fused (and has been) with HZ. tomentella, a species grow- 
ing on the eastern Llanos at the foothills of the Andes 
where the type of HZ. puleherrima was collected. The 
differences between these two species are discussed below 
under Herrania tomentella. 
The earliest reference to Herrania pulcherrima is Eloy 
Valenzuela’s minute description of the plant written in 
Mariquita in the Departamento del Tolima, Colombia, 
in 1784, while he was engaged in the work of the Mutis 
Botanical Expedition in New Granada. 
The specific name pulcherrima, meaning ‘‘very beauti- 
ful,’* could not be more appropriate. It recalls Valen- 
zuela’s picturesque remark that the flower of Herrania 
pulcherrima or cacao esquinado ‘‘could be considered as 
the greatest marvel of the plant kingdom and one can 
hardly believe that nature, as frugal and simple as she 
is, would have used so many ribbons and so much orna- 
mentation to adorn herself almost as ostentatiously as in 
the fashions. ”’ 
‘ 
Cotomsia: Intendencia del Meta, Iraca, San Juan [de Arama], 
Llanos Orientales. December 1844. J. Goudot s.n.—Departamento 
de Boyaca, region of Mount Chapon, extreme western part of the de- 
partment, northwest of Bogota. Heavy forest. El] Umbo region. Alt. 
3000 feet. ““Tree 10 feet high. Flowers blood red.’’ September 13, 
1932, A, BE. Lawrance 437.— Departamento de Cundinamarca, Muni- 
cipio de El Pefion, Hacienda “‘Curiche.’’ Alt. 1000 meters. **Varas 
altas y delgadas, de 4 metros.’’ September 2, 1942, R. Jaramillo- 
Mejia 202. 
Herrania tomentella Rk. EL. Schultes sp. nov. 
Herrania nitida (Poeppig) R. E. Schultes var. aspera 
(Karsten & Triana) R. E. Schultes in Bot. Mus. Leafl. 
Harvard Univ. 14 (1950) 180, pro parte. 
Disrrisurion: Eastern foothills of the Andes, in the 
Orinoco drainage area of Colombia. 
COMMON NAMES: cacao de monte; cacaoito. 
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