84 ARKIV FOR BOTANIK. BAND 13. N:0 15. 



leaves and brown pappus. Analytically, it is characterized 

 especially by its very small anthers. It varies somewhat 

 as to the shape and pubescence of its leaves. Specimens from 

 Porto Rico (Sintenis n. 389, 390 e) represent the most narrow- 

 -leaved form (dimensions of the leaves: 7,5X0,5 cm), which 

 is at the same time the most densely pubescent; speci- 

 mens from St. Jan (RAUNKiiER n. 3158) have very wide and 

 thinly pubescent leaves (dimensions: 11x5 cm). 



The variety mentioned by Urban, 1911, p. 619: Var. 

 foliis obovatis vel ellipticis, apice obtusis vel rotundatis. 

 An species propria? , Sintenis n. 4749, is most probably a hy- 

 brid between V. sericea L. C. Rich, and V. albicaulis Pers. 

 (compared V. Gleasonii Ekman, on p. 54 of this paper). 



A remarkable variety of V. sericea having white pappus 

 was described by Gleason in his Revision as a distinct 

 species, V. venusta. I have been able to examine a specimen 

 with white pappus, Sintenis n. 390 b in the Berlin Herbarium, 

 which agrees perfectly with the small portion of type specimen 

 of V. venusta seen. Now, no other difference than that of the 

 colour of the pappus could be found to exist between V. sericea 

 and V. venusta, even on the most careful analysis. Moreover, 

 intermediate specimens have been seen, having stramineous 

 or brownish-stramineous pappus, for instance, Sintenis n. 

 390 b in the Krug-Urban Herbarium, Sintenis n. 3929 

 in the Berlin Herbarium. I cannot see any reason for not 

 reducing Gleason's species. 



Specimens of V. sericea L. C. Rich, collected by Oersted 

 in St. Thomas have been referred to V. remotiflora L. C. Rich. 

 and recently cited as that species from the West Indies (Glea- 

 son, 1906 b, p. 175). True V . remotiflora does not occur there 

 at all. 



Another specimen of V. sericea labelled Jamaica, Purdie , 

 but certainly not collected there, has been identified by Grise- 

 bach as V. tricholepis DC. (Grisebach. 1861. p. 354), and 

 by Baker in Flora Brasiliensis as V. araripensis Gardn. 

 Neither species occurs in the West Indies. 



The geographical range of the species extends over Porto 

 Rico, St. Thomas, St. Jan and St. Croix. It has also been 

 indicated from Hispaniola. However, the plant in question 

 in some points differs from the type of the species, and I have 



