452 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



der branching stems, the branchlets, petioles, and pedicels finely pu- 

 bescent : leaves thiu, oblong-ovate, acutish, rounded or cuneate at 

 base, crenately serrate, glabrate above, somewhat pubescent beneath, 

 1 to 2^ inches long, on short petioles; stipules soarious, linear: male 

 aments half an inch long, of brown scarious very deeply concave and 

 imbricated bracts, each subtending G to 8 exserted minute flowers, 

 which are soon deciduous from the jointed pedicels ; calyx 4-parted : 

 female flowers few, from small scaly buds at the base of young shoots, 

 the pedicels very slender, about an inch long, bracteolate near the 

 middle; calyx 6-parted, subpersistent : capsule somewhat rough-tuber- 

 culate, 1^ lines long, soon dehiscent: seeds smooth. Barranca. (90.) 



Another peculiar euphorbiaceous species of uncertain affinities, but 

 probably belonging to the Hippomanea, was collected at Guadalajara 

 (641) in fruit. It is a nearly glabrous shrub, 8 to 12 feet high, the 

 lanceolate acuminate leaves (2 to 4 inches long) acute at base and 

 petiolate, sharply denticulate, jiinnately few-veined, eglandular, vil- 

 lous-pubescent beneath : peduncles axillary, 2-3-fruited, an inch long : 

 capsules on stout clavate pedicels (6 to 8 lines long), 8 lines broad, 

 abruptly tipped with the base of the united styles, subtended by o 

 green oblong sepals 3 lines long: seed subglobose (o% lines broad), 

 ecarunculate, dark colored and somewhat roughened; albumen salmon- 

 colored, the erect flattened cotyledons nearly as broad as the seed. It 

 is known as " asafran," and the seeds are eaten, resembling walnuts in 

 taste. 



Trema micrantha, Blurae. A shrub, 10 feet high, with flesh- 

 colored fruit. Barranca. (105.) 



DoRSTENiA Drakena, Liuu. Barranca, among shaded rocks. 

 (140.) — " Barbasco " of the natives, reputed to be poisonous, and ap- 

 plied in powder or decoction to wounds for the destruction of larvjB. 



DoRSTENiA CRiSPATA. Kootstock thick and scaly, an inch or two 

 long: leaves rather thick, ovate, obtuse, cordate at base, crenately 



sepals. Male flowers minute in axillary sessile aments, several in the axils of 

 the eglandular scarious imbricated galeate bracts, on short jointed pedicels ; 

 stamens 3, the free filaments very sliort. Female flowers on elongated solitary 

 pedicels from the axils of scaly bracts ; ovary 3-celled, 3-ovuled ; styles distinct. 

 Capsule separating into 2-valved cocci from the persistent columella. Seed 

 estrophiolate, globose. Embryo erect, tlie broad flat cotyledons longer than the 

 radicle. — A shrub, with alternate membranous serrate leaves. 



Nearly related to Acilnostemon, but with a fully developed (though small) 

 calyx in both the male and female flowers. Tlie name has reference to the 

 helmet-sliaped bracts of the male aments. 



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