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



Tropical zone, collected only in Choco, but doubtless widespread 

 in northern and eastern Colombia. Widespread through eastern 

 lowland South America. 



Choco. Novisa, J. Triana (H, Y). 



5. GRATIOLA Linne. 

 GrafiolaL., Sp. PI. 17. 17.53. 

 Type species, G. officinalis L., of Europe. 



1. Gratiola bogotensis Cortes, sp. nov. 



Spreading extensively by rootstocks. Aerial stems erect or de- 

 cumbent at base, succulent, slightly puberulent, 1-4 dm. tall. Leaves 

 oblong-lanceolate, 1.5-2.5 cm. long, .3-.8 cm. wide, clasping by a 

 rounded base, distally dentate and glandular-punctate, finely puberu- 

 lent to glabrate. Pedicels 1-2 mm. long. Bractlets similar to and 

 equaling or slightly exceeding the lanceolate calyx-lobes, 5-10 mm. 

 long. Corolla 12-14 mm. long, its tube four-angled, yellowish, 

 with fine brown lines, its lobes spreading, white, somewhat pinkish- 

 tinged or at times the corolla strongly pink. Anterolateral fila- 

 ments evident, each capped by two small rudimentary anthers. 

 Capsule ovoid, 5 mm. long. Seeds .5 mm. long, obovoid, conspicu- 

 ously alveolate-reticulate. 



Type, wet grassy place, base of mountain above Chapinero, near 

 Bogota, Cundinamarca, altitude 2700-2800 meters, collected in 

 flower and fruit September 23, 1917, Pennell 2108 in Herb. New 

 York Botanical Garden. This was collected in company with Sr. 

 Santiago Cortes, who designated it by the name here given. 



A near ally or possibly geographical variety, of Gratiola peruvi- 

 ana L., Sp. PI. 17. 1753, based upon Feuillee's description and 

 drawing of a plant found in the mountains of Chile, at 26° S. L. 

 Feuillee's plant is well-matched by a specimen collected by Otto 

 Kuntze in February, 1892, at Ervilla, Chile, and which has the 

 stem less fleshy, the leaves broader and the pedicels slightly longer 

 than does our plant. 



Wet grassy places, springheads and ditches, at altitudes of 2600 

 to 3200 meters. Temperate zone, ascending, in dwarf form, to Par- 

 amo, Cordillera Oriental, and Cordillera Central, southward at 

 least into Ecuador. 



Cundinamarca. Bogota (ditch in meadow, alt. 2600 m.), Pen- 

 nell 1908, (wet grassy place near Chapinero, alt. 2700-2800 m.) 

 Pennell 2108, (southwest of Las Cruces, open spring-head, alt. 



