E. L. EKMAN, WEST INDIAN VERNONLE. 47 



ering any constant forms, and that I have examined numbers 

 of flowers for the same purpose. But in vain. The forms pass 

 evidently into each other, and their particular habits are 

 probably due to the particular circumstances in which the 

 plants have lived. However, the types of the three different 

 names of the species, V. arborescens, V. icosantha, and V. ven- 

 tosa, represent, as it happens, each a particular form of the spe- 

 cies, yet not in such a way, that the species could be divided 

 throughout into three series each corresponding to one name. 

 For the intergrading forms are as numerous as the typical 

 ones. The three forms may be briefly characterized. 



1. The type of V. arborescens (L.) Sw. : Leaves broad, 

 dim. 11,5 cm in length, 5 cm in width, thinly membrana- 

 ceous, nearly glabrous, with broadly rounded and slightly 

 cordate base. Inflorescence very lax, the heads at a distance 

 of 2 4 cm and subtended by bracteal leaves, the lower of 

 which are nearly as large as the leaves themselves. Evidently, 

 this is a form of damp, shady localities. So, for instance, 

 Duss n. 305, 931, 4069. 



2. The type of V. icosantha DC: Leaves large, somewhat 

 narrowed, up to 11 cm long, 4 cm broad, attenuate at the 

 base, firm, nearly glabrous. Inflorescence somewhat dense, 

 the heads more crowded, 1 cm or so apart, the bracteal leaves 

 smaller, the upper ones linear, not longer than the heads. 

 So Eggers n. 6545, 6777, Powell n. 77, H. H. et G. W. Smith 

 n. B. 297, etc. 



3. The type of V. ventosa Gleason: Leaves small, lanceo- 

 late-ovate, usually 6 cm long, 2 cm wide, firm, rounded or 

 attenuate at the base, strigose pubescent, often grayish or even 

 whitened beneath. Inflorescence generally dense, the brac- 

 teal leaves small. So Duss n. 303, 304, 984. Hahn in 1870 

 represents an interesting form with leaves of V. ventosa and 

 inflorescence of V. arborescens. 



Vernonia albicaulis Pers. 



Tabula nostra II, fig. 5 (pars. infl. et folium). 



Eupatorium obtusi folium Wili/denow, 1804, p. 1768. 

 Conyza glabra Willdenow, 1804, p. 1940. 



Vernonia albicaulis Persoon, 1807, p. 404, n. 11 : Lessing, 1829, p. 313; 

 Gleason, 1906 b, p. 186. 



