MR. SPRUCE ON FIVE NEW PLANTS PROM EASTERN PERU. 203 



Isevi, aculeis brevi-conicis pungentibus obsesso. Folia pinnatim 3-fo- 

 liata ; petiolus 7-uncialis basi incrassatus ; rhachis 2|-uncialis ; foliola 

 in petiolulo semunciali rhombeo-ovata, vix apiculata, subobtusa, juni- 

 ora pubescentia serius glabrescentia ; terminale 7i X 5? unc. ; late- 

 ralia subminora, eorum petiolulo basi glandula stipellari brevi-cylin- 

 drica, lineam longa, deflexa, cava, ore truncato aperto instructo. Folia 

 inferiora majora et longius petiolata sunt. Stipulce minutissimse 

 squamseformes cito deciduae. Racemi terminales, 2-6-unciales, cine- 

 reo-tomentelli, solitarii vel saepius plures paniculati. Pedicelli 5 

 lineas longi, seriils elongati, ebracteolati, basi apiceque articulati, de- 

 curvo-secundi, ternatim fasciculati, verticillati, nempe quoque verti- 

 cillo e faseieulis 3 v. 4 constante. Flores penduli, magni, speciosi, 

 miniati, graveolentes. Calyx obconieo-urceolatus, truneatus, pube- 

 rulus. Vexillum anguste ovale, obtusum, 20 lin. longum, primitus 

 complicatum, dein recurvo-explanatum, apice solo baud evoluto, ungue 

 brevi lato. Alee diminutse, 3-lineares, ovali-spathulatae, subobliquae, 

 erectae, liberae, maigine exteriore pauUo supra basin unidentatae. 

 Carina 14 lin. longa, anguste ovata, apice obtuse bidentata, declinata. 

 Filamenta ad f usque coalita, inter se subinaequilonga ; antherce par- 

 vulae, oblongo-ovales, paullo supra basin adfixae. Pistillum stamina 

 subaequans ; ovarium stipitatum,tenue, subteres. Legumen 4-5-unciale, 

 latitudine semunciali; pericarpio tenui subpuberulo. Semina ple- 

 rumque 2 maturata et in folliculis decisis apertis longe persistentia^ 

 3 lin. longa, 6 lin. lata ; testa firma tenui. 



This is the handsomest tree I have seen in the Maynensian 

 Andes. It is frequent towards the mouth of the hill-streams that 

 enter the Mayo wherever any primitive forest has been left. In 

 the very town of Tarapoto, on the rocky banks of the turbulent 

 Shillicaio, rise here and there magnificent trees of Amasisa, which 

 have been spared the axe of the first settlers — some of them as 

 much as 100 feet high. Twice in the year, viz. in March to April, 

 and in August to September, they are clad with large flame-coloured 

 or vermilion flowers, sometimes with no accompanying leaves, and 

 sometimes with young leaves of the most delicate green, just ap- 

 pearing. I have been delighted to walk by the Shillicaio at sun- 

 set and observe the tracery of the crown of the Amasisa, with its 

 copious red tassels, projected on the whitish-blue eastern sky, 

 when the flowers of almost every tree showed a different shade of 

 yellow-red, not, however, paling to yellow on the one hand, or 

 brightening to scarlet on the other. It continues in flower nearly 

 two months at a time ; and before it has well done flowering, the 

 ripened follicular pods, splitting up one side only and with the 

 seeds still adhering, begin to strew the ground. The wood is 

 white and softish, and of no use but for firewood. The trunk is 



