imbricatim dispositis obtectus, in parte superiore dis- 
tincte lineatis. Folia in apice ramorum subrosulate con- 
ferta, non numerosa, rigide erecta sed exteriora etiam 
Juniora saepe aliquid subpatentia, plana, valde sicca, cori- 
acea, dense et minute albo-hirsuta, pilis in marginibus 
irregulariter plurichotome ramosis, linearia, margine in- 
tegra, apice Jongissima et sensim acuminata, 250-300 
mm. (plerumque 280-290 mm.) longa, 10-11 mm. lata. 
Flores duo usque ad quinque, pseudoterminales, grandes, 
speciosissimi, albi, quam foliis breviores, longissime pe- 
dunculati; pedunculo filiformi, triquetro, superne mi- 
nute squamoso-echinato, inferne glabro, rubro-fulvo, 
usque ad 8 em. longo. Perigonii tubus tenuis gracilisque, 
eylindricus, 50-55 mm. longus, 2.5 mm. in diametro, 
dense viscoso-glandulosus; limbus infundibuliformis, 
vivo 60-80 cm. in diametro, segmentis elongate lanceo- 
lato-obovatis vel paene pseudospathulatis, 50-60 mm. 
longis, 8-9 mm. latis, apice acutis, extus in parte inferi- 
ore glandulosis. Stamina octodecim, tepalis multo brevi- 
ora; antherae elongatissime ellipsoideae, glabrae, albae, 
quam filimenta multo longiores, antheris lateralibus plus 
minusve 9 mm. longis, mediana 7 mm. longa, sed omnes 
subaequales. Ovarium oblongo-clavatum, apice trunca- 
tum, paleis iis pedunculi similibus sed multo robustiori- 
bus, viscoso-glandulosis, sordide luteis densissime orna- 
tum. Stylus filiformis, 6-8 cm. longus, trigonus, inclusus, 
stamina superans. Stigma trilobatum. Capsula adhue 
ignota. Crescit in montibus siccis areno-saxosisque in 
provincia colombiana Vaupesensi. 
Vellozia phantasmagoria is the first representative of 
the genus known from northwestern South America. It 
is apparently not closely related to any previously de- 
scribed species. 
The specific epithet has reference to the peculiar habit 
of this showy and anomalous plant. This species occurs 
[ 131 ] 
