Alternanthcra 



AMAKAXTACE.E 



139 



'1. A. parvifolia sp. nov. ; leaves elliptical, attenuated into 

 the stalk, obtuse, one of a pair larger than the other ; two 

 exterior segments of perianth acuminate spiny, three-nerved, 

 villose from base to above the middle ; hairs minutely barbed at 

 apex. A. Achyrantha M. Br. var parvifolia ^[oq. torn. cit. 359 

 (1849). A. repens Urh. Joe. cit. (1905) (in part). A. Achyrantha 

 Griseh. lor. nt. (1859) (in part). (Fig. 45.) 



Fig. 45. Alter nanthera parvifolia Fawc. & Reudle. 



A, Portiou of plaut. D, Flower with perianth removed. 



B, Flower with bract and bracteoles. E, Seed cut lengthwise ; c, cotyledons ; 

 (.', Flower. r, radicle ; e, endosperm. 



Fj Hairs from perianth. 



Wright ! Cinchona, 5000 ft., Fawcett ! FL Jam. 6007. Cuba, Hispauiola, 

 Porto Rico, St. Cruz, St. Vincent, Barbados, trop. and subtrop. America, 

 Azores, Madeira, Canary Is., Spain. 



Ste7>i pubescent, villose. Leaves, larger 1-2 to nearly 2 cm. 1., "G-'S 

 cm. br., smaller Q-'l cm. 1., mucronate, with a few hairs or glabrate. 

 Heads 7-9 mm. 1. Bract glabrous, ovate, with spiny apex, f length of 

 exterior lateral perianth-segments, and equal to or shorter than bracteoles ; 

 bracteoles with a few hairs. Flowers straw-coloured. Periaiitli-scgments 

 very unequal, two exterior 3'5 mm. 1., elliptical-lanceolate; median 

 oblong-lanceolate, acute, shorter, villose near base; interior 2*3 mm. 1., 

 bearded at the base and from the middle upwards. Stamens 5, about 

 1 mm. 1. ; staminodes nearly as long, triangular-acuminate ; cup about 

 3 mm. 1. Pistil (incl. style) as long as stamens, broader above. Utricle 

 1-8 mm. 1. Seed about 1'3 mm. 1., ovate-roundish, somewhat compressed, 

 reddish-brown. 



