BOTANICAL MUSEUM LEAFLETS VOL. 27, No. 3-4 
MARCH-APRIL 1979 
STUDIES IN THE GENUS MICRANDRA II* 
Miscellaneous Taxonomic and Economic Notes 
RICHARD EVANS SCHULTES 
During the course of monographic studies on the euphorbi- 
aceous genus Hevea, source of most natural rubber of com- 
merce, related genera—Micrandra (including Cunuria), Vau- 
pesia and Joannesia—have been investigated in the field and 
herbarium. Sundry notes of interest from the viewpoints of tax- 
onomy, floristics or economic value of these genera have accu- 
mulated. The following notes concerning various species of 
Micrandra are offered towards an eventual monographic treat- 
ment of the genus. 
Little is known about the commercial value of the latex of 
Micrandra. \t has therefore seemed appropriate to publish a 
short survey of the possible utilitarian importance of the genus 
based upon studies of the literature, field work and significant 
notes on herbarium specimens. 
During my taxonomic studies, numerous herbarium collec- 
tions have turned up which, for one reason or another, merit 
special citing. Amongst these specimens are those of the late 
Paul H. Allen who worked in the Colombian Vaupés on rubber 
in the early 1940’s during the shortage of this commodity due to 
the war emergency. Allen’s collections are notable because of his 
extremely detailed field notes. 
This study has been assisted by a grant from the Cabot Foun- 
dation of Harvard University. 
UTILIZATION OF MICRANDRA AS A SOURCE OF RUBBER 
As a source of commercial rubber, Micrandra is of very 
secondary, if any real, importance. That rubber is produced 
from these trees at the present time is doubtful, but an apprecia- 
ble amount from several species may have found its way into 
*The first contribution in this series appeared in Bor. Mus Leafl., Harvard Univ. 
15(1952)201-222. 
93 
