148 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [May-Oct., 



the midribs and margins of the leaves. The last state (forma hirta* 

 Loes. in Bull. Herb. Boiss. ser. II, 3: 284. 1903. "Habitat in Guate- 

 mala, in dept. Chiquimula in ruderalibus ad S. Juan Ermita: Sel[er] 

 n. 3314." Isotype seen in herbarium New York Botanical Garden) 

 prevails in Colombia. 



River-banks, flats and sandy waysides, at altitudes below 200 

 meters. Tropical zone; the typical form near the Caribbean shore 

 (doubtless also along the Pacific shore), forma hirla Loes. (indicated 

 in lists by asterisk) along the lower river-courses and across the 

 Sabana of Bolivar. 



Antioquia. *Brazuela de Perales, on Rio Magdalena (river-flat, 

 alt. 150 m.), Pennell 3704; *Vuelta de Acufia, on Rio Magdalena 

 (sandy loam, alt. 125-130 m.), Pennell 3789. 



Bolivar. *Calamar (along Rio Magdalena, alt. 15-25 m.), Rusby 

 & Pennell 20; Cartagena, I. F. Holton 582 (H, Y), (roadside, alt. 

 5-10 m.), Rusby & Pennell 3 (somewhat pubescent with short 

 hairs). *Since (edge of thicket, alt. 120-170 m.), Pennell 4039; 

 *Turbaco (thin loam over white rock, alt. 150-200 m.), Pennell 

 4761; *Vilches, on Rio Sinu (orchard, alt. 20-50 m.), Pennell 4711. 



Magdalena. *Bonda (open damp place, alt. 45 m.), H. H. Smith 

 1331 (C, H, U, Y). Don Jaco (near the coast), H. H. Smith 551 

 (C, H, U, Y). Playa Brava (open plain near the coast), H. H. 

 Smith 2823 (Y). Santa Marta (railroad bank, alt. 0-10 m.), Pen- 

 nell 4771. Around Rio Frio (between the Cienaga de Santa Marta 

 and the foothills, alt. 0-100 m.), H. Pittier 1611 (U). 



2 MECARDONIA Ruiz and Pa von. 



Mecardonia R. & P. [Fl. Peruv. et Chil. Prod. 9.5. 1794, generic diagnosis]; 

 Syst. Veg. Fl. Peruv. et Chil. 164. 1798. 



Type species, M. ovata Ruiz & Pavon,^ of Peru. 



^ This state has been described also as Capraria lanceolata Vahl, and C. semi- 

 serrata Willd. (above), as C. hirsuta H. B. K., Nov. Gen. et Sp. 2: 355. 1818, 

 from Mexico, and as C. biflora /3 pilosa Griseb., Fl. Brit. W. I., 427, 1861, from 

 the Bahamas. The first name should be used if this be accounted a distinct 

 species, the last if a variety, and Im-ta if a form. 



^Mecardonia ovata Ruiz & Pavon, Syst. Veg. Fl. Peruv. et Chil. 164. 1798. 

 "Habitat in Peruviae plateis ad Chinchao et Cuchero vicos." Description 

 appears to be certainly that of M. procumbens (Mill.) Small, a wide-spread plant 

 to be expected in Peru. The only discrepancy is in describing the calyx as hepta- 

 phyllous, although it' is stated that the two small outer leaves are deciduous. 

 Possibly the bractlets at the base of the pedicel were noted approxirnating the 

 flower in very young buds, or more probably an error of vision was made, and 

 because later it could not be checked the imagined bractlets were considered 

 to be deciduous. 



