and basally strongly constricted instead of ovate) and 
very long-acuminate (instead of abruptly acute). The 
corolla of HZ. obovata is much more densely pilose than 
that of HZ. verticillata and has even a pronounced beard 
at its base; it has dark red spots on its inner surface in 
the former species, whereas in the latter it is reported to 
be without spots. The style seems to be somewhat slen- 
derer in Henriquezia obovata than in A. verticillata. 
These differences, together with the vegetative and fruit 
characters pointed out by Bentham and subsequent in- 
vestigators, leave no doubt in my mind that the Henre- 
quezia obovata is indeed worthy of specific distinction. 
Steyermark (loc. cit. 208) has reduced Henriquezia obo- 
vata to synonymy under H. verticillata, but I believe 
that, applying the same criteria to H. obovata that he 
applies to the several other concepts which he has treated, 
it should be worthy of specific, certainly of varietal, 
status. Steyermark recognizes four species and four 
varieties. 
Since no illustrations of Henriquezia obovata in flower 
have apparently been published, the accompanying plate, 
drawn from Schultes, Baker et Cabrera 18222 is offered. 
2. Cayaponia 
Quite contrary to usual expectation, weeds and culti- 
vated plants in areas botanically as poorly known as the 
northwestern part of the Amazon are of great interest 
and may often have escaped the attention of collectors. 
Not infrequently, species new to science turn up in or 
around native agricultural plots. This is apparently the 
case with the curious cucurbitaceous plant described 
herein as Cayaponia ophthalmica. 
Cayaponia ophthalmica R. FE. Schultes sp. nov. 
Herba robusta, alte scandens, usque ad quattuor metr. 
longa. Caulis flexuosus, pseudolignosus, cortice molle, 
viride. Ramuli profunde striato-sulcati, omnino sed prae- 
cipue in canalibus leviter albo-hispiduli, cum in foliorum 
[ 821 | 
