long, 8-8.5 mm. broad, the inner integument dense, dark 
brown, longitudinally striate, the striae visible through 
the whitish translucent outer integument which becomes 
separated and bulbous at the apex, and dense and ob- 
liquely concave at the hilum. 
Doctor Maguire writes me, in connection with his de- 
scription of Rapatea modesta, that: ‘‘ Rapatea modesta 
is most closely related to PR. /ongipes Spruce ex Kérnicke, 
from which it differs in its smaller habit, broader, shorter, 
and more conspicuously veined membranous leaf-sheaths, 
relatively broader and more numerously veined leaf- 
blades, considerably larger heads, more acuminate spiked 
bractlets, and white rather than yellow flowers. 
‘’These two species are to be associated in habitat and 
range. Rapatea modesta occurs in sand savannahs in the 
trapécio region between the Putumayo and Amazon 
watersheds in southeastern Colombia. The four collec- 
tions of Rapatea longipes which I have examined are 
from the region of the upper Rio Negro in Brazil, Co- 
lombia and Venezuela. 
‘The epithet modesta was suggested by the collector’s 
comment that this attractive and distinct little Rapatea 
appealed to him in the field as a shy, almost retiring, 
but lovely member of the caatinga community.’ 
Cotomstia: Comisaria del Amazonas, Trapécio amaz6nico, interior 
regions of trapécio between the Amazon and Putumayo watersheds. 
Alt. above 100 m. November 1945, Richard Evans Schultes 6900 (Typr 
in N.Y. Bot. Gard.).—Same locality, November 1946, George A. 
Black & Richard Evans Schultes 46-361. 
Rapatea modesta has a red-flowered form which grows 
promiscuously with the white color-form. Red flowers 
have not hitherto been reported for the genus. 
Cotomsi1A: Comisaria del Amazonas, Trapécio amazonica, interior 
regions of trapécio between the Amazon and Putumayo watersheds. 
Alt. above 100 m. “Same as 6900, except flowers red.” November 
1945, Richard Evans Schultes 6899, 
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