Branches terete or subangulate, densely villous with rust- 
colored hairs. Leaves opposite or subopposite, lanceolate- 
elliptic, often slightly asymmetrical, apically prolonged 
into an acuminate point which is 1-2 em. long, basally 
cuneate, short-petiolate (petioles 0.5-1 em. long), 12-20 
em. (usually about 15 cm.) long, 8.5—5.5 em. wide, coria- 
ceous; upper surface very lustrous, olive-green, glabrous 
or very sparsely pubescent, mid-rib and secondary veins 
strongly impressed; lower surface rust-colored, entirely 
and densely villous-sericeous with simple, weak hairs; 
mid-rib prominently elevated and very densely villous- 
sericeous; secondary veins conspicuous, arcuate. Inflores- 
cences numerous, usually axillary, compactly paniculate, 
many-flowered, shorter than the leaves (peduncles 8. 5-6 
cm. long; pedicels very slender, up to 1.5 mm. long), 
appressed puberulent,rust-colored, 1.5—3 cm. wide. Flow- 
ers hermaphroditic, 4.6 mm. in diameter (natural size), 
brown. Perianth brown; perianth segments elongate- 
ovate, apically rounded or subacute, fleshy, subequal, 2.2 
mm. long, 0.9 mm. wide, externally glabrescent, the 
outer three internally ashy tomentulose, the inner three 
internally glabrescent. Anthers of the outer series sessile, 
rectangular-quadrate in outline, inflexed, about 0.7 mm. 
wide, 0.8-0.9 mm. long, glabrous; those of the inner 
series triangular in outline. Staminodia six, globose, mi- 
nute. Ovary subrotundate, glabrous, surrounded by a 
dise-like margin bearing three minute glands, surmounted 
by a short style about 0.5 mm. long. 
Mr. William 8S. Benninghoff has examined the pollen 
of this species and has prepared the following description 
of it: ‘‘Grains spherical; average diameter 24.5 w; exine 
thin and covered with short, blunt, conical spines ap- 
proximately 0.8 » long; intine thick and clear; pores or 
furrows absent; contents finely granular, nuclei promi- 
nent in fresh material. ”’ 
[171 ] 
