CamBRIDGE, Massacuusetts, JUNE 15, 1973 
BOTANICAL MUSEUM LEAFLETS 
HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
FOUR NEW BRUNFELSIAS FROM 
NORTHWESTERN SOUTH AMERICA 
BY 
Timoray PLowMan* 
The genus Brunfelsia comprises from thirty-five to 
forty species of tropical American shrubs. Several are 
widely planted as ornamentals in tropical gardens and 
in conservatories. Other species are employed as medi- 
cines and hallucinogens in South America, especially in 
the Amazon Basin and in Brazil. Notwithstanding the 
extensive interest which pharmacologists and horti- 
culturists have shown in Brunfelsia, the taxonomy of 
the genus has hitherto not been studied in depth. In the 
course of preparing a revision of this group, I have found 
three new species and a new subspecies from northwest- 
ern South America. Descriptions are given in the follow- 
ing text. Asan aid in differentiating these species from 
others in the same region, I have appended a key to all 
of the species known from western South America. 
Brunfelsia chocoensis Plowman sp. nov. 
Frutex 2 m. alta. Rami pauci, nudi, aliquantum 
nodosi, striati longitudinaliter cortice solubili. Ramuli 
hornotini glabri, epidermide longitudinaliter soluta. 
Folia pauca, plerumque apicibus ramulorum approxi- 
mata, breve petiolata, petiolo crasso, elliptica vel ob- 
* Botanical Museum, Harvard University. 
[ 245 ] 
VoL. 23, No. 
6 
