to say that no one of 
our collections referred to this genus is an exact match for any of the others, the 
specimens cited for this species differing in the extent of the pubescence, and more 
or less in the shape and serration of the leaves, the Mindanao plant being the 
most distinct. The character used in the key, taken fiom the venation, seems 
natural, and at once separates the species from H. rostratum. 
Elatostema polioneurum Hallier f. is a very close ally of this species, differing 
8 31: 108. 
‘memes 
