de Moler. Bosques, 1050 m. alt. “‘Hierba muy robusta y ramificada. 
Hojas blanquecinas. Corola blanea. Anteras amarillas. Bayas 4 cm. 
diim., amarillo-anaranjadas, erizadas. Lulode perro.’? August 19-28, 
1943, J. Cuatrecasas 15031. 
Ecuapor: “‘Ad radices M. Chimborazo, alt. 2,300’. Suffrutex 5- 
pedalis.’’ June 1860, R. Spruce s.n. 
VENEZUELA: Colonia Tovar, 1854-55, A. Fendler 1001.—Same lo- 
cality and date, Ad. Fendler 1002.—Same locality and date, W. Son- 
dar s.n.—Caracas, neighborhood of Guaranas. Alt. 3,000 ft. ‘‘Flow- 
ers blue, fruit without prickles, small, veined, tall shrubby plants.’’ 
December 1854, Birschel s.n. (K).—‘‘Habitat ad Orinocum, prope 
Carichana.’’ No collector, no date [ex ‘““hb. Bonpland’’ ]. 
Our studies lead us to the conclusion that typical Sol- 
anum quitoense is confined to the southern part of the 
range of the species complex and occurs in Pert, Ecua- 
dor (where it appears to be most abundant) and southern 
Colombia. This concept is easily recognized because it 
is completely devoid of spines along the branches, peti- 
oles and veins. It is deeply significant, we feel, that all 
of the collections from this southern periphery, with one 
exception, have not the slightest trace of spines. In other 
respects (such as color and density of indumentum on the 
leaves) they are also rather homogeneous. The collection 
Spruce s.n., from the base of Mt. Chimborazo, is the 
single exception; it has slight and very remote spines, 
and the Kew specimen is annotated as representing one 
of the types of Solanum, the fruit of which is gathered 
for food in Ecuador. It may well represent a distinct 
variant, but paucity of material precludes a more pre- 
cise disposition. 
Herbarium material from the northern periphery— 
most of Colombia and part of Venezuela—is, without a 
single exception, spiny. There is tremendous variation 
in the abundance and size of the spines which are borne 
along the branches, on the petioles and along the nerves 
of the upper and lower surface of the leaves. Some speci- 
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